Here we go for a little ski touring trip in Queyras with a team of strong, well-honed skiers. Philippe has booked us a very comfortable hotel in Molines in Queyras, we’re going to be on top form!
For the first day, we’re heading to Fongillarde. We tackle the first slopes to reach a 2900m buttress of the Pic de Fond de Peynin. Despite the lack of refreezing last night, the snow has held up well and is not unpleasant. We’re having a great time on the western slopes heading towards the Plate de Rasis, no false tracks, everything is smooth.
It’s time to put our skins back on towards the Grand Queyras 3114m. The first part is easy but the slope gets steeper quickly and we’ll have to take our skis off to reach the north ridge via a snow corridor. We leave our skis to follow the ridge towards a secondary summit. The high temperature deprives us of the summit, we prefer to have good conditions on the descent.
Back at the pass, we put on our skis and the team negotiates this steep part wonderfully. We take large smooth slopes to the left where everyone has fun in big curves, a real treat. The last 150 meters before the car park are in the slush…
A superb first day, it starts hard, we still did our 1500m D+. Back to the hotel and visit of Saint Véran, the highest village in Europe.
For this second day, we leave Saint Véran to climb up to the Pic de Chateau-Renard observatory. The slopes are steep and the snow is hard thanks to the good refreezing. We get out the knives! The view from the Pic Chateau Renard is superb. We ski down by the south-west slopes towards the Chapelle de Clausis. The snow is great, a carpet. We go back up towards the Pic de Cornivier and its west pass. A short descent into the Vallon de Clausis and it’s time for a picnic. Now we skin up around the Rouchon. The descent is still great and we reach Saint Véran by the long track that crosses it. 1800m of elevation and still pure happiness! We deserved a small beer…
For this last day, we leave the car in Ristolas. The departure is in a very beautiful forest of Larches, quite a few animal tracks and no one in sight. It quickly drops and we reach the valleys of Pic Chabrière which we cross towards the summit of the day: Pic Ségure 2990m. Like yesterday, the weather is very good, a little round trip on the rocky terminal ridge and we find a nice little spot for a picnic. The descent on the western slope is in perfect conditions, we pass by the Lacroix lakes before joining the forest path which brings us quietly back to Ristolas.
Another beautiful day, unfortunately the last and we have to go home. Queyras is a massif cut out for touring, full of possibilities for routes and loops. We might come back to ski there next year… Look here if you want me to guide you on a ski touring trip.
