Back in the Game!

Grand Autannes to Trient!

Deep deep powder, not a single track to be seen and a random hitch home with a German dude! What more could you want for in a ski tour.

SO the plan was to tour followed by a boot pack to the top of the Grand Autannes (2680m) and ski back down to Le Tour via Lac Charmiliion and the Vormaine gully.

Howevere 3/4's of the way up the G. Autannes the snow pack became VERY unstable and the wind was increasign rapidly so we traversed left to the ridge line.
From here a careful check of the cornice revealed a huge untouched bowl filled with powder. As I was once again the guinea pig carefully dropping in, the snow felt pretty stable. A turn later and theres a 40ft wide fracture and a lot of snow fireing down the slope. A speedy traverse out of the slab and we were back in the game on a much safer gradient. Heading over the mound slightly skiers left revealled even more untracked lines as we crusied down to the narrow gully followed by a gentle run into Peutry and Trient.
It is possible to join the gully at the beggining, in the middle around the bushes, like we did, or even right down by the trees/forest at the bottom.

Another variation would be to head skiers right after the first pitch and then ski directly down to the gully instead of on the diagonal.

On arrival in Peutry a quick realisation that not a lot goes on here meant that any chance of getting a lift home involved a walk into Trient (5-10 mins). 20 mins later and all 3 of us complete with gear where crammed in the back of a german heli-skiers car n route back to France!
A quick lift back up from Vallorcine and home via a few routes in Le Tour.


Snow conditions on Posettes is "sketchy to say the least. VERY VERY slippery on a muddy base. I wouldnt recommend doing the route after midday!!