Steep skiing on Pointe Charlet with Philippe: deep powder, a few technical sections and the perfect terrain to build confidence and take things up a notch!
Another tough day in the Alps! Philippe got in touch with me because he wanted to improve his skills and take things up a notch in steep skiing. A technical step forward, but a psychological one too — the two obviously go hand in hand in this particular branch of skiing!
Of course, the idea isn’t to throw ourselves into anything extreme or highly exposed. More than anywhere else, steep skiing requires a very progressive approach. And a careful assessment of the conditions. Right now, the thick, stable layer of powder is actually ideal for gently pushing things a little further.
Today I choose the Prés les Fonts area, which seems to tick quite a few useful boxes: plenty of couloirs of varying steepness, possibilities to link different options, easy escape routes, close to La Salle where Philippe is staying, a sunny climb and probably some peace and quiet. Add to that the almost complete absence of tracks in the couloirs and it all looks pretty tempting! As for the final plan, we’ll fine-tune that along the way. First, we need to get to know each other!
We make good progress on the climb, chatting away like a couple of old gossips. Once out of the morning deep-freeze of the Guisane valley, we could almost break out the T-shirts!
Philippe is used to heading into the mountains on his own, so he isn’t remotely surprised by the way I operate. I rarely set a fixed plan in stone beforehand. I feel out the terrain — both the mountain and the person! That’s how you get things just right.
Today, our choice gradually settles on Pointe Charlet. A lone skier has already broken trail up the north couloir, which will make our climb a little easier. Then all we have to do is shift across into the couloir immediately to its left, still completely untouched! It looks steep enough to work on steep-skiing techniques, but not so steep that the whole thing risks turning into a 500-metre roped sideslip.
We keep open the option of not climbing all the way to the top of the couloir, saving some energy for a possible second objective. In the end, though, the lure of an unknown view and a sandwich in the sunshine proves too strong!
An excellent choice, as it turns out. A few short sections of firm snow — with good grip — provide exactly the little technical and psychological spice Philippe was looking for, without pushing things into the red. For the rest, a thick 30 to 40 cm mattress of powder is rather reassuring!
Before Philippe launches himself down the slope, it’s time for the academic interlude! A little steep-skiing lesson at the top, complete with demonstration, if you please! Get the hips and shoulders facing into the fall line, feel out the snow with the poles, flex over the downhill leg, sideslip cleanly… Switch on the senses, accept the steepness, commit to the slope and give apprehension its rightful place.
Philippe takes it all in and conscientiously puts the advice into practice. The couloir lives up to its promise: almost entirely powder! Forgiving stuff! Two short sections of firm snow demand a little more technique. Philippe lets his confidence build, first sideslipping and then, boosted by some technical advice and a little emotional support, commits to the all-important turn!
A quick council of war at the bottom of the couloir. Do we go for something else? Call it a day? We’ve already climbed 1,700 m today, skied 500 m of steep terrain, and that untouched bowl over there is giving us the eye… We’ll call it a day!
The rest of the descent is absolute torture: untouched bowls, sunny slopes and huge open spaces… Somehow, we endure it without complaint!
Back to the car through the Vallon du Petit Tabuc, finishing the day with a beer in hand. Couldn’t have done it better!
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