Andreas Fransson: Aiguille de L’Encrenaz, North-east couloir – Really good skiing in a time of powder depression.

In a time that people soon will call the great powder depression of the season its still possible to find really good snow. Eastern aspects has been good even in Aiguilles Rouges and on this side of the valley its warm and cosy even in cold times like these. I took a chance together with Max Turgeon, Adam George and photographer Daniel Rönnbäck – that it would be good snow on the east side of aiguille Encrenaz and that not to many skiers hadn’t ruined the run, Chamonix style, by side slipping.

The approach from Flegere went easy by a massive track and then the south face itself had just got warmed up by the sun making for easy tracking. It felt like spring bootpacking the couloir, and it was only when reaching the col that we felt the cold.

Looking down the couloir from the top one could see some old faint ski tracks, but dropping in you could not really feel them. The first bit before the rappel had soft chalky snow and was easy to ski. Then, below the cliff and the obligatory rappel, started the really good skiing. The wind had filled in the couloir erasing all the old tracks and the cold had recycled the snow creating knee-deep powder skiing. Not bad for a day filled with hope but not to high expectations.

Even the skiing down to Le Buet was alright and the timing of the train precise.