Sunday 23 March 2014

Steep Vanoise 2014 last day

For the last day of this year's Steep Vanoise course it was time for a proper adventure.

The North couloir of the Grand Perron des Encombres has been on my list of things to do for a while, but lack of time, or a suitably fit, competent and motivated team, plus the need for a car shuttle to make life easy, have stopped me getting in there until now...

The Grand Perron seen from La Masse. The North couloir is just visible right of summit, disappearing behind the rocky ridge:


An icy ski down the Vanoise/Maurienne watershed ridge and a bit of traversing took us to the Col des Encombres, where we put skins on for the climb:


The Maurienne valley gradually comes into view:


An airy scramble to the summit:


Amanda, Vadim and Rod on the Grand Perron summit:


Looking down the North couloir from the summit:


Vadim finding powder high in the couloir:



Rod:


Amanda:



Team looking moody:



Looking back at the Grand Perron - the dogleg couloir obvious below the summit


A big thank you to Amanda, Rod and Vadim for being a great team - see you next year!

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