Col du Belvédère: flat light, steep snow.

Fresh snow overnight meant we couldn't rest while powder sat undisturbed. Given that it was a weekday, we had no lift lines to fear either. The thick fog and light rain outside my window was almost enough to dissuade us from going outdoors. At the early hour of noon, Ben and I (almost reluctantly) headed up Le Flegere lift. We hopped on the Index and téléski de la Floria to a high point in the fog before traversing around crusty, south facing slopes towards Lac Blanc Refuge.

I had wanted to ski some of the steeper lines in the Aiguille Rouges, but haven't yet had the time off and the right snow pack. Now that we have decent stability and good powder, it seemed like a decent lousy-weather ski option. The rocky buttresses on the descent would provide enough contrast so that we wouldn't get vertigo on our ski down.

It only took us an hour and a half to get to the Col du Belvédère. From there, Ben skied the 50° entrance and I rappelled it. The conditions were nice - not too firm.

We skied several thousand feet of north-facing powder down to La Buet, where we walked over to the train station and met two Swiss girls holding beers in one hand and skis in the other. They were nursing their frustrations - they had skied south facing crust in the fog all day, and were sure the conditions sucked everywhere.

And now for a few photos...

Ben following the crest of the Crochues on our way over to the Col du Belvédère.We didn't see a soul all day. Ben at the Col du Belvédère. The ski descent goes down and left, at 45°-50°. If you look closely you can see a rappel anchor in the rocks ten feet left of Ben.

And thus it begins... another powder run...

Ben three turns into the steep entrance.