Vertical Climbed: 830 meters (2,723 feet)
Avalanche Risk: 1
Snowline: 1,240
Luc said that there was a weather window on the Chartreuse between 10 and 1pm and so it turned out (thanks to meteociel.fr). I actually set out quite late as I was worried the snow would be hard earlier in the morning. Probably not with the cloud cover. In fact at midday it was perfect for climbing. I took the drag lift climb with a small variant at the end to avoid the ueber-steep last pitch. After the Bachasons I also took a steeper climb to avoid the long traverse to the plateau. There is still good snow cover. A few skiers descending when I climbed but not many people.
The ridge has a lack of snow due to wind erosion but it was still possible to ski from the cables keeping to the right bank. I didn't climb to the summit as there was now some light snow (which continued to about 1400 meters). I took a direct line through the avalanche protection and the snow started as a bump piste but quickly turned into a thin surface coat of creamy snow on a hard base. The ski down through the forest to the ski slopes was very good - again a bit of a mogul piste with trees so you have to watch your head. The ski slopes were perfect, fast and hard snow with a soft top layer.
Weather: Mix of sun, cloud and snow/rain.
Access: Good
Country: France Area: Chartreuse Trailhead: Col De Porte
