Gressoney

Last week I was back in Gressoney in the Aosta Valley for the first time in a few years, running an offpiste week for Mountaintracks. Snow conditions weren't great, but certainly provided a challenge for Roger, David, Gerald, Paul and Lee to get their teeth into.
With the ever updating lift system now fully functional we ranged over the whole of the 3 valleys, managing to track down some soft snow in Champoluc, and finding some firm but grippy snow on the descents to Alagna. The new Punta Indren cable car is now fully operational, but sadly the old 'shopping trolley' lift that used to come out from the bottom of the Balma (complete with running start to get on) is now out of service...

Climbing up to the Col D'Olen from the Guglielmina refuge:



Traversing in to find some soft snow in Champoluc:



Prayer flags above the Ciarcerio lift:



The couloir on the new 'itineraire' from Punta Indren:



The valley down to Stafal:



Enjoying the scenery:



As if by magic, with the course over, and a day's ice climbing sorted out, it then started snowing... sod's law in full effect!