3 Swiss Cols

I think everyone should go to Chamonix.  Some people might say that everybody is already in Chamonix.  But despite the obvious popularity, the experience is second to none.  Arriving Sunday evening after finishing the Pierra Menta, focus quickly shifted from racing to touring.

Discussions just after the Pierra Menta (Mar 15) with ex-pat Lyndsay Meyer had us more focused on the Grand Montets/Argentiere region.  Conditions were looking good for travel and we wanted to do something classic, so we decided to head out and ski the 3 Swiss Cols.  The route heads out from the top of the Grand Montets tram at almost 3300m.

Things were still a little socked in when we got to the top, so we thought we’d wait it out for a little.  The thought of skiing down through a glacier full of bus-eating crevasses with no visibility was less than inviting.  By the time we had descended to the Argentiere glacier, things had already started to clear and it appeared as though the forecast blue skies were on their way.

We weren’t without company on our journey, this tour also serves as day 1 to the traditional Haute route.  There were several groups working their way up to the Col du Chardonnet, as well as a bunch of military personnel heading further up the glacier.  With some of the icy skinning on the way up, we were thankful to have our wall-to-wall skins with us since most everyone else was wearing ski-crampons.  When we got to the col there was a group of Spaniards rappelling down the back side to the Saleina glacier and Switzerland, they asked if we had anything longer than a 30m rope, but unfortunately that was all we were carrying.  Julie and I threw on some crampons and downclimbed past the group of 4, with another guided group hot on our heels.  A little bit of ‘schrund jumping at the bottom and we were gliding down to make our way up to la fenetre de Salenia.

Bootpacking up to the col brings you over to the the Trient Glacier.  We kept the skins on for the easy traverse over to the col superior de la Tour, which leads to the Tour glacier and back to the valley of Chamonix.  It’s at this point that you could turn East and continue along the traditional Haute route.

Skiing down from the col, we passed a large group on their way up to the Trient hut.  Instead of dealing with the col du Chardonnet, however, this group had climbed directly from the Argentiere glacier, up through the col du Passon, and were looking pretty much done when we passed them.

Skiing wind pressed snow, into breakable wind slab, and down towards some spring schmoo, eventually you join up with the runs of the La Tour ski station.  A 15 min wait and you’re back on the bus to Chamonix…what a great first tour!