This am we geared up with snow shoes sticks and crampons in our packs and headed for Grand Montets. We were lucky enough to get the 10:15 lift to the very top wjhere it was a bit windy and about -18 degrees but not at all icy. We dipped right and below the avalanche ropes.We desecended to the glacier with Neil filming then we donned our snowshoes and hiked across to the other side of the glacier (left) between the crevasses which are so stunning yet so scary.
We started ascending in zig zag lines unroped and pretty steady and were worried about the skiers above us setting a more vertical line that could have triggered an avalanche on us. Eventually our lines got steeper and I was taking it slower. We stopped briefly for lunch in the beautiful sunshine and no wind but it was deceptive as it soon chilled us down and I put on a layer and beanie. Not long before we hiked again 6 more steep switchbacks.
Then we changed into crampons on a hairy slope and I was worried about dropping kit as we had already watched someone's rucksack descend a long way down. That next section was vertical up to the Col- cutting steps. It’s like doing single leg squats for another hour. As we got towards the top the wind and snow were blowing so hard and hitting my face kike sandblasting and trying to blow my board and me off with it.
There were about 3 hairy steps where I was concerned I would slip as every time any of us tried to put weight there the snow crumbled, but Neil and Ralph were close by urging me through. Finally I crawled out at the top on my knees- sheer fright and relief. Hair frozen and wind blowing snow like sandpaper.
Everyone was in "survival mode"-I put my helmet on my icy hair and got an ice cream headache from hell! Quickly redressed and packed away snowshoes and crampons, but my goggles were iced up and only Ralph could help me out to clear them. Then we hiked up again! Over the cornices to strap on at the peak height and descend on our boards out of this wind. I was struggling at the back of the group to climb in the wind holding on to my board with two arms wrapped round it.
We had to hike some more over the glacier flats then we hit fantastic powder and had the most mellow swoopy sweet turns for over 2000m until we dropped in to Le Tour base. Best conditions we'd had all week and so many fresh tracks.
We finished on some lumpy bumpy bits at Le Tour through the trees and onto a shockingly icy flat piste! What a change. Wow we had great conditions.
Completely knackered! Had a 30 min snooze then we went out for curry at Tigre Tigre in Chamonix, which was very nice british run place. Given I don't do curry it was alright!
Tomorrow we hope to heli board if the winds stay down- so far they are forecast for 40-60km/hr.
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