Skiing and climbing photos – galleries from adventures and expeditions

Looking over to our climb up the Milieu Glacier, where we plan to ski down on the back side of Aig. d'Argentière and come back over Col du Chardonnet.

Skinning up the Milieu Glacier we have a few other ski mountaineers both ahead and behind us. The day is lovely for ski touring. Aig. Vert towering in the background.

Two thirds up to Aig. d'Argentiere, we put the skis on our backs and start boot packing.

Standing on the summit ridge we have ascended 1200m from the Argentiere glacier. Almost at 4000m we can sense the altitude affecting our heads and bodies.

Time to ski down on the back side; the east north-east face called the Barbey couloir. The top is steep and the cold powder is compact and grippy.

Wolfgang on his first turns from the ridge, with the 800m, 45 degree steep couloir below him.

After a few sunny days in Chamonix, we are not putting the first tracks in the Barbey, but the powder is still soft and in places pretty deep. The surface to ski is wide.

Half way down the face, legs are burning...

...but the skiing is super fun!

We slow down a bit when getting into the exit couloir and closer to the bergschrund that separates the Barbey from the Saleina Glacier.

Well down on the glacier it is time for a lunch sandwich, re-fueling for the next hike.

We ski down and around the north side of Aig. d'Argentiere before we put on the skins again, heading for the steep north side of Col du Chardonnet.

Another 400m ascent and we reach the col.
I'm climbing the last part holding on to the fixed rope, which has been put up to speed up the rappelling for the numerous groups descending the same way on the Haute Route this time of the year.

On the south side the snow is like cream cheese in the afternoon sun.

Drawing 8:s in the smooth spring snow all the way back down to the Argentiere Glacier, we are happy and tired after a long ski touring day.

/Eva

For more ski touring itineraries see Guided Ski Touring in Chamonix.

barbey couloir Aig Argentiere north east face

A few days later we got a good look at our run from the summit of Grand Lui.