After a couple of years hiatus on the skiing TR’s I have finally managed to get out and ski something good and get some pictures.

This line is over the backside of Pelvoux. There is a bit of a hike to get to it. 400m of skining. But it is so worth it. There is over 1500m of descent and 1000 of it is in a spectacular 45 degree couloir.

Here are some teaser photos

looking in from the top

approaching the narrow section

halfway down

The full TR with more photos I have posted up at AlpineBreak.com

Cheers

Phil

I added a Topo for your trip here:

http://pistehors.com/backcountry/wiki/Hautes-Alpes/La-Rouya-North-Couloir

I noticed you passed the Proba in the autumn.

http://www.alpinebreak.com/2007/news/accompagnateur-probatoire/

A friend of my wife’s also passed. I’ve done some orienteering up at Chamrousse for the FFME ski touring leaders training. It seems easy until you are under time pressure! I agree that the French AMM looks harder than the UK version. The scree scrambling looks particuarly difficult - I’m sure some of the folks who sign up don’t know what they’ve let themselves in for. The hike is also difficult… I have done a great deal of walking over the last two summers having virtually stopped mountain biking and would be “limit” to complete the AMM course. I think the flora and forna side of things really do enhance the appreciation of the mountains. Here are some pics I took in the Chartreuse over the summer.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/67873531@N00/sets/72157601527327056/

The Rouya was a nice comeback. A very long couloir, never something I’m particuarly comfortable in but a bit of a reminder of Cham for you.