I got back from Geneve around 10pm on Tuesday so didn’t want to go far. I also have a cold developing. I decided to visit the Pas de la Porte which leads to the summit of the Granier. The route is a bit wooded until the col and summit plateau. It is also quite dangerous in places due to the crevassed nature of the limestone rocks. People have died in the area so I was not surprised to see a pair of skiers roped up for the climb.

I know the area quite well in the summer and hoped to be able to negociate a safe passage. The Pas de la Porte has quite a tricky traverse:

with steep cliffs on both sides.

Great view of the lac du Bourget from the summit. We sail on this lake when it is warmer and my train to Geneva passes along the shore. On the left hand side is the abbey de hautecombe where the princes of the Savoie are buried and you can see the airport by the south side of the lake.

Ski back down, avoiding the crevasses

The snow was very heavy on the south side of the slope and stuck to my climbing skins. I didn’t have any wax or anti-botte with me. The summit was pretty bare due to the high winds. On the north-east descent snow was powder but getting a bit heavier. There were a couple of purges from the cliffs. I would expect south facing slopes to be getting crusty with the refreeze overnight. We are expecting fresh snow above 1000m on Friday. Avalanche risk yesterday was 2. (3 above 1800-2000 meters). On this route the main risk was a purge in the pas de la Porte.

Snow conditions are pretty good at the moment and it is possible to ski down to around 750 meters on north facing slopes. There are very strong southerly winds in the Isere at the moment and a lot of snow is being transported onto North sector slopes so take care over the next days.

Very envious.
I’ve long stared up at the Granier while bicyling and driving—it’s like my symbol of being in Savoie.

So now your report + photos have elevated it in my skiing priorities for this year.

Ken

Ken, pencil in the other side in your diary, the Barres de Tenconovaz, from the Granier ski area or maybe the Grotte de la Balme.

managed a trip out today in the Chablais

Great snow cover and some lovely powder, unfortunately the valley we ended up in had caught the Bise and the snow had been well worked!

Managed to ski back to my place at 850m

I recognise your mate leading the pack in the first photo.

The wind really got up around midday around these parts, I can see the snow is cartonee in the last pic.

Carl is on fire this winter, he’s not working this season and is out on the hill every day. A dream . . .

Continuing poor conditions in the Alps today. The risk is 4 in the Isere and Hautes Alpes and Vanoise. CRS Captain Olivier Cousin with the rescue services in Briançon says that “it was kicking off everywhere yesterday, natural slides all over the place”.

With 5 avalanche deaths in France last week extreme caution is advised.

endlessride - 04 February 2010 10:29 PM

Carl is on fire this winter, he’s not working this season and is out on the hill every day. A dream . . .

Yes he looks strong and fit compared to last year.

Snow all morning, even down to valley level. I was ill in bed but PisteHors cub reporter Anny woke me up at the crack of dawn to say she was heading up to the Grand Rocher. The problem, as she told us later over a mug of warm Genepi, is that on these high risk days you want low angled terrain but the avalanche risk is probably due to snowfall… and on low angled terrain you don’t want too much of it. Anyway Anny measured around 40cm of fresh at 1950 meters with just a couple of other people mad enough to venture out in the weather.

davidof - 04 February 2010 11:13 AM

I got back from Geneve around 10pm on Tuesday so didn’t want to go far. I also have a cold developing. I decided to visit the Pas de la Porte which leads to the summit of the Granier. The route is a bit wooded until the col and summit plateau. It is also quite dangerous in places due to the crevassed nature of the limestone rocks. People have died in the area so I was not surprised to see a pair of skiers roped up for the climb.

where’d they skied from? 1986?

ise - 06 February 2010 10:50 PM

where’d they skied from? 1986?

arf, I must admit even I was a bit slack jawed when I saw them.

Skied largely onpiste on Sunday afternoon, partly due to avalanche danger locally (I’ve done all the high risk, relatively safe stuff too many times this season) and partly due to a cold. Conditions are really good in the small Chartreuse resorts. I was in St Hills:

http://pistehors.com/backcountry/wiki/Isere-Drome/Saint-Hilaire-Du-Touvet

we had an excellent lunch of some cheese monstrosity in the Grange Aux Loups restaurant. There is about 60cm at 1000 meters and closer to 80cm at 1450 meters altitude.

Today, Tuesday, it has snowed all day in the Haute-Savoie right down to valley level (300m). It has probably added about 10cm on the mountains.

Meteo France just dropped its avalanche hazard assessment to

level 2 for all Savoie mountain regions for 10 February.

. (unlike HS + Isere + Hautes-Alpes who still have level 3 for all their regions)

Sharon and I will likely be getting out for some mellow touring around west Savoie on various days starting Sunday + Monday. Usually we climb around 250-300 meters per hour, total around 750-1000 meters. Steepness not much more than 30 degrees, maybe sometimes up to a little 35.
If might be interested in meeting us for something like that, get in touch with
this contact info.

Ken

Interesting, looks like the Savoie is the place to be if you are risk averse. Just to note there is plenty of snow down to 750 meters now so in the HS below 2000 meters altitude the risk is 2 as well (didn’t check the Isere yet), there is plenty of touring at that altitude and even in the Savoie I would be wary above the 2000-2300 m. level.

Snow, snow and more snow in Sancy.

This afternoon we had ESF and Ski Club in trouble in Val d’Enfer, freeride skis didn’t prevent them to drown to the chin in the powder down the Val.

Having inhaled white powder for the whole day and planning for more tomorrow - still snowing!

Picts by OnTheWave

Big pow getting progressively more compact, and relatively stable (save the E slopes where previous windslabs could be hiding) made for a great end of the week. Sunday was sunny above the sea of clouds: wonderful day!

More on the blog:
receipe for a great winter day
It’ in French but I guess the text won’t matter much