Vertical Climbed: 1,300 meters (4,265 feet)
Avalanche Risk: 2
Snowline: 1,060
I wanted to climb to the Lances Sud but arriving in the Vallon de Marcieu only the east side directly opposite the Aulp du Seuil was tracked. Now I don't mind trail breaking but there was no-one further up the valley so I decided to follow the trail. As I reached the base of the climb three skiers were just starting their descent and they kicked off 3 purges - basically the surface snow down to the sand layer under the fresh snow. About 15-20cm of fresh. Nothing very alarming. I climbed to the pt 1952m. Skiing down was a bit tricky as there were now a dozen people climbing the slope. I waited for two people to exit the "crux" as I could have kicked off a slide on them. They then started taking their skins off right on the roll-over. I told the lead guy I was waiting for him to clear the slope so I could ski down, I eventually persuaded him to climb to me where it was much safer.
On the second pitch the skiers below were nicely aligned and when they'd moved to the far right of the slope I attacked, skiing lightly, no slides and a clean run down. Refitting skins I climbed to the cross then tracked north to ski the Pas de Ragris which had no tracks. A bit less snow than the last time in the crux which I had to down climb for about 5 meters with a rope before the deep couloir which still had reasonably cold snow. At the exit of the couloir, rather than skiing north to rejoin the Couloir en Virgule I carried straight down slope to the walking trail, only problem were maybe a few more rocks under the snow.
Route Taken: Climbed to the Lances Nord pt 1952m and descended the pas de Ragris
Weather: Sun with cloud in the Col de Marcieu side of the valley. 5C at the Col de Marcieu at midday.
Access: Clear
Country: France Area: Chartreuse Trailhead: Col De Marcieu
