Ski tour Mont Ceint

Snow over the last couple of days hatched a plan for ski up Mont Ceint/Pic de Girantes. Only Paula was available at short notice so just the two of us headed up from the Etang de Lers. Low cloud and cold temperatures forced a retreat from the col at 1830m. The snow was so good we skinned back up for a second descent before heading for home. 

and now snowy

Snow overnight which quickly melted from the trees in the morning sunshine.

Coumarba

cascading droplets

Snow crystal balanced on a leaf

hiding cat

 

Sunny

Typical February weather with highs in the sun of 28 or more and night time temperatures below zero.

Everywhere is very dry but there is snow forecast next weekend.

Hazy horizons from Joubac

A wander up above the col de Pause yesterday afternoon - the barrier which blocks the road seems to get lower every year! Snowshoes only necessary from the col and the track to the Cabane d'Areau very hard ice névé until the cattlegrid. Summer dress and snowshoes were the ideal combo in these conditions!

one way winter... 

the other summer....well almost

Rest in Peace Debbie

Susie's sister passed away a few weeks ago. She was diagnosed only 9 months ago with MND/FLD.

Ski tour Tuc des Hemmes

A quickly hatched plan to make the most of the meagre snow cover. Head for the Val d'Aran (Spain) and snatch Pic de Port Viehla, a peak I'd skied in 2004 with Paul Hadfield. It's a couple of hours or more in the car, so Paula and Andy decided to travel the day before, stay in a hotel and get up at a reasonable time. When they got there I got a worried call about the lack of snow!

I decided it would probably be OK so joined them early the following morning. -5 degrees in the valley and we set off through the forest on an icy hard frozen (but snowy) track.

Eventually we left the forest behind and made it onto the mountainside. the snow was variable - sometimes powdery, often hard and sometimes with a breakable crust. I hoped it would improve. When Paul and I did the peak we climbed on the other side of the river too early and ended up on some sketchy terrain. This time we attempted to follow the classic route but still missed the lake. As the snow cover was very poor on the side of the valley leading to our objective we looked for another.

To our left was the rock pyramid of Tuc des Hemmes and on it's right was a steep snow slope that looked inviting! Constantly in shade we hoped the snow would be still powdery.

Tuc des Hemmes - the obvious rock pyramid

Our new objective the ramp leading up to the col on the right of the Tuc

Looking back to the Port de Viehla and the Peak which takes it's name on the right

Lunch spot

After lunch Paula and I skinned up the slope which was steeper than it first looked - but the snow had stayed fluffy and the ski down was magnificent!

The descent was a very mixed bag, nice from our lunch spot but getting progressively worse as we descended. Old tracks were frozen hard, snow in the sun had breakable crust but pockets of powder could be found. Lower down the snow was just too thin.....rocks and bushes to try and avoid.

A day of mixed snow, but worth the effort.