Minimum altitude: 1,335 meters
Distance: 42.5 km
Slope Aspect: Various
Vertical Climbed: 5,528 meters (18,137 feet)
Vertical Descended: 5,530 meters
We decided to head up to the Sept Laux despite the holiday crowds. Indeed the car park was rammed, we've not seen it like that since before Covid but then we've not seen as much snow since Covid either. Initial lift queues were ok but over in le Pleynet there was nearly a 10 minute wait - unacceptable! We decided to head over to the Pouta lift which is normally calm due to the difficult pistes at the top. No queue, but getting off at the top there were dozens of of skiers, knees trembling. The top, which is steep was ok but lower down the slope had not been pisted and was ankle deep in heavy crud, not great. We did another loop but took the piste down to the Bedina lift. I've never seen this open in 20 years but know it does run. At the summit the combe looked ok to ski. I'd come this was ski touring at Christmas and the snow was unskiable and even climbing on skis needed ski crampons. The descent passed without incident, a bit steep at the end but nothing extreme. Another loop up to the Pouta for a top to bottom on piste then back to the car park. Avalanche risk 3 but no need to risk your neck with runs like the Bedina open. The Vallons du Pra were closed though so not all rosy.
We skied largely on the Prapoutel side today, fairly rare.
Fresh snow on the pistes and the access road. Wind at altitude from the east, lots of snow transport. Sunny weather with some cloud banks.
