The mountains look so beautiful!

 

Not much to report compared to our last update...this may change very quickly with the arrival of the föhn!

 

Lifts still open are: Grands Montets, Aiguille du Midi, Montenvers and the Skyway.

 

From Sunday evening, the Albert 1er refuge will be closed, and the Requin refuge will be manned by reservation only. The winter rooms will be accessible .

 

For hiking, there are no changes from our last update.

 

 

Lots going on here. The Aiguille du Tour, Petite Fourche and Tête Blanche are still being done. The Chardonnet remains very dry, and there is rock at the exit of the Migot spur (not climbed).

 

The Col Supérieur du Tour remains the best option if you are crossing the ridge.

 

To return to Le Tour, descend the moraine towards the "cabane électrique" (electric hut).

 

 

Ski touring is still flavour of the month! All the cols are being done. The Aiguille d'Argentière and the Aiguille du Chardonnet are loaded.

 

It felt pretty hot yesterday afternoon when the sun came out.

 

A few purges were observed on the NE face of the Courtes. The Col des Cristaux rimaye looks complicated to cross.

 

 

 

It's best to use the central couloir to reach the refuge.

 

There is little activity in the sector due to bad weather. The couloirs and the rimayes are well filled. Be careful to adapt your route according to your skills.

 

Pointe Isabelle looks magnificent and well-filled. You'll have to trail break.

 

 

 

 

 

The equipment on the arête will be dismantled over the next few days and the Z will be maintained until May 12.

 

The whole sector is in good condition (as long as the wind doesn't blow!)

 

The Contamines-Grisolle, Chéré, Gabarrou-Albinoni and Lafaille gullies are being done regularly, as well as the Cosmiques Arête and the Pointes Lachenal. Approaches can be made on skis or snowshoes.

 

Note to skiers: some steep slopes are hard, so think about using crampons, ropes etc

 

The Tacul was attempted yesterday, but they turned back at the last rimaye, which is difficult to cross  (see photo above).

 

 

 

Even if the wind has worked the snow, conditions in the Vallée Blanche are still very good, even from the Col d'Entrèves. The Salle à Manger is still going strong and the Combe du Requin is filled in. You can ski all the way to the gondola.

 

The Brèche Puiseux is still being skied and is in good condition.

 

 

 

The ascent of Mont Blanc is still in condition. The route remains the same: Jonction (higher path), Plateaux then Corridor.

 

The N ridge of the Dôme du Gouter and the 2nd "bosse" are still icy. The mur de la cote is also hard, so crampons are needed. The N face has been skied, and conditions are starting to look good in the middle of the slope.

 

 

 

Activity all over the place: on Mont Tondu, Col des Lanchettes and Armancette.

 

The biggest difficulty is the Mauvais Pas, because of ice above it; this should improve with the arrival of the foehn, already present today.

 

 

Translated with kind permission from an original report by La Chamoniarde.

Readers are reminded that conditions in mountain environments are prone to (sometimes rapid) change and that they should use their own best judgement when visiting them.