The Haute Maurienne: 7th April, 2012

A circular ski tour starting and ending in Val d'Isere

This is an excellent tour in the back country behind Val d'Isere and Tignes. The Haute Maurienne hangs between the Southern and the Northern Alps. It is a particularly snowy place and holds a numbers of records for the depth of snowfall.

Although many seasoned French tourers love this area, relatively few foreigners have explored its savage beauty, perhaps because, unlike its neighbours, it cannot boast a 4,000 metre peak. But this is to ignore the multitude of summits over 3,500 metres which help turn this trip into classic example of a ski tour.

It's a circular route, leaving from the the well known piste skiing base of Val d’Isere. It’s ironic that this resort area is so well visited and yet on the doorstep lies the Haute Maurienne with its empty cols, impressive summits and wild, open spaces. This fine scenery and the high quality of the accommodation combine to make this trip something really special.

Ski Touring Itinerary
DAY 1 - Fly to Geneva
We pick you up in our minibus and drive to Val d'Isere where we spend the night in a small hotel or pension. At this point you will meet your guide for a full briefing for the tour.

DAY 2 - To Refuge Carro
We set off from Val d'Isere using the telepherique to gain easy height. There will be the option of a warm up ski on piste before we head up to the narrow pass, Col de l'Ouille Noir from where it is a straightforward off piste ski down a gentle valley to the refuge Carro. We will use the early arrival time to practise with the avalanche transceivers.


DAY 3 - To the Refuge des Evettes
From the refuge this morning we ski over a moraine. This is basically a long traverse during which we seek to maintain altitude while continuing in a straight line about 500 metres below the Col de Trieve. It's a place where you need to be careful and follow exactly the Guide's advice as there are potential avalanches from above from high plaques of wind blown snow. Next we climb the 500 metres to the col up a 40 degree slope before continuing to the Col on a widely crevassed slope before skiing down the 150 metres to the Col de Disgrace. From there we descend a further 500 metres down to the refuge des Evettes.

DAY 4 - The Selle d'Albaron and on to the Refuge Gastaldi
On this day we start again on glacier but heading now to Italy. From the hut we climb to the Sella Albaro (3474) and then head on down to the petites murailles d'Italie (the little walls of Italy!) and from there on down towards our final hut - a ski of about 800 metres of descent. This part of the route can feel exposed in places. Our way comes out below the hut and we then have a steep climb on crampons to arrive at our dinner and beds for the night.

DAY 5 - Col d'Arnes and the Refuge d'Averole
This is a big day of a potential 1000 metres up and the same down again. We start on an easy slope to the Col d'Arnes. From here there is an optional extra climb to the Ouille d'Auberon at 3560. Alternatively we could ski straight the refuge.


DAY 6 - back to the Refuge Carro
Today we head down to the valley bottom to the last village on the map in this valley - Villaron. From here we take a very short taxi ride to the snowline at l'Ecot. Then we climb 900 metres to get back to the refuge Carro.

DAY 7 - Col du Montet and backto Val d'Isere
Now it's time to head back to Val d'Isere. We start on easy slopes to the col de Montet before descending on the edge of the glacier. We take a col just to the side of the Grand Aiguille Rouse before skiing on down past the refuge Prariond. From here we ski all the way back down the the ski resort.

DAY 8 - Fly back to UK
Today you head back to the airport to meet your return flight home.


Please Note: This itinerary may be altered if conditions, weather forecasts or the overall fitness of the group are judged to put the safety of the group at risk. Pyrenean Mountain Tour guides and instructors reserve the right to make changes to the itinerary without notice. These changes will be explained to the group if they occur.

EQUIPMENT AND CLOTHING NEEDED FOR THIS TREK
We recommend that people joining this trek are equipped with the following:

Technical equipment
Ski Touring Skis with Touring Bindings
Ski Poles
Skins (with good glue!)
Ski Crampons
Crampons
Ski Strap (for tying top of the skis together when carrying on rucksack)
Avalanche Transceiver
Climbing Harness
Snow Shovel

Clothing suggestions
Thermal underwear- 1 set as a base layer
Fleece
Waterproof jacket
Waterproof over trousers
Warm hat
Warm gloves
Warm walking socks
Sun hat or peaked cap
Sunglasses/Goggles

Other useful items
40-60 litre rucksack (needs side straps so that you can carry skis)
Head torch and batteries
Sun block for face and lips
Personal First Aid kit (plasters,compede, paracetamol)
Water bottle or Platypus
Penknife

Optional items
Change of clothing to include: underwear,tracksuit bottoms/ long-johns,dry shirt, spare socks.
Camera and film
Paperback novel
Maps
Ear plugs(there is always one snorer)
Snack bars/dried fruit/chocolate
Sheet sleeping bag (if you like them...)

Ski Touring Equipment Hire
Pyrenean Mountain Tours offer a full equipment hire pack. You can hire everything you need for this tour or individual items at the costs shown in the table below. Costs shown are per week. We are unable to provide equipment "last minute" so you need to book what you need well in advance.

Please remember to carry as little gear as possible. A heavy rucksack will make the trip hard work and less fun.