Out of the wind in Val d'Entremont

As soon as we got to La Fouly, my friends and I could see that the wind was too high for us to do our intended ski tour. Snow was whipping off the summits at the end of Val Ferret, and spindrift wound around the peaks. We executed a swift u-turn and headed back to Orsières to find another tour in the next valley over - Val d'Entremont.

Orsières.

After a brief look at a south-facing slope where there wasn't much snow, we settled on a tour from Dranse towards Crêta de Vella. And it was brilliant! We found great snow, and for most of the tour there was not a breath of wind.

In fact, this was a tour I did with my avalanche course a couple of years back, when there were similar conditions in the hills. Only this time, the snow was way better. After a climb of about 800 m we left the forest to find the ridge covered in powder.

We went a bit higher on the ridge, but by this stage the wind was starting to get a bit uppity, and the steep slopes ahead were wind-loaded, so we stopped. Taking the skins off the skis we marvelled at the awesome views, as well as just how easily skis slide without skins. Then we skied down.

Le Catogne and Val d'Entremont leading to the Vallée du Rhône.

Les Maisons Blanches. Grand Combin just poking its nose out on the right.

Dranse to Crêta de Vella - what a wonderful tour. It's well sheltered, interesting, and offers great views. Now I just need to go back and tag the summit!