First day back...powder heaven!

Well what a way to start the season!! First day back on skis for the winter yesterday over on the Punta Helbronner lifts on the South Side of the Mt Blanc range. Some of the gang had been out Sunday and the reports of 2000m vertical of perfect powder were too good to pass up on. Three cable cars later and we were on the ridge making our way round to the top of the Toula Glacier:



As promised the powder was excellent, with loads of space for fresh tracks right back down to the Pavillion, with some tree dodging extending the run right back to La Palud for 2000m of leg-burning powder heaven!


Photo courtesy of Jon Griffith

With an all-star team comprising Kenton Cool, Matt Helliker, Jonny Baird, Tim & Katie Emmett, Nick Bullock, and photographer Jon Griffith the banter was ever present in between the turns, and with only a few other teams on the mountain the turn-around time on the lifts was really quick.

Matt, Kenton & Jonny B stop for a breather, with the Peuterey Ridge as backdrop:



One by one the team slowly dwindled, Nick waylaid by a virus, Tim off to jump out of a helicopter with his wingsuit, and Kenton, Matt and Jon just being lightweights, leaving Jonny and myself to make a last run from the top with noone else around to round off a great day out...here's hoping there's plenty more like this to come!



Photo courtesy of Jon Griffith: check out his excellent photography here