Flaine - Vernant
Outing date: 2012-12-09
Altitude of access point: 1747m
Maximum altitude: 2208m
Elevation gain/loss: +373m >> -300m >> +400m >> -461m
Snow depth at 1750m: 120cm with 60cm of dry powder snow
Snow depth at 2200m: 150cm with 60cm of dry powder snow
Weather: sunny/cloudy
Departure/arrival time: 9:00/15:00
The third outing of Winter 2012 - 2013 was probably on of the best session I've ever had. I went to Flaine (Grand-Massif Haute-Savoie) in the sector of Vernant. The resort opened the Grande Platières area but all the lifts that give access to Vernant were closed. It was a sunny morning and I started to hike from the parking of Vernant. The cat made the track until the "Col de Vernant" so it was very comfortable to hike in the first part.
In the second part I had to make the track in the deep snow.
It took me about 1 hour to reach the top of the Corbalanche lift. From there the view on the "Pointe Percée", highest summit of the Aravis chain, is beautiful.
After having drink some hot tea and switched back my splitboard to ride mode I made my line just under the Corbalanche lift.
I met some ski tourers at the bottom starting their ascent to Grands Vans. That was perfect...they were going to make the track just before me. I switched back to touring mode and start following them.
I reached the top of Grands Vans lift one hour later and it was time to eat and enjoy the view.
After the lunch... comes the dessert.