Croisse Baulet and Petit Croisse Baulet

Not the first day of the season but the first that I have remembered to write about. We started too late from just above Cordon. It was a nice skin up the track but the moment we hit the sun, the skins got sticky.

The snow on the way down was terrible. A nice day nonetheless and a route to be repeated in better conditions and without every man and his dog there.

Stats:

Depart 11h04, Summit:12h28, parking 16h01

14.85km 1167m+

Aiguille du Midi through the trees

Late afternoon sun on the summit

Splendid panorama of the Mont Blanc

The west face of the Aravis

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Pointe de Balafrasse

17.12.2023

I want to write about this one quickly before going away. We weren’t expecting much, with the hot weather and rain during the week, but we were surprised. Good spring skiing conditions, albeit in December, with carpet-like soft snow on the top.

Stats:

Depart 09h45, Summit:13h15, parking 14h15

10.8km 992m+

Combe de Paccaly

07.12.2023

On the Wednesday morning I was not expecting to go skiing on Thursday. An opportune message from a friend proposing a quick morning outing with the goal of being back in the office for lunch arrived like a sign from a devine being. Fortunately I had nothing of real importance scheduled for the morning and the plan for an express trip to the Aravis was planned.

Leaving Geneva at 7h45, we headed towards la Clusaz hoping to capitalise on an abundant last few days of snow and predicted blue skies. Early morning light was not hopeful as by 8h30 the sky was still grey and covered by thin veil of cloud. However, as we passed Cluses the blue skies started to present themselves and by the time we’d passed Saint Jean de Sixt the decision to take the morning off was vindicated.

Boots on then at the XC parking at les Confins and we set off behind one or two other groups. The advantage of having more or less rested since Sunday and having a fast partner was evident in our pace. We were averaging about 850m+ per hour with some fresh snow and in no time we had 600m+ under our feet. A brief stop to remove jackets and we were on our off.

We made the top after 2h15 and took in the panorama of the Massif du Mont Blanc to the east and les Bauges and alpine foothills to the west.

Skins off and time to have some fun in the powder. It was a descent verging on perfect and with a partner skiing fast and with such ease it made me look like a total beginner. Before I knew it, we were at the car and it was over. The objective was to be back in the office by 14h and on that account I failed. 14h03 would have to do.

Stats:

Depart: 9h15, Summit: 11h30, Parking: 12h15

9.8km 1013m+