Vertical Climbed: 1,520 meters (4,987 feet)
Avalanche Risk: 2
Snowline: 1,150
Chris had taken a half day from work so the idea was not to go too far but do something a little technical. To our surprise, despite recent snowfall to 800m, there was little snow below 1200m. After 1250m the snow depths began to be reasonable for skiing although there were wheel tracks up to the pumping station at 1400m!
After leaving the car at 8.15am we climbed the 1000 meters to the Coche in a around 1h30. The first descen on the NE slopes were in excellent powder to 1900m then a mix of soft snow, transformed snow to the valley floor. The S facing slopes to the Aigleton were humid in places, we made the mistake of climbing up the left bank which has some steep pitches (35-40 degrees) in places slowing us down. The left bank of the Aigleton valley had some powder but crusty where it had seen to much sun. We then traversed to ski the W face under the couloir W of the Pic du Pin with 15cm of fresh snow. Border cross in the forest a bit hard with some rocks in places. Road, not great with the 4x4 tracks.
Snowpack: 60-70cm of more or less cohesive snow in a number of layers sitting on top of a layer of depth hoar on E face at 2000m.
Weather: Sunny, warm, 4C at parking.
Access: Little snow below 1200m
Country: France Area: Belledonne Trailhead: Prabert
Participants:Chris
