March 20th, 2010 | 
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There was a massive avalanche on the way up to the Col du Lauteret yesterday afternoon. It happened just after five in the evening between the villages of Casset and Lauzet. There were two seperate slides seperated by about 30 minutes which came off the Aiguilette du Lauzet.
Col du Lautaret avalanche
Last night a car was buried under snow on the RD 902 just outside Barcelonnette, the road had been closed because of the danger of avalanches, but the occupants decided to ignore the signs.
The car in which four people had a miraculous escape
Today we headed up to Ceillac to get some skis for Ollie to rent for the season. It turned out that the slope next to the rental shop was just perfect for Ollie to learn how to ski.
Ollie getting the hang of skiing
This was the first day skiing of the season for both Ollie and me. Evie didn’t have a go, but she did ask to have a go next time so we will have to sort out some mini ski’s for her. Read the rest of this entry »
Back on the Eissassa Rog and I spotted some likely lines over on the Peouvou. Rog was most keen on the left hand line, but we didn’t know if it went through the cleft in the rocks. I was after the right hand couloir with the S at the top.
I had seen this couloir from Ceillac back at the beginning of January and have been keen to ski it ever since. I can’t find any record of it having been skied, neither in the guidebook, nor on any ski topo websites, nor asking around here, so it is probably a first descent.
Pointe des Marcelettes is a great ski tour, right in the middle of the Queyras, with fantastic views and a real mountain feel to the summit. There are a few different descent possibilities, the north east and North West slopes tend to hold the snow well, but have a reputation for fatal avalanches. The south west slopes are not that steep and are great if you get the spring snow in just the right conditions.
The couloir that I had intended to ski with Hubert on Sunday was still un-skied. Alex and Dave had had a few days warming up in the area so I managed to convince them to have a go at it.
I saw a nice looking couloir on the pic du Jaillon last weekend when I was up at Arvieux skiing with Ollie. I had a look in the book and couldn’t find it so I managed to get Hubert interested in going and checking it out.
My old website has seen no updates for a long time because I have been trying to launch a new version. I have finally got round to it, and hope you like it. Read the rest of this entry »