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TR Mont Brequin, Vanoise, FR
Posted: 22 December 2012 01:24 PM  
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Given the doubtful avalanche conditions, risk 3 on all slope aspects, we opted for safety and the Col de la Vallee Etroit under Mont Brequin. Shallow but passing under some very snow laden slopes in places

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about 70cm of fresh has fallen > 2000 meters this week

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giving a pretty massive snowpack at altitude, things are less rosy below 1500 meters which has seen a lot of rain.

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Col de la Vallee Etroit and the Lac du Loup valley with les Menuires beyond

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Below the col

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Pascal in Action

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We finished off with a beer “chez Roger” in la Villette. This bar is run by a 90 year old from his #######. Groups sometimes ski down here from Val Thorens and have a beer while waiting for a tax ride back to resort. As the local guides and monitors about a trip to “chez Roger”.

http://www.trainingloops.com/mont-brequin-west-face_David_22-12-2012.htm

 
 
Posted: 23 December 2012 04:15 AM   [ # 1 ]  
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Great to see how you found a safe way to get out there in the fresh snow. And thanks for the link to a GPS track so I could quickly see which side you had approached Mt Brequin - (because I know the names of lots of the ski peaks in Savoie, but not of lots of the valleys and tiny villages for approach).

Note that the Toponeige Vanoise guidebook has a tour around Mt Brequin which starts more toward Orelle (and potentially uses the Plan Bouchet gondola lift to shorten the vertical slogging) - but I think that idea has more avalanche danger.

Looking forward to getting out there on skis in Savoie myself (or with you) soon.

Ken

 
 
Posted: 23 December 2012 11:05 PM   [ # 2 ]  
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Hi Ken

I suspected you’d been this way already. I was going to head up to the Venetier valley but a Savoie guy persuaded me to go with him, he said it was must safer.

Since Friday we’ve had the zero iso > 3000m for 2 days and torrential rain at altitude. Reports today were of very difficult conditions with skiing down taking longer than climbing up, sounds like our Chartreuse trip from a couple of years ago.

Junior and I were on piste this morning, which was surprisingly good.