Tour Ronde North Face, 28/04/16

A short film from an incredible day's skiing.
On Thursday, Grant and I wandered up into the Combe Maudite, as there are a number of routes here on various different aspects, so despite the westerly winds of the night before, we knew that we'd find something good to ski. We studied the various cliffs and couloirs above our heads through my binoculars, and one of our options for the day, the north east side of the Col du Diable, looked great. But we had our hearts set on the Tour Ronde.
Given the winds, we weren't surprised to find the Gervasutti had been scoured clean, which made for quick and efficient climbing for the most part, but it would have been a taxing (though still enjoyable) descent. When we reached the sloping col at the top of the couloir, however, we found a thick carpet of powder had fallen on the north face, and it had stuck well. After climbing the north face with Dan Fitzgerald slightly earlier in the season last year, I was surprised by just how comfortable I felt on the face. I could ski this, I thought.
Roped-up and tied-on, we poked around until we were happy the snow didn't hold any nasty surprises, like sheets of black ice lurking just beneath the surface, but the slope felt friendly. We discussed our options, considered the contingencies. Everything looked good, we decided, so let's give it a go.
Absolutely perfect conditions for our first time down this classic descent, around a foot of powder on top of a grippy, chalky base. Now that we know exactly which rock the first bolted anchor is hiding behind to make the rappels crossing the ice gulley splitting the two halves of the face, we'd be happy enough skiing straight to it. But we didn't really want to be rummaging around above the cliffs for too long, so we left a bit of tat for our first anchor and made three 30m rappels. When in doubt, get your rope out.
Steep season 2016, long may it continue!
Music: Blue Murder - Itchycoo Park