Saturday, December 20, 2008

The Trip of Powder and Pack: Cantabric Coast to Bareges/Mongie to Andorra to Tignes to La Grave back to Pyrenees Mont Agut!!

DSCF9776

The crossing of the couloir below the summit slope of Castro Valnera

For anyone that looks for undiscovered and untouched mountains to ski in, the Cantabric coast is the sweet spot to be. I knew that these mountains are great for mountaineering, climbing and walking but to see these mountains under white fluff with views to the sea added another dimension!

Mountains like Gorbea, Zalama, Pico de la Miel, Castro Valnera, Anboto are all classics that offer something to every level of ski mountaineer. Whether you want to ski rounded wide slopes or technical couloirs you can have it!

Cantabric Coast -  The Basque country

On my first day in Pais Basque we went for a warm up tour to Gorbea (1475m) although there was little chance of heat as it was a bitter day especially on the summit which had a fierce wind blowing! Gorbea is the main mountain in the province of Bizkai. In a direct line from the summit there are less than 40km to the sea. So if you fancy a surf you climb the mountain first and than go for a plunge in afternoon! It very much has a Scottish feel to it due to exposure.

DSCF9640

 The summit cross of Gorbea

 

DSCF9644

Fixing my bindings

...

There are many routes to climb this mountain but the following route is the best for a ski tour and describes the north east ascent. We drove from Bilbao to Zeanuri and took the mountain road up to Lanbreabe. We parked the car near the dam in the forest at 800m. You follow the tarmac track until you see the huts on the meadows of Aldaminapa. This area is often occupied by shepherds that look after their goats, sheep, horses and cows. The refuges belong to different mountain clubs and unfortunately are only open to members but you can camp if you are keen!

From the meadows of Aldaminapa you ascent the col of Aldamin (1250m) and continue to the summit. You have to be careful in bad weather because there are many hollows typical in mountains formed by limestone and in bad visibility it is very easy to end up in one! Take particular care on the 2nd part of the ascent to the col and to the summit as there is a big hollow on your left that has got some serious drop offs, cornices and very steep walls...take much care on descent..stay left away from edge.  The descent follows the same way as ascent but there are other options. If you like info send me an email.

On my second day we drove over the pass of El Cabrio to the village of San Peleyo. About 1 hr south west from Bilbao and about an 1.5 hr east of the Picos.  We choose to climb a mountain named Zalama which lies on the border between the Provinces of Burgos and Bizkai. A rounded mountain, in a very wild area, covered in trees with beautiful views to the Sierra Salvada range.

DSCF9668

The lower slopes of Zalama with the Sierra Salvada range in background

DSCF9669

Views to the Sierra Salvada range

We started from the village of San Peleyo, a place that hasn't changed to 21st century life yet. The local shop functions as the local bar and is a gathering point for the locals. The village is very old and only has few habitants. Our ascent went onto the south flank through a forest of birch. Once on the open hillside we thought we saw a wolf which later was confirmed by the locals as they told us that over the last few months they had sighted 3 and 21 lambs were killed by wolf recently. The whole ascent is very gradual. The total ascent didn't take more then 2.5hrs and as the snow and skiing was so good that we descended into the forest, went back up again and descended back to the village. The descents on the south side are easy angled and open hillside plus forest. However you can descent on the north side which has some challenging couloirs. If you feel up for more continue touring to west over the whole range.

DSCF9674

The summit of Zalama

DSCF9689

Haitz ...our very own mascot and nose for the best snow!!!

DSCF9696

Asier, Ekaitz, Jokin and me....half of the team

DSCF9681 

Unaitxu maitea

DSCF9665

Patxi

DSCF9700 

Christeltxu

In the evening we drove to Espinosa the los Monteros, an ancient village that is the entrance to Lunada range where there is an old now unused ski station. Just before we got to Lunada we stopped the cars on the left at the entrance of a valley called Bernatxo. Under a starry sky we were clearing the entrance of the track to park the cars. Then we skinned for an hour or so under a clear starry sky to Andoni's hut, Valnera, which was covered under a good pack of fresh fluff.. I was here last year in October to climb some of the mountains in the region. This time it was even more beautiful.

DSCF9749

Valnera

After a good catch up, log fire and food we headed off to bed to wake up to the most amazing day! Andoni had got up early to pick up Peli, another girl that joint us. Finally.. The first girl I have met that has come out on the hills with these guys! They keep telling me I need to bring over mountain girls from my part of the world! So girls you all have an invitation.

DSCF9744

The team: Aitor, Andoni, Peli, Christel, Unai, Patxi

Our objective for the day was Castro Valnera (1718m) and Pico de la Miel but we only did Castro Valnera in the end enjoying absolutely amazing conditions and stunning views. The views from the sea to the north and the limestone cliffs are amazing!

We skinned up from the cabana to the summit and followed the ridge connecting to Pico de La Miel until we were above the descend couloir. A wicked descend of the couloir followed ..... a lot of smiling faces! Once back to the cabana we had lunch and skied back out to the cars! what a great start of winter for the Basque mountain community!

 

DSCF9783

The sea and limestone cliffs in the background from the summit of Castro Valnera

DSCF9777DSCF9779 DSCF9801

 DSCF9809 DSCF9798 DSCF9692 DSCF9816 DSCF9818DSCF9868 DSCF9771 DSCF9755 DSCF9759

The Pyrenees

The next day we had arranged to meet up with more friends to head over to the Pyrenees. We all met in Luz St Saveur in the evening and made plans for the next day. There were tons of snow and the forecast was to be for a clear morning followed by more snow later in the day.... We woke up to winter wonder powder land!!! Drove over to Bareges and once in the car park discovered another lot of Basque friends that had driven over in their camper vans to rip it up. We ended up with a bunch of 10 people in the end riding in an empty area of powder and fluff and more powder ..trailing fresh lines every run!!

The day after it snowed and it snowed until it cleared and we did just more and more sweet local secret off-piste in snow till our waste!!

DSCF9916    DSCF9971 DSCF9973DSCF9974

 DSCF9981 DSCF9978  DSCF9983 DSCF9984 DSCF9990 DSCF9970 DSCF9966DSCF9962

Andorra

After our trip in the Pyrenees it was time to get serious and get training. We headed over to Andorra to ski the piste and get into fast, carvy and hardpack mode. a little strange after all the free ride. Andorra also was loaded with snow and after a snowy morning all cleared and we skied on empty pistes generating miles and miles!

PIC_0952 PIC_0959 PIC_0971 PIC_0974

 

Tignes

Matilda..the camper van was going fairly strong until we continued our journey to Tignes to do a weeks GS training with R21. We arrived with temperatures of minus 17 and Matilda froze...the water, the gas, the battery, the calification, she just wasn't happy. Despite all we managed to stay warm and kept our selves coffeed up and fed with a mini camping gas.

We had snow to die for in Tignes.... 3 days of blue sky followed by 2 days of snow to finish of with sunshine and powder on the last day. By this time I was pretty washed out..my knees were done in, my body craved for a normal bed and a warm house and just a bit of sleep! At the end of the week Unai and I watched our performance on video and I was terribly embarrassed...I have got a very long way to go before I will ever look like a professional on the front of racing.

All in all it was good as ever with Dougie and Giles of R21. Highly recommended if you are looking for GS, slalom or bumps.

PIC_1026 PIC_1053  DSCF0005DSCF0007

DSCF0002DSCF0003   PIC_1010 DSCF0018 

 

La Grave

After Tignes we thought it would be a shame to drive back to the Basque country whit the conditions we had in the Alps so we drove to La Grave instead...and which amazing day we had!! We had heard that there was a lot of snow that way and as we arrived in the middle of the night we already got the feel...Trees covered with a thick blanket of white..cars completely buried along side the road and a night view of The Meije under a starry sky! We woke up in the morning with blue sky and cream! The avalanche risk was at red alert and the telepherique wasn't open yet...La Grave and surrounding villages were like goast towns but for us it was perfect. We spend the morning driving around buying maps and taking pictures. In the afternoon we went up to the village of Ventelon parked the car with views to the Meije and skinned up pas the petit village of les Clots to a little peak called la Cote Rouge. This area on the other side of the valley of la Meije is absolutely brilliant for ski touring and we definitely will be back here. The views from the summit were indescribable!

We hoped to do a tour to Pic Blanc du Galbier the next day but the wind started picking up fiercely during the night and the next day it was virtually impossible to even leave the van! We decided to drive back to Bareges to see what conditions we would encounter there and hope for a good last day on the skis!

 

DSCF0122DSCF0123 DSCF0124   DSCF0166DSCF0131 DSCF0137 DSCF0231  DSCF0198 DSCF0222DSCF0265DSCF0266     DSCF0313  DSCF0308 DSCF0301  DSCF0268  DSCF0264DSCF0252

 

Our last day the ascent of Mont Agut near Bareges in the Pyrenees

We were told there was bad weather on the way to the Pyres. However we checked the forecast and it said it would be clearing the next day so in good faith we drove down.. We arrived about 3 am at the village of Betpouey near Bareges and woke up at 10am with the perfect picture!!! Blue sky and fresh snow!! Unai was super excited and we were going for a skin up Mont Agut (2157m). I was super tired and despite the absolute great conditions wasn't very motivated but just being out there was a privilege. We just made it to below the summit and then the weather started closing in so we turned round and skied according to Unai the best slope of the mountain.

In the evening we met up with friends of Unai that live in Luz and are pistieres in Bareges, Didi and Benji. We had an evening of guitar and travel tales. They were going to ski the Pic de Midi the next day and how we envied them as it was another day in paradise but we had to get home. And to be honest I was ready for rest.... Especially after living for 2.5 weeks in a VW camper van..great in many ways but a girl is a girl after all.

 

DSCF0353 DSCF0356  DSCF0361 DSCF0365  DSCF0368 DSCF0370 DSCF0375 DSCF0379

 

If you like any information on the areas, routes etc of the above please don't hesitate to contact me.DSCF9808

Keep checking the site for updates on future adventures!

This winter more Alps plus Ski touring in Turkey and Morocco to follow.

Remember people....Carpe Diem , 

Cherio Chris

DSCF0251