I skied with Mike a couple of weeks back (Dam powder) and he took some photo’s which I like :

Just click on them to get the larger versions.

It’s not snowed for a while now and it’s been peak holiday time so all the off-piste is totally tracked out, but it’s been cold and if you’re prepared to put some climbing in then there’s still some great snow to be found. I rode the lifts to the Bella Tolla and then climbed the south east side of the Bella Tolla, I started on skins but the hard icy snow soon needed ski crampons and even then I was struggling to make progress so I racked the skis and scrambled up to the ridge at the top. From there I’m rewarded with a view into the valley, it’s not untracked but it’s certainly not tracked out and the snow’s obviously pretty good.

Google Earth Track File


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I’ve stood on the other side of the valley a couple of times recently and wondered about doing this route, it’s pretty short but I’ve not been over the Basset de Lona before, I’ve been over by Lac Lona, the Diablon and Sassiniere etc and skied from those places to the Lac de Moiry Barrage. Like all the lines in that area this starts from the top of the lift system at Grimentz and goes to the Col des Becs de Bosson, from there it drops to the Lac Lona. The descent to the Lac Lona was breakable crust with isolated pockets of transformed snow, so skiable but awkward in places.

Google Earth Track File


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I just added a quick review, a sort of half season review in fact, for the Voodoo from Black Diamond. Basically, I like them and I’m going to keep hammering them….

Black Diamond Voodoo Review