Minimum altitude: 1,318 meters
Distance: 8.9 km
Slope Aspect: North-East
Vertical Climbed: 400 meters (1,312 feet)
Vertical Descended: 399 meters
Rating: 1.3
Avalanche Risk: 2
Snowline: 1,300
I kind of hoped against evidence to find better ski conditions. It had snowed 40cm the day before but checking the weather station at the Col de Porte I could see the temperature was already above zero. Climbing up the snow was heavy, waterlogged. I was using nordic touring skis. At the crossing with the old ski piste I fixed skins and climbed to the Canaple. the track went straight up the slope, I had to zig-zag the steeper sections. They should remove risers from touring skis to stop people doing this ! :-)
At the Canaple there was a bit of a breeze from the north but it was not cold. Zero visibility out of the woods. The traverse over to the Oratoire was very heavy powder and steeper than I remembered. It was practically unskiable in nordic gear. Thankfully I reached the road and what I hoped would be a nice ski down but it was not to be. Where it was untracked the snow was like wet cement, you could ski straight down but not really turn. Where it was tracked was ok but the tracks were not great to ski in. 20 minutes for the skis down compared to 5 minutes or less when it is pisted in the winter. Well at least I got some fresh air and exercise.
Heavy powder with light refreeze crust
