Rime-covered mixed
Ice axes and crampons come out for a taste of frosty out-of-season mixed climbing.
With Arnaud.
Conditions at the start of this spring are very changeable, and after a fine, warm spell we are now in a period of unsettled weather. Arnaud fancies a slightly technical mountain day. For people on foot, the high mountains currently have too much snow. The Chamrousse gullies offer a varied range of fairly short lines of all difficulties, and their predominantly mixed character makes them forgiving on conditions: decision made.
From the resort, a quiet climb takes our heads out of the clouds: the gullies are there and we are alone!
To give Arnaud a gentle taste of this new activity, we start with the goulotte du chien, which today is a steep snow couloir dotted with a few short icy steps.
A touch of mixed ridge finally drops us in the sun to enjoy a landscape of silence.
After a short break, we take advantage of this beautiful weather window to go back down and link up with the neighbouring gully, known as the bloc coincé (jammed block). The level goes up a notch and the more numerous steps require a bit of determination.
The atmosphere of this second line is unique, with a passage through an icy chimney behind a jammed block. The frosted cleft sparkles with a thousand fragile, ephemeral glitters.
The mist wraps around us and the forecast clouds are here. This time we come out at the summit in a windless cotton-wool landscape that invites us to stop for a moment; still not a sound.
A big thank you, Arnaud, for this day in your pleasant company!
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