Snow report Ecrins, 04/02/2018

Snow condition

The road to la Berarde is officially closed. Large wet snow avalanches next to the roads of the past weeks and rockfall damage. 1700 m only a few centimeters of fresh snow. At 3000 m over 60 cm of fresh snow over the last 2 days.

Snow quality

Good snow on the north side. Other exposures softened over midday and crusty in the morning. Below 2300 m, very wet in the afternoon, snow cover on the south side in the morning. North and northwest set powder (below Pointe Chamois and le Pave rewarding)

The high avalanche risk does not attract many ski tourers to the area. The ascent through the long valley towards la Meije looks deserted and threatening. Large, older wet snow avalanches cross the path. Despite setting off early, stones or small slides keep coming down. We abandoned the planned ascent to Breche de la Meije and descent via les Enfetchores due to the risk of avalanches and preferred to look for firn and Easter eggs on the south side. In the northern sector, the wind was probably not a good combination with the good bit of fresh snow.

Overall impression

We were the first and only guests of the season at Refuge Promontoire. There is still a lot of digging and preparation going on here. The conditions for alpine tours are sensational as soon as the danger of avalanches subsides and a load-bearing snow cover has formed. For the time being, however, the whole massif is only shared with confused snowshoe hikers and Fredi the hut owner at Easter

In terms of downhill skiing, there are certainly better options at the moment. However, tragic avalanche accidents such as in the Aguilles Rouges still call for caution.

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