Distance: 11.7 km
Trip ReportsVertical Climbed: 1,309 meters (4,295 feet)
Avalanche Risk: 2
Snowline: 1,680
Some late season snow meant that it was possible to tour from Chamrousse. I'd been skiing in resort a week before and it was surprising how much the snow had melted. The 40cm at resort level had completely gone. Climbing to the Croix de Chamrousse I was amazed to see hordes of ski tourers descending, it seemed like their annual outing, the skiing styles were not very advanced.
It was very windy at the Croix, I quickly traversed over to the Via Ferrata couloir rather than take the well tracked piste to the Lacs Roberts. Then I refixed skins to the Col de Lessines which, as usual, was fairly stoney due to the prevailing winds. The Vans bowl had good snow as did the access slope, there was about 5cm of fresh snow but you had to look a bit for it. I decided to climb to the Petit Van, which is a bit shorter and descend the west face on the right hand side. The couloir was already well tracked. Rather than take the direct route to the Croix I skied down to the piste and climbed here, I think it is easy and probably as quick despite 50m extra climbing. I was overtaken by Pierre Gignoux with his fancy carbon ski boot.
The descent, via the Olympic Homme piste, was ok at the top but around 1800m you had to be very careful as there was no base, I eventually stopped about 200m from the car park.
Route Taken: From le Recoin -> Croix -> Petit Van
Weather: Sunny, very windy at the Croix, no wind at the Petit Van, bizarre.
Access: Some snow and ice in resort
Country: France Area: Belledonne Trailhead: Chamrousse
