Cour vic (ski tour)

After a day of South winds which dumped red sand and dust across France, 5-10cm of snow was forecast above 1000m so I hastily rallied the troops (Andy and Paula) for a modest ski tour. The snow has been iron hard for the last week or so but a bit of fresh on top suggested good conditions. In the early morning it looked dismal but as we arrived at Faup the clouds cleared the sun came out and great day looked possible.

The temperature stayed cold and after a kilometre in ski boots carrying our skis we finally reached the snow and could start skinning up to the Col de Pause. A group of skiers and snowshoers were ahead of us, who we exchanged places with throughout the morning. Mixed conditions skinning up to the cabin ONF, lower down we had to cross a stream which wetted the skins and made them ball up, then higher up the fresh snow wasn t sticking to the iron hard snow below and a few kick turns on the steep slopes felt exposed. After the cabin all was perfect and we changed our objective from Tuc de Bignau to Cour Vic as progress was slower than I had hoped.

We ascended the ridge behind the cabin and made a direct line for Cour Vic.

After the ridge above the cabin, Col de Pause at the extreme left

Nearing the summit

We'd watched strong winds arriving at the summits and by the time we reached Cour Vic the spindrift was blowing around. After some quick photos and a bite we decided to descend whilst the snow was still cold and light.

View of Valier from the summit

Cour Vic in the distance - a short carry to the col above Couret des Etangs

Descending to the Etang d'Areau (frozen and snow covered).

Although the couloir from Cour Vic beckoned (the other skiers descended it), Andy lacks confidence and experience off piste so we decided to stay together and return more or less the way we had come. It was a magnificent ski down in great snow and Andy didn't fall once!