Ski Touring: Grand Rocher

Fri, 15 January 2016

Technical

Description

Both Mike and I had time constrainst and had to be back for lunch. The idea of a quick and efficient Couloir en Virgule came to mind but with a risque 3 in the Chartreuse and westerly winds the entrance was surely loaded with snow. So we decided to play safe with the good old Grand Rocher. A couple of days after the Deux Alps disaster it seemed the right thing to do.

We parked low, just after the col at 1090 meters. Skiing up it rapidly became clear that skiing on the forest paths beneath the trees would not be good for skis. But we had a plan B. Walking? No that was plan C.

We broke trail in 15cm of fresh snow but the base could only really be felt from 1250 meters, and then somewhat intermittently to the Barioz ski area. From there we picked up a ski track, well more a ski autoroute to the summit.

After some water and a snack we tackled, very prudently, the east face. Finding the slope the least steep, but still over the sacrosanct 30 degees, and shortest we skied 1 by 1 to a safe zone. Again westerlies had somewhat loaded the slopes. There was 30cm of fresh on the west side, 50cm here. The risky zone was only about 50 meters of vertical, a slide wouldn't have gone far but with trees and a small slide is still tons and tons of snow.

We then whooped it up down to the electricity pylon at 1600 meters. It was possible to go further, to 1400 meters but we didn't have time. We climbed back up to the point 1914 meters via a "safe" east ridge, picking up an existing ski track half way up. Then great skiing down to the Pierre Roubet chalet with just one or two old tracks under the powder to disturb the skiing.

Now our plan B. Slide down the cross country trails to the 4 Chemins crossroads, a big detour then pick up the steeper Barrioz trail. Well it would have worked but only half of the trail had been bashed so there was about 2km of pushing on poles to the crossroads but much easier going on the Barrioz trail despite the 15cm of fresh. Anyway objective achieved, no damage to the bases.

Route Taken: Col de Barioz -> Grand Rocher -> East face -> Grand Rocher -> Barioz

Weather: Sunny, relatively mild. No wind

Access: Snow from 600 meters in the morning. Clear from 900 meters in the afternoon.

Country: France Area: Belledonne Trailhead: Barioz

Participants:Mike

Route