Minimum altitude: 1,307 meters
Distance: 12.5 km
Slope Aspect: South-West
Vertical Climbed: 1,430 meters (4,692 feet)
Vertical Descended: 1,474 meters
Rating: 3.3
Avalanche Risk: 2
Snowline: 1,400
Arriving in the Venetiers we were not at all surprised to see that it was wall to wall breakable crust. The wind had blown full hooligan and the sun and low cloud had done its work. We initially thought we would play the "spring snow" card on the east facing slopes of the Bedinas but it was too early. Looking across at the Dent du Pra we wondered if it was still powder snow? Hard to believe but a test climb showed the snow getting better and better. After an efficient climb to the summit we attacked the descent. The first pitch of 50 meters was not great - Chris didn't like my good idea of skiing a more sheltered slope - but afterwards it was light powder all the way to the couloirs. Here we had to ski and traverse a bit to keep the good snow. A small climb to the right side of the valley to ski spring snow down to the Habert. With just 150 meters of V- on breakable crust. Afterwards the trail "the border cross" as it is known was excellent although I must have done more slaloming than Billy Kidd at Chamrousse in '68
Powder from near the summit of the Dent du Pra to the base of the couloirs. Transformed/spring snow on the right side of the Venetier valley (right bank) until 150 meters above the Habert d'Aiguebelle then more or less breakable crust to the start of the Border cross which was compact snow.
Quite a bit of avalanche activity since the fresh snow on North and SW facing slopes. Some small slabs had broken on the old layer of sand.
