Haute Route 2007
Chamonix to Zermatt, Alps- April 15 - 23
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| Once again this April, NCMG offered a crossing
of the Alps on the legendary high route from Chamonix to Zermatt.
Due to a few last minute changes in registration, we had a very
small group this year, making our normally low ratio trip even
lower. Joining IFMGA guides Jeff Ward and Larry Goldie this
year were Mark Kryder of Pittsburgh, PA, Marv Toland of Seattle,
WA and Ron Seidel of Reno, NV. |
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| As usual we began the trip with our "shakedown"
day in the Vallee Blanche. Under perfect blue skies, we
skied down one of the most famous ski runs in the world.
Here Ron skis in front of an icefall just above the Salle
a Manger. |
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| In an inopportune, forgetful moment on
day 1 of the tour, Mark realized that he had left his
skins back in the hotel in Chamonix. After a few minutes
of deliberation a plan was formulated. Larry and Mark
would ski back down, take the bus into Chamonix, retrieve
the skins and take a different route to meet back up with
the rest of the group. They rode the bus up to Le Tour
and took the lifts to the top of the small ski area. They
then toured up to the Albert Premier hut, planning to
spend the night there and catch the group on the following
day. |
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| The main hut had not yet opened for the
season and thus the pair decided to spend the night in
the "winter room". This room at the Albert Premier
hut is actually the old hut seen in the right side of
this photo. While the hut was fairly spartan, there were
bunks with blankets, a kitchen, wood stove, slippers and
many of the comforts of the fully staffed huts. The big
difference was that we were the only ones there. |
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| Later that afternoon, several French
ski mountaineers arrived and joined us in getting the
hut warmed up, cleaning the kitchen and cooking up a wonderful
meal. We enjoyed their company and shared a very memorable,
quiet night for a very unusual hut experience. |
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| Meanwhile Jeff, Ron and Marv spent the
night at the newly remodeled Trient hut. The next morning
they made the 4000' descent down the Val de Arpette into
the town of Champex. |
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| Just a few hours later, Larry and Mark
followed them down the same run. After crossing the Col
de Tour, they skied across the Plateau du Trient and then
descended the Val de Arpette in perfect corn. The whole
group was reunited at our favorite bakery in Champex later
that morning. |
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| We took a taxi to the village of Le Chable,
just below the ski resort of Verbier. After riding a series
of lifts, and stopping to watch a speed skiing competition,
we skied the pistes of Verbier down to the Mt. Fort hut,
where we would spend the night. |
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| The route from the Mt Fort hut to the
Praflueri parallels the other main variation to the route.
Here Marv skis down with the Grand Combin behind. On the
original variation of the route, skiers climb over the
shoulder of the Grand Combin on it's opposite side. |
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| Then it was up and over several cols
to reach the Grand Desert glacier and the summit of the
Rosablanche. Here Mark and Marv climb up to the summit
of this peak on the way to the Praflueri hut. |
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| After leaving the Praflueri hut, we crossed
one col and then did a huge traverse above Lac Dix (the
highest dammed lake in the world). Here the group has
climbed through the Pas du Chat passage with the lake
visible below. |
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| The next destination was the Dix hut.
This hut sits on a spectacular perch that allows for several
great ski opportunities nearby. We often opt to spend
two nights at this hut, to offer those who desire a rest
day, as well as spend a day on one of the amazing ski
mountaineering objectives nearby. |
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| Seen here is Mt Blanc du Cheilon - one
of the ski mountaineering objectives near the hut, and
our goal for our second day at the Dix hut. The route
follows the glacier through the col at the bottom right,
then through the icefall on the right side of the photo,
then finally up the right hand skyline. |
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| After starting up the peak, Ron, who
had been fighting a cold for much of the trip, decided
that this was a good opportunity for a rest day. Jeff
continued up with Mark and Marv, seen here on the upper
glacier of the peak. |
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| After climbing to the first and easiest
summit, the team decided to climb to the true, rocky summit
of the peak. Jeff led the team up some moderate scrambling
on solid rock. |
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| Another bluebird day made for comfortable
climbing temperatures and an enjoyable time on the summit. |
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| The following day we packed up and made
our way toward our last hut of the trip. This is a fairly
big day, climbing up and over the Pigne de Arolla along
the way. This is often the highest point of the entire
trip and usually offers some great skiing on the descent.
Here Mark and Marv ski the last few strides to the summit
of the Pigne. |
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| The weather was balmy once again and
we enjoyed a leisurely lunch on the summit of the Pigne.
From left to right are Mark, Jeff, Larry, Marv and Ron. |
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| The snow had softened nicely and we skied
great corn down the opposite side of the Pigne. Our route
would then climb to the Col de L'Eveque seen just left
of the rocky summit in the middle background. |
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| We put skins on and started the gentle,
though warm climb up to the Col de L'Eveque. |
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| Our destination was the Nakamuli hut
just over the border in Italy. We have begun using this
hut for the last night instead of the Vignettes hut. It
makes the final day into Zermatt a bit shorter as well
as being a smaller hut with better food and great coffee. |
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| After climbing over 3 cols, we began
the long, incredible run into Zermatt. Here Jeff skis
down along an icefall on the upper Stockji glacier. |
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| Showers, fresh clothes and our own rooms
greeted us in Zermatt, but we still wanted more. We awoke
the following to day to yet more bluebird weather. We
decided to take advantage of the lifts of the Zermatt
ski area and get some mileage on some lift served corn
snow for the day. |
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| The best snow was found on the Italian
side of the ski area (Cervinia), so we felt obligated
to stop for a leisurely Italian sit down lunch slopeside.
It was a fitting end to a wonderful week of good times
and perfect weather, skiing in the Alps. |
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