Since Sunday evening we've had some pretty unstable weather here in Chamonix, lot's of rain in the valley has meant lot's of snow up high, almost 1m of fresh snow!
We headed over to the Midi early this morning in hopes of skiing either the Glacier Rond of the Cosmiques. After waiting around for a little bit for snow clearing, the lift opened at 9:15 and we were on our way. Going up it was obvious there was a strong east wind, spindrift was flying over the ridge, not good for the aspect we'd hoped to ski.
Going over the entrances to the Rond and Cosmiques it was obvious the with this wind it would be dangerous and difficult to get onto either slope. The Rond requires an exposed traverse and the Cosmiques several rappels, on top of that the chances of a windslab on both these slopes was high. Sometimes you just have to turn around, we stepped into our skis and set off down the mellow Vallee Blanche, skiing nice smooth packed powder.
