Mar 13, 2016

Colouir Trappier - Aiguille du Goûter

  One of many, but Colouir Trappier must be said to one of the classic ski-runs in Chamonix Valley.


Anna in the powder on Colouir Trappier

Suited high up in the massif du Mont Blanc, on the north face of Aiguille du Goûter and beautifuly overlooking the valley floor. 




Opened by Marie Trappier and Laurent Dartol in April 1982.
Who sadly was avalanched on it way up to do his 53rd run down this colouir with his wife Marie-Jo and three companions in March 2008.




  The approach is easily done from the téléphéurique from Les Houches. From the top of the lift its only 1200 vertical meters up to the start of the colouir and the fun!
Obviously, the approach is a bit exposed and prone to avalanche danger, so pick the day for this.






Start up the railway tracks and start to traverse up towards les Rogues. After passing the cabanne Forestière, which has a bit of exposed steep plodding/climbing to get up to. 
(I was close to being passed away here some years ago on the way up towards Mont Blanc due to rock fall. Winter has its snow arrow...)
Anyhow, continue up towards glacier de las Griaz and the hight of 3029m.
Et voilá, you are there.






  We picked one of these days. After seeing the good conditions for this route on an evening tour up towards Mont Jolie just the day before.
The ascent/descent had to be done on a saturday, in between work for both of us, but with some pushing we was able to pas some 7-8 other people which was heading the same way.
And, the descent has a big number of options to ski, so a couple of tracks before, specially on the way up, aint to bad after all.





After 2 hours skinning we stop at the top, ready to explore the snow below us. Which falls away in some 40° angle to start with but soon lowers to 30° for about 1000vertical meters!!!
The whole descent back to Houches is some 2000meters.



  The fight back trough the forrest is a bit of an adventure, but a bit of fun and exploring as well.
Make sure to stop the descent at around 1800m if you want to make it back to les Houches. 
Theres a good road that 1600m which takes you all the way back to the small beginner slope in les Houches. 
Otherwise, just go for it all the way down to Taconnaz!

Equipment
No need for either Ice axe or rope or other glacier equipment.
A pair of crampons might be useful up the step part passing the ladder, but normally works with out.




//Ögonblick av flykt, fyller livet med strävan*



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