TR: Zee Alps…Haute Route, Vallee Blanche, Rond Glacier

[madturtle]

Chamonix is not a bad place to be on a sunny Saturday afternoon….


But realizing that jet lag would catch up with us if we didn’t get out soon we climbed up some rocks at the Berevant


And were rewarded with this view of the Chamonix and Mont Blanc


The view inspired us to seek out some fresh snow to ski down


Next day wasn’t quite so nice but we went out and skied anyway at the Grand Montet

Day 3 We start the Haute Route -4/7/08


Started the week off under fabulous blue skies but a little windy up on the ridge tops


Our guide Steven leading through the crevasses


After many hours of skiing skinning, booting and even a short rappel carried us across two cols and across the plateau the Trient Hut finally comes into view…


Friendly advice


Enjoying a sunset from the deck


Next day we had a long ski down to Champex


Not quite enough snow to ski all the way to town so we walked a bit at the end


Next day wasn’t the best vis…


But there was still skiing to be done


The Prafleuri Hut was just about full


Genevieve would rather ski than do any more skinning


Towlie “zee polar bear” is never cold


Prafleuri to Dix was fueled by rosti’s


Somebody ate and drank so much they had to call in another load of beer and rosti’s


Mrs. MT doing a boot packing up to the Col d’???? (too many names to remember)


Genevieve being careful not to look down along the Bertol catwalk


Vertigo anyone?


The Bertol Hut, and finally some sun!


Tie yourself to your buddies so you don’t fall in the crevasses alone


Obligatory summit photo from the Tete Blanche




Skiing down towards Zermatt from the Tete Blanche


And the view…


That’s Mrs MT off in the distance wishing she had a longer run


Some trickery allows Towlie to ski uphill in Europe




Steven and I, not as clever, ski down this little couloir towards the bottom of the run


The Matterhorn


Mission accomplished!


Many beers were consumed that evening

[madturtle]

After a rest day we headed over to the Aguille d’Midi

Lot’s of alpinistes in france…


Towlie roping up for the skin across the Vallee Blanche to Italy


Skinning across the Valle Blanche towards Italy


Mrs MT and Genevieve w/ the Italian Alps in the background


Genevieve on the far side of the Mere du Glace. I couldn’t find the name in the guide book.


Towlie tearing it up


Towlie on the Petite Envers(?)


Mashed potatoes don’t seem to affect Genevieve


Mrs MT isn’t getting slowed down any either


Towlie sporting the winter camouflage


Genevieve moves into the shade for better snow


Clouds are rolling in but Mrs MT isn’t slowing down


The Mere du Glace (sp?)

Last day I caught up w/ my buddy Darin to ski the Rond Glacier. 2300’ of 45-50 degree couloir finished the trip off with a bang


Standard tips and chute shot looking down the main couloir. Missed the hanging glacier shot.


Yours truly near the bottom of the main couloir


Darin just after we dropped off the hanging glacier


Darin still about 2/3 of the way down, yup it was a long one


Once we got down from the Glacier Rond we jumped back on the lift at the mid station for 1 more quick run down the Petite Envers route and just barely made the shuttle train. Unfortunately they had closed the gondola so we had to boot up in a hurry.


1 of many celebratory beers


Annecey is were the tourists go to unwind


Climbing above Lake Annecy


Sun setting over Lake Annecy

...and appologies to those who speak french for my attrocious spelling and lack of route detail

[Sinecure]

Wow! What an amazing TR! When was this?

You've reminded me that I need to get passports for Little Miss and Son of Sinecure. I'd love to take my kids on this trip in a couple of years when Little Miss can handle the steeps and carry some of her own gear. I'd be hauling a lot of stuff on the trip, but it'd be a ton of fun.

Thanks again. Oh, and this picture is amazing. The clouds atop Mont Blanc are incredible.

[Ripzalot]

très joli!

[highflyingpilot]

FKNA! Very, very nice. I dream of skiing the haute route one day...

[Scottish_Skier]

nice
talk about getting a load of stuff done!

[cramp]

Awesome. I always enjoy reading Chamonix stoke ...

[philippeR]

Bah, your spelling sucks.



Strong work !

[Meathelmet]

Pimp!
Good stuff there.

[verbier61]

very nice report, thanks!! the first cabane in the pictures looks more like the cabane de dix rather than the cabane de trient.. who was your guide... stephan hadick? looks like he brought you in a nice selection of couloirs, nice job. How did you like the G3 sticks you used?

[Hicks]

This is a kick-ass pic, thx for sharing.

[klar]

^^ x2

awesome cloud.

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

nice! I was wondering if you were going to put up some pics from this trip.

[Idris]

Nice one Madturtle. I've only been away from home (Cham) for 2 1/2 weeks and I'm starting to get realy homesick

[adimmen]

very, very cool

[Gerome]

Wow, nice accomplishment in a week, absoultely stunning. That's on my list of destinations for sure.

[hutash]

Now I am really jealous. I had hoped to do a similar trip this year, but work and finances did not line up. Shit!!!

That looked fantastic, thanks for sharing.

[AsheanMT]

Awesome! Definitely one of my life's goals.

[MashedPotatoes]

zat was zee eurofabulous!

Incroyable!

[Jack Burton]

Damn that last chute looks really nice. Nice work.

[CDubz]

Wow awesome TR!

[hardboiled]

excellent!! nice work dude, looks like a helluva trip.

[matanuskaski]

Way to get er done.. It's hard to believe that it's only been a month and a half since my trip to the Alps.. Your's is definitely the trip I wish I would have had, but with no touring partners it's tough.. Amazing photos and skiing all around .. mad props madturtle!

[FrontRangeDrummer]

Very Nice!

[MadPatSki]

Fantastique!!!