Ski and Climb week, Cogne and Chamonix
I was climbing and skiing with Charles Eggleston this week, this was a dream week as a guide as the plan was to ski and climb as the weather dictated. We started the trip skiing off piste round the Jaillet area of Megeve enjoying some great snow and finishing the day with an off piste descent to Praz sur Arly. The next day we headed through to Cogne where we swung leads on the Cascade de Lillaz and the route over the Par Avalanche, Tuesday we headed into the mountains to try Pellisier Gully on Pointe Lachanel, we climbed 4 pitch of interesting mixed ground before we were forced down by cold hands (it was -18 at the midi). The ski down the Vallee Blanche all the way to the road made up for the disappointment of not reaching the top. It was back to Cogne on Wed climbing Lillaz Gully in perfect condition with great ice all the way. Thusday we were back on the skis leaving the Brevent lift and skiing across to the Aiguillette des Houches then skiing the NW couloir in perfect untracked snow. We finished the week skiing the Col du Chasseur at les Contamines which gave great tracked skiing on the steep section then opened into loads of fantastic untracked snow.