TR: Euro Tour 2010

[jumpturn]

I arrived in Chamonix on 1/1 in a snow storm. In typical cham fashion, everyone has an opinion, most of which are wrong. A couple locals told me the skiing was no good because it had been raining up high. B.S., f'ing gapers. Cham just has had a string of awesome powder days.

Previous TRs in this genre:

• * Chamonix Redux 2009
• * Euro Sampler, January 2009
• * Chamonix Redux 2008
• * Chamonix 2007 Part1 , Part 2, Part 3

Lines are not a problem in Cham when you're motivated.


I saw a bunch of powder sharks I know behind me in the tram line. But for good measure, when the tram dumps out at Logan you want to run behind the Japanese father-son pro alpine skier team to the Bochard. Visibility was poor to non-existant but the pow was basically bottomless. Runs were slow because you couldn't see much. It leads to issues like making a turn off a 3m drop.

I fired off three runs on the the Combe de la Pendant, and then went in for some hot beverages. Although it doesn't sound like much, at close 1000m each, these can add up and quickly smoke even guides from Colorado.

Photo ops were basically null, but here is one that shows what was going on.


I figured there might be some untracked off the Herse, so I headed up that and skied the wall. A bit late, but still fun. Then, I saw the mostly untracked hotel pow fields. Brailed down to the hotel in the clouds and stopped in for a hot pea soup and a beer. When I came back out, visibility was decent, and I got some really fun and deep pow turns firing off many pillows. Sweet!

Skiers were tracking flattest looking terrain, but the pillows were awesome and fresh.


Towards the end of the day the mountains began to clear.


The Grands Montets tram has not been running due to open crevasses on the Rognon Glacier. There is going to be some epic pow skiing when they finally decide to open it.

[Ripzalot]

nice....hope to see you in cham soon!

[jumpturn]

The weather forecast promised a sunny clear morning before afternoon snow, which makes for Aiguille de Midi opportunities. The dawn revealed overcast and deteriorating weather conditions. No matter. I was off to the first tram to get up before they closed down.

The new Aguille de Midi base station was completed in the Summer.


The usual pro skiers were up to their standard radness, and even picked off some epic runs the afternoon before. The clue was that this crew showed with the fattest skis in their quivers. 100cm had fallen at the AM on Friday night on top of the previous storms, so conditions were going to be EPIC!!

When we got up there, the wind was cranking at 70-100km from the NW, so I opted along with team sweden for a relaxing coffee session in the restaurant. Plus, my legs were smoked from the day before.

When I headed out into the wind, there was no guard rail on the arete, so crampons and an ice axe proved to be the sane choice. Decided on the Grand Envers because it would be out of the wind and I didn't want to deal with waist deep on tired legs. Photos were poor due to flat light, but I managed to snap a couple almost presentable ones.

Looking back the track towards the Aguille de Midi.


After dropping in, the wind disappeared but the lighting remain ultra flat. Everyone except some brave soul was cutting across the top of the first drop to skiers left to tackle the lower angle, but it ripped out on somebody.

The 2nd drop provided great skiing even if it looks kind of sketch with the slide, but that will fill in the bergshrund in due course.



I was happy to be following other parties because the first two drops had slid out on somebody, and you can't beat tracks through the flats.

Early season often involves mandatory hucks over crevasses, but today there was nothing too major.


The Dent du Géant and the Combe de la Noire.


The skiing was consistently knee deep with 110mm under foot. Lots of fun, but there was a avy debris zone about half way down that was pretty irritating.

Team Sweden was having a blast in the pow.


Even with fat skis, you had to stay back some to avoid tip dives; this dude is on Megawatts!


I let team Sweden go by and blaze an autoroute down the Mer de Glace to Montenvers. 5 guys can save one lots of walking....

These first two days were great leg and altitude training. But now the problem is MORE SNOW and MORE POW skiing!!!

[encore]

Stoke Bump!

[geo039]

Ditto!.........

nice....hope to see you in cham soon!

[jumpturn]

Most forecasts were wrong, especially snow guess. It snowed last night and continued all day dropping 35-45cm of fresh snow. After indulging in breakfast, I headed out at a leisurely hour to take my place in line behind the japanese father-son team (you're basically first in this draft position). It took a while but we headed up on the first tram by about 9:15, only to find the Bochard and the Herse closed. Solution: follow the japanese, which meant hanging out until either of these opened instead of charging off onto the short chair.

After about 15-20 minutes, the Bochard opened and we were on it for a pow run down the piste in knee to thigh deep.. The Japanese left me and my flamed legs in the dust. Now, at the bottom, the Bochard was closed, so it was up the Herse, only to see the Japanese finishing off that piste. So, I skied it too, again in knee to thigh deep. Next, it was back up the Herse and down the wall line in even deeper conditions to the hotel for a hot tea and some goggle drying. The hotel pillow field was in awesome condition and untouched. The lower piste was pretty close to done, but a narrow pow line on the edges remained for the plucking. Opted for the chair back up. By the time I got back to Lognan, the Bochard was running. At this point, it was after noon, but I found the Pendant basically untouched, which called for two laps in the deep with face shots and all.

I skied the Pendant with a boarder from Montreal, who got lost half way down the second lap, probably swimming up to his neck on some flats and bailing onto some other line. Too bad. He missed the awesome deepness.

With more untracked remaining, I decided to head down and find a new brake for my ski, which disappeared on one of the Pendant runs. I have never personally seen freshies last more than a couple hours at the Grands Montets, but who is complaining....

A fine rest day! My legs are still smoked but they like the pow! Visibility was not wonderful but better than Saturday. Photos were not really happening but here are a couple samplers.

Looking down the Combe de la Pendant toward the return chair late in the day.


Telemarker styling some pow late in the day.


The obivous lines were tracked by late in the day.


Random skier working left overs under the Chamois bowl, and leaving freshies where you can't see from the lift.


Cham is definitely off the hook now, which means watch out for avalanches big time. On a day like today, one could possibly see avalanches hitting the piste, so always look up (if you can see anything).

[panchosdad]

You skiing those conditions by yourself? Ballsy!

[powdherb]

Sick. Going to cham on thursday. Your TR just got me stoked out.

[jumpturn]

Sick. Going to cham on thursday. Your TR just got me stoked out.

Bring your fattest boards in addition to ALL mountain skis.

I'm sure glad that I did (almost didn't), otherwise I'd be talking waist deep on 102mm under foot and making huge old school jump turns to get out of the trench! Instead, I'm riding high and dry on my new 110mm skis!

Yeah, I know real men ride 140mm, but they surely don't do ice and avy debris in style!!

[jumpturn]

Another 30cm refill over night at Grands Montets and clearing weather obliges me to go back up and finish off the goods despite permanently smoked legs. After a leisurely breakfast, I wandered over to the tram only to fall in place behind the Japanese as they opened the door!

I saw Jimmy from Taos on the way to the tram going the other way. He called to save him a place in line. But, with walk-on front-placement timing like that, there's no place to save. You snooze, you definitely lose!

Per usual, I drafted the Japanese up the Bochard and we all b-lined for the Pendant. The snow was a little wind blown on certain aspects but basically still AWESOME!! The powder sharks were out in moderate force today, so the remaining freshies were dispatched in a couple hours. Of course, I managed to pull off four fresh Pendants before many people woke up, and then, called it day 'cause there is no need to ski leftovers with cooked legs.

I thought about an AM run, but decided it would be better to take a rest day before stacking up the lines. What the heck! Today's four 1000m Pendant runs beat most anything at any ski area. Not only that, it been exclusively pow skiing for the last four days!! The locals are all fired up about "dream conditions;" they should know.

Visibility picked up tremendously today, and so, I starting shooting photos on the third run, when it was getting safe to stop.

This is the piste down the side of the Chamois bowl. Pistes are a powder shark's best friend!


Flegere was starting to catch some sun.


By the 3rd run, I had to think about avoiding other tracks.... or more like, lay down parallel tracks...


Still kind of overcast down valley but this clearing spell was a wonderful respite from steady storming.


So, exactly what kind of pow are we talking about? The pow lesson decided to follow my tracks visible on the right.


Just your basic bottomless knee deep -- when you have got fat skis and some speed.


Then again, there are those deep spots .... (always shoot heavy skiers on tooth picks for best effect!)


It doesn't take too many UCPA groups of 20 to hammer a line ....


By now the Combe de La Pendant and the Chamois bowl are pretty well turned to chop, but an deprived skier could milk these for more.


The Chamois Bowl was pretty well done yesterday even if it did get a 20cm refill over night.


It's always nice to have a view like the Aiguille de Chardonnet to provide an alpine touch on the return chair.


Flegere was catching full sun.


It's beer time at the Lognan café after shredding the gnar ....


If you're going to have a patio, you might as well order up some views... Pretty soon these people were going to be getting a sun tan.

[BGSTi_403]

Thanks for the stoke - this is awesome.

Have you heard anything on when the top of the LGM cable car may open?

[jumpturn]

Have you heard anything on when the top of the LGM cable car may open?

They have got some big holes (crevasses) on the piste and plan to fill 'em with some avalanches....look out below! Could open any day.

[hardboiled]

nice pics jumpturn!! cham is in the midst of an epic cycle right now. I was there skiing 1/1 - 1/3, so much pow. we hit grand montets, brevent and flegere. my first trip, what an amazing place! you euros are lucky bastids!

[jumpturn]

Rest day down in Geneva wandering around the Centre Balexter.

Alpen glow on the Chamonix Aiguilles.


No need to work for photos when carveman and his posse are busy generating such [ame="http://www.tetongravity.com/forums/showthread.php?t=180905"]classy cham stokage[/ame] that skier666 is getting spun up about [ame="http://www.tetongravity.com/forums/showpost.php?p=2686868&postcount=33"]the metal staircase[/ame] ....

[Scottish_Skier]

Wow - jumpturn has a rest day in Geneva... really ?
Good to see the 2010 Chamonix TR is firmly on the go.
Keep the stoke-alanche coming - I look forward to watching this one progress.

I saw Jimmy from Taos

Ha - my friend who lives in Chamonix has talked about this legendary dude.
Apparently he is pretty rad

Have fun & Ski safe !

Doug.

[jumpturn]

Wow - jumpturn has a rest day in Geneva... really ?

Yeah, had to pick up some wheels to avoid jinxing the pow!

Ha - my friend who lives in Chamonix has talked about this legendary dude.
Apparently he is pretty rad

You gotta keep him on the 50º stuff or he just points 'em and disappears....not so conducive to photos, but it happens ....

Jimmy going slow enough for photos on the Glacier Rond, April 4, 2008.
[ame="http://www.tetongravity.com/forums/showthread.php?t=118701"][/ame]


So ripz and geo are threatening to show. What about you?

[geo039]

Make it snow again and I am in...counting the minutes until the weekend. Ripz is back in CH tomorrow.

So ripz and geo are threatening to show. What about you?

[subtle plague]

damn cham does have a lot less snow than cour right now

[crevasshole]

Jimmy Rogers is a ski legend, I hear he's back in town, hide you're women.

[jumpturn]

Make it snow again and I am in...counting the minutes until the weekend. Ripz is back in CH tomorrow.

Your wish is my command. Abracadabra! 40cm+ for tomorrow .... and level 4 avalanche ratings keep the crowds in check .... Seems like it will continue to Saturday.... Visibility will be the precious commodity.

damn cham does have a lot less snow than cour right now

[... stocks up on tunnel tickets ...]

[jumpturn]

When in doubt, ride up to the Aiguille de Midi and take it from there. I walked right onto the bin and the doors closed behind me, and standing there was team Aussie carvers with Jerome. Fun to run into people, especially when their minds are blown by the terrain at hand. The weather was closing in on top and a good wind was blowing from the southwest, so when in doubt, drop the Grands Envers.

I got the honor of breaking trail along the plan until a couple french dudes drafted past me to complete the work. The first drop still is slidy if you go for the pow, but the rest of the line was staying in place. A number of people had skied the descent but there remained plenty of fresh pow to schralp. The avy debris in the middle was getting covered up, and was casual to cross. There are sill a few minor hops over crevasses. The main tracks took the couloir exit at the bottom, but I ski a nice deep one just right of the normal finish.

Team Aussie and Jerome got lost at the get go, and probably were busy setting up elaborate photo shoots on some pow field, but I did see them from Montenvers heading down the ski out to Chamonix -- a must if you have never done it before.

Just another day at the office waiting for the big pow day tomorrow. It is amazing how a rest day turns one's legs to steel!!! The light was really flat but here are some photos.

Team Aussie with trusty native guide ride the télépherique for more goodness...


Tram crew was working double time to prepare the aret for team carve...


Still kind of quiet on the arete because the scandis haven't woken up yet...


Carvelady survives the arete and shows off her crampon technique.... Jerome just carries that ABS pack in case he needs to bleed off speed ...


The 2nd drop was getting cut up but the pow field below was sweet.


Scandis woke up and prepare a full assault on the 2nd drop, but no takers for hucking the cliff.... probably not covered by insurance ....


Even here, you can ski the untracked in between.....


Dent du Géant et les Serac du Géant in deteriorating conditions.


The light might be flat but the snow was acceptable....


Some skinners put down tracks on the the Pas de Chevre.

[CarveMan]

Thanks for the pics man. If you don't mind I'm going to pop them in a TR - will give you the credit of course.

[jumpturn]

The top télépherique at Grands Montets opened today, but I was slacking and had to ride the chair up, but still made the second bin to the top. The locals were out hoping for some pow. Somehow, I got a nice consistent powder run on the piste until heading right well below the col more pow by the wall. Photos were not happening because of the need to press on ahead of the crowd and flat light.

Big lines for the top and a meager 10cm of fresh on the lower slopes turned this into a quasi rest day. Spoiled!

You are only allowed to ski the Pylones piste because the Rognon glacier is highly crevassed this year, apparently due to lack of avalanches. Consequently, the Pont de Vue Piste is closed until they can push some snow into the holes on the piste. The management is making steady announcement about these restrictions because they know gumbies will fly into the crevasses at a good clip. They also seem concerned about La Face.

After the night time episode, there has been no significant snow fall so far today.

The ice climbing is looking good in Argentiere except for the loaded avy start zone above them....

[jumpturn]

Got a PM from Ripz before dawn: Courmayeur. Deal Sealed. Options reduced to 2. Those Swiss pow hounds are good with the radar, so why fight it? Go with the flow .... Picked up powdherb and we rolled through the tunnel over to Courmayeur. The town was dead because we were 30 minutes early; then everybody woke up.

We headed straight for the funi and caught the first trams to Pointe Helbronner. We traded off breaking trail with an Italian guide and his client over to the Col de Flambeau, from where the Glacier Toule is accessed. We opted for the stairs on the first run down to Pavillon. POW was an excellent 30cm overnight reflill. Killer run. No sign of Ripz or Geo (must be skiing the piste! ).

Without question, back up we went. This time we did the side slip couloir (made famous by Carveman), and I even pulled off two jump turns in it. Waste of time because the first groups of the day had dug a trench of boiler plate too narrow for powdherb's skis!

No matter, we hit the right side of the glacier toule and found some extra steep, deep and fluffy.

After a break at Pavillon, we skied back to La Palud. Although the top quarter of the lower mountain had some nice pow over cut up mank, the mank came to dominate ever more as one descended, passing through avy debris. Nice terrain trap!

3300m of vert was a good work out, and we saved the legs for tomorrow.

We probably saw only 30 skiers during the entire outing. The place was pretty low key compared to the 45 minute Grands Montets lines for no vis left overs from last week.

Yet another stellar pow day to continue the streak! Here are some photos as best we could do in the flat light.

When we arrived, Courmayeur was sporting clear skis in a snow shadow from the Mont Blanc Range.


As we broke trail over to the col de Flambeau, we could see that the Aiguille de Midi and the Vallée Blanche were above the storm clouds.


Mont Blanc de Tacul loomed forebodingly in the billowing storm clouds.


After a few short minutes of ski walking through 30cm of fresh the Col de Flambeau came into view.


powdherb quenches the urge on fresh fluff of the Glacier Toule.


Overhead loomed the tasty headwall of the Glacier Toule.


Nice little couloir getting shralped due to easy access.


We'll have to drop this one first next time....


20 or so skiers wreaked all the carnage you see in one run.


Jumpturn finds the deep and steeper....


powdherb getting into the rip of things....


Hmm, might be needing a snorkel soon.....


Nope, just gotta maintain speed.....


Whoa! Going deep ......


Planing out....


Pigging out ....

[p.blz]

This is sweet!

I'm glad you're there and posting again.

I have such incredibly fond memories of skiing in Cham and your pics bring back "that" feeling.

Looking forward to seeing where clear skies and stable snow takes you...

Keep up the good work.