Sat saw Myself (Kenton), Andy "the accountant" Eggleston, and Charlotte Daniel on a short tour at Les Contamines. We had all been working hard all week and were looking forward to a great day out and we weren't disappointed.
Using the lift system of Les Contamines we could gain most of our height leaving a more freindly skin. (You can get a walkers ticket for €12 before 10am). We all found skiing in touring kit a bit odd after the last few weeks of downhill equipment and deep snow, Andy almost wiped out just getting to the lift!!! From the very top lift, which we all nearly fell off, you simple head off to the left, ski down a few hundred meters and slap skins on. From here a mellow skin of a few hours (remember this was our day off and we stopped for lunch and a sunbath) brings you to the first col. You can ski from here but we wanted to boot packed up the ridge for 15mins and then another 20min skin to the Col Des Chasseurs.
The views were awesome, Mont Blanc was standing proud to the North while way of south you could see the mountains of the Ecrin. The ski down didn't let us down either. Chalky snow at the top gave way to lovely even powder with only a handful of tracks (well worth the extra 45mins from the 1st Col). We laid down a beautiful set of tracks down from the Col and into the wide basin below. From here a narrow track leads back to the lifts. This was VERY icy and I ended up on my bum more than once, while leading the other two into someones back garden by mistake (Opps, never follow a guide!!).
A short skate along the Ski Du Fond tracks brought us almost to the car and a lovely beer in the late afternoon ski. All in all a lovely day out, no stress great weather and wonderful company.
Thank you Andy (for the photos and wit) and Charlotte for beer at the end (even if it was with Andy's money).
Kenton
Sat saw Myself (Kenton), Andy "the accountant" Eggleston, and Charlotte Daniel on a short tour at Les Contamines. We had all been working hard all week and were looking forward to a great day out and we weren't disappointed.
Using the lift system of Les Contamines we could gain most of our height leaving a more freindly skin. (You can get a walkers ticket for €12 before 10am). We all found skiing in touring kit a bit odd after the last few weeks of downhill equipment and deep snow, Andy almost wiped out just getting to the lift!!! From the very top lift, which we all nearly fell off, you simple head off to the left, ski down a few hundred meters and slap skins on. From here a mellow skin of a few hours (remember this was our day off and we stopped for lunch and a sunbath) brings you to the first col. You can ski from here but we wanted to boot packed up the ridge for 15mins and then another 20min skin to the Col Des Chasseurs.
The views were awesome, Mont Blanc was standing proud to the North while way of south you could see the mountains of the Ecrin. The ski down didn't let us down either. Chalky snow at the top gave way to lovely even powder with only a handful of tracks (well worth the extra 45mins from the 1st Col). We laid down a beautiful set of tracks down from the Col and into the wide basin below. From here a narrow track leads back to the lifts. This was VERY icy and I ended up on my bum more than once, while leading the other two into someones back garden by mistake (Opps, never follow a guide!!).
A short skate along the Ski Du Fond tracks brought us almost to the car and a lovely beer in the late afternoon ski. All in all a lovely day out, no stress great weather and wonderful company.
Thank you Andy (for the photos and wit) and Charlotte for beer at the end (even if it was with Andy's money).
Kenton
