Lots of ski touring teams are out skiing many high mountain itineraries at the moment and enjoying the great weather and reasonable spring conditions. In the Argentiere basin yesterday there were teams on nearly all the classic tours including Col d’Argentiere, Tour Noir, Passon, and the Aiguille d’Argentiere. The hard skiers right access to the upper Argentiere Glacier was in good shape and gives a scenic glacier journey and reduces the long flat skin up the valley.
The snow on the SW facing slopes below the Col d’Argentiere had turned from powder to crust in 1 day and the better skiing was lower down where fine spring snow prevailed. We crossed the North / South facing lower col on the skiers left of the Col d’Argentiere descent via a steep skinning track! The normal left hand exit on the Argentiere Glacier was in good condition.
Lots of teams were also skiing on the steep NE slope on Les Courtes and Col de Cristaux higher up the Argentiere Basin.
Entering the classic ice fall skiers right descent of the Argentiere Glacier
Many teams also enjoying reasonable conditions in the Vallee Blanche with good powder on the shadier north facing slopes high on the Italian side today with teams also enjoying steep N facing powder on the Aiguille du Toule, all the classic cols in that sector and reasonable springs on the S facing Glacier de Toule. The steeper couloir entering the Toule below the old Rifugio Torino was also skied.
Over in the Aiguilles Rouges, there was reasonable spring snow on the South facing slopes below the Col de Dard past the Lac and the cover in the Berade Valley means an exit this way, with a bit of walking, is still an option. Warm spring weather continuing all week. Bon ski!
