Vertical Climbed: 1,050 meters (3,445 feet)
Avalanche Risk: 2
Snowline: 1,150
Today was a club day guiding for the Grimpeurs des Alpes. We'd originally planned a route in the Chartreuse but that was back in December for the program. Unfortunately the forests of the Chartreuse are not really skiable at the moment so a change of direction to the Belledonne and the Orionde. A favourite of mine but I've not been here for some time. There was about 5 minutes of portage on the road despite fresh snow. The brushwood above the Pont des Pendules was largely buried.
The route seemed stable. The summit dome was windblown, the 20cm of fresh had been swept onto the south-west face by the wind. The N bowl had fresh powder but the crust at 20cm could be felt at times as could old ski tracks. The slopes below the lac du Crop were heavily tracked. We stopped some distance before the car-park to save our bases although some had skied down to 1080m.
Snowpit at 1750m showed 120cm snow depth with a layer of 25cm of new snow. A crust (somewhat breakable) then a further 25cm of unconsolidated snow (recent snowfall) then a layer of compact snow with a thin layer of goblets at the base. Surface temp was -3C, 0C at ground level.
Weather: Snow in the morning turning to sun with thin cloud. Relatively warm.
Access: Snow from Prabert
Country: France Area: Belledonne Trailhead: Prabert
Participants:Serge Pascale Christèle
