Vertical Climbed: 1,400 meters (4,593 feet)
Avalanche Risk: 3
Snowline: 1,060
Arriving at the Aup du Seuil we couldn't resist skiing the Vallon de Marcieu. Ben even took his skins off but it was just as good with skins. Dream powder like in the movies for just 200 meters!
Climbing the vallon de Marcieu we asked ourselves what was the best route for the Lances. We finally decided to leave the first couloir (Lances North) to climb the second (Lance South) where we met a group of 5 skiers (CAF) who were heading for the same destination as us.
Descent from the Lance South in very good snow (powder on the right bank, compact on the left bank) we saw three skiers climbing to the Dome de Bellefont. They stopped 80 meters from the summit on the SW side (cabane de Bellefont).
At 1720m we stopped for a picnic followed by a seance of nivologie. David got out a magnifying glass, thermometer and other stuff and we were off for studies of the snow pack.
First we dug a 230cm hole just to the ground then we measured the temperature at various levels. David should do an article, very interesting in any case.
We put our skins on to climb to the Aup then finished our day in the magnificent couloir which had been well skied with compact snow which was like a piste then the right couloir which had not yet been skied. Finally the forest and pistes just before the piste bashers arrived.
– Luc
Weather: Sunny
Access: Clear
Country: France Area: Chartreuse Trailhead: Col De Marcieu
Participants:Luc Benoit Laurent