Ski Touring: Barres de Tencovaz

Wed, 27 March 2013

Technical

Distance: 8 km

Slope Aspect: West

Trip Reports

Vertical Climbed: 940 meters (3,084 feet)

Avalanche Risk: 2

Snowline: 1,000

Description

I'd been away for a few days, bad weather so no skiing lost. I got back around noon on Wednesday. A glorius day of sun and blue skied. Not too warm. Maybe a chance to get in a quick west face. I'd fancied the Barres de Tencovaz in the North Chartreuse above the small but excellent ski area of le Granier.

I arrived at the car park at 2.30pm. There was still a lot of snow on the runs but the lifts had been silent for a fortnight. A quick climb on spring snow to the summit then I followed recent tracks up through the woods to the base of the couloirs where I met a skier. He had not been able to go further due to lack of crampons. I left him to ski down and climbed directly the 100 meters to the summit plateau. Not easy going on some near vertical slopes. A quick traverse to the summit which I reached at 16h10 then back down by the main ski route. The snow was excellent still and the forest very skiable. Back at the car well before 5pm, mission accomplished.

Weather: Sunny, cool wind from west stopped snow transforming too much.

Access: Clear

Country: France Area: Chartreuse Trailhead: Tencovaz