Rognon Mk.15 or so

Tues 25th: Cosmiques was on the agenda again until we heard reports of a big slide and lots of traffic the day before. Instead Steve, Tom Tom, Robyn and I went up for another lap of Gros Rognon. For once the CDMB seemed to be on form... we were up the top before 9am - without queuing... No idea why seeing as it was a powder day.

Snow was incredible. It had settled a bit from the day before but was still really soft. Some aspects were wind-crusted but Rognon was sublime. We chose to hug closer to the rock than usual - more tracks but hopefully better snow. Still we got fresh tracks all the way down to the mogul-field. Big smiles. We saw three locals skier's right flying down the lip of the bowl that often slides - nothing. The snow was stable. From the mogul field I spied a complete lack of tracks down from the Requin hut traverse to the Seracs du Geant and persuaded the others to follow me down. Deep, soft, completely untracked, no rocks. Sublime. Took the train down for the first time in months and were down by 12:15.

'Retro' Steve

Photo of a photo of a photo...

Thin layer of cloud giving some spectacular views

Dropping in off the Requin traverse

Only tracks...

Our plan was for a single run to relax after yesterday. My right knee was feeling pretty tender and I didn't want to push it. But when the snows that good... no chance. We persuaded TomTom and Robyn to come back up with us. I decided to use my new touring setup to get used to the Dynafit bindings. Another excellent run. Still fresh everywhere. I lead off to the bowl we'd seen the locals on earlier. Great shout. Snow was excellent. Great skiing and some fantastic photos. I'd already spied a line further off the Requin traverse in case we made it up for another lap. Finding it proved tricky. The sun had uncovered rocks that were previously hidden making it hard to work out where I was from the photo. Almost (bit of an exaggeration) went off a huge cliff band... Another quick exit as we had to make the 3pm train down. Walked straight onto it. Win.

Steve's 'fat' skis left vs my 'skinny' skis

Robyn, Steve and Tom Tom following

Taking advantage of the new skis

Steve on the lip

Robyn dropping into the bowl

Tom Tom kicking up snow

Steve on the way down from Requin

Only tracks again on the second lap...

I nabbed lots of these photos off Tom Tom.