This was the third and final day of the day of the advanced avalanche course. We went up to Les Diablerets again where it was still windy but at 50kph rather less than the 70kph we’d “enjoyed” on Friday. The main objective was to run some avalanche scenarios and we were joined by Roger Payne who set one of those scenarios up.

We took a run down to Oldenegg later but in fact the snow was quite disappointing really, the piste was nice enough but the off-piste had a hard crust and wasn’t too much fun really.

I’ve been skiing the last few days (finally) on my new Black Diamond Voodoo’s which arrived last Wednesday. My initial impression is pretty good, I’m using them with my Garmont MegaRides which are probably a little on the soft side for this ski and it’s noticeable from time to time, I want to use these boots as they’re pretty light but if it doesn’t work out then I’ll use my Garmont Endorphins instead which are dramatically stiffer. In fact, I’d have been slightly disappointed if the MegaRides were immediately positive as I’d then have regretted not putting Dynafit bindings onto the skis instead of the Fritschi Freerides I’ve had fitted. If the MegaRides do work out long term then I’ll probably swap the binding to the Dynafit Vertical ST at the end of the season in time for longer spring tours.

I’m attending an advanced avalanche course right now based out of Leysin, CH. The guide and instructor is Julie-Ane Clyma who’s based here in Leysin. The lift system’s not fully running today in Leysin so we went over to Les Diablerets/Glacier 3000. The bad news on arrival was that it was blowing a 70kph wind on the top, that’s bad enough normally but it’s especially difficult at Glacier 3000 as one of the key lifts is susceptible to wind.

Thanks today to Rich Hatton, who is also on the course, for supplying some of the photographs for this blog. I’m the guy in green but it was a bit cold to take my hood and hat off to pose for photo’s really!


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As Les Diablerets / Glacier 3000 had a lift running it was an excellent chance to get out and test my new ski boots, a pair of Garmont Endorphins.

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This is a popular local tour around the Glacier de Tsanfleuron at Les Diablerets. Les Diablerets used to open for summer skiing but after going bankrupt a couple of years ago they no longer bother. The tour takes in three cantons, the Vaud, the Valais and Bern. Luckily I’d picked a pretty much perfect day for it.

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