Mont Blanc du Tacul 4 August '09

So, did they work, and how were they? Show everyone proof that your ride was a success (or even a complete failure)!

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Idris
Posts: 382
Joined: Wed Jun 29, 2005 3:34 pm
Location: Chamonix, France
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Mont Blanc du Tacul 4 August '09

Post by Idris »

Monday was a storm day, I tried to ski but just found the top of the Aiguille du Midi inside a very damp cloud :( - it's not often you see drizzle at 3800m !

Back again tuesday morning, bright and sunny and crisp. A few carefull turns down the ridge (this picture is from my previous ski trip up here)

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followed by some open sweaping turns, a crevase jump and some straight lining brings me to the col du Midi and the start of my climb

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A quick look around

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I skiined up the first 300m or so, then decided to follow the nice bootpack made by all the mountainers. Easier than skiining on a 40-45 degree slope.

At the top Mont Maudit and Mont Blanc loom large above

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The upper part of the mountain was wind hardend but not real ice. As soon as I dropped below things improved. 10 to 20cm of fresh on a hard to icy base. sometimes with a little windcrust.

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Great views down into the valley

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Kept stopping to say hellow to all the mountainers sloging their way up
Most of them thought my skis were too wide. I was glad of the width whenever I hit patches of crust.

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A realy nice day out, nice but not stellar conditions. When i got back down to the Col du Midi things had softend up a lot. I didn't need skins to make headway until the steepest part of the climb back to the lift. By which time it was best to walk anyway.

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doughboyshredder
Posts: 1354
Joined: Mon Sep 17, 2007 7:37 pm

Post by doughboyshredder »

I really enjoy your reports. Hope to go to Europe someday for snow.
oscarius
Posts: 5
Joined: Mon Oct 19, 2009 4:11 am
Location: estocholmo

Post by oscarius »

^^ second that
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