Snow report Ecrins, 05/04/2017

Snow condition

Last week we had 60 cm of fresh snow, yesterday we had another 20 cm on top of a few smaller snowfalls from the previous days. From Col Lautaret you could ski straight into the powder. The rating therefore only applies to the area above 2000 m

Snow quality

Still excellent in the morning. Cold and fluffy powder from the parking lot. Below 2500m still with crust between 20cm fresh snow and base. Then settled powder into which you sink a little deeper. The last third of the descent was a bit soft and slushy. The rest was perfectly skiable

Above 3000m in the northern sector, the situation report said it was slightly tense. There was a light southerly wind, but no major loads. The wall had been skied 2 days before and most of it seemed to have gone. With the fresh snowfalls, which are not super bound in the steep terrain, we triggered a medium sluff avalanche. This came loose after the first 3 turns and then the snow in the wall wasn't that great any more. In many other slopes in the northern sector, the same thing was observed by other ski tourers, but not to the same extent.

Overall impression

This morning we were completely alone in the Shahshahani Couloir and had to do some strenuous track work. Great tour with a few steep turns and amazing views of Barre des Ecrins, la Meije, Pelvoux and everything else around. Later there was a little biology lesson from the National Park Guard including a snow profile. These ptarmigans build wild caves and are stirred up by reckless freeriders. Camouflage clothing is a must next time.