Good short ski tour in the Valgrisenche today up to the col du Mont (2639m). An 0500 start from the Chamonix side of the Mont Blanc tunnel was necessary to boot in along the road, skin up on firm snow and be in place for the optimum period of softening of the spring snow pack. We skied down at 1100 which was ever so slightly post-optimal! A fine day out though with the added bonus of superb carpets of budding wild flowers and the Tour du Rutor ski touring race all going off at the same time. The cafe in the Valgrisenche and superb bike shop in the Arvier were the perfect conclusions to another day out down the Valle d'Aosta.

Accessed the Val di San Grato from the high road on the West Side of the Valgrisenche resevoir (with bits of skinning, booting and skiing). Some good spring snow to be had on the slopes coming down from the Lake di San Grato and Col du Mont but it had to be early. By 1200 things were getting very soft. There were numerous heli-ski teams accessing some superb looking terrain on the North Facing glacial faces both east and west of the main Valgrisenche valley. Recced an interesting east - west traverse over the Forcla du Bre (2829m) just North of the Valgrisenche classic ski peak 'Mont Arp Vielle' (2963m). The East face of this peak above the village of Menthieu currently looks rather heathery and grassy and I think the early rising heli-skiers had the best of the day today!

Just back from 3 days ski touring in the Val di Rhemes, Valle d'Aosta based at the hospitable Benevelo Hut. Whilst the freezing level soared to 3000m+ from mid morning the nights were cool and some fine powder remains high on the North facing slopes. As well as covering a lot of ski mountaineering, avalanche hazard recognition and rescue techniques around the hut (leading to a major incident scenario) we completed a fine tour on the Punta Galisia (3346m) and enjoyed the powder into spring descent back to the fine cappuccino and apple strudel of the Hut.

Note that the dashed blue ski touring line on the Italian 1:25000 Ski Touring Map '102' is marked incorrectly on the Western ascent of the Punta Galisia. The marked line crosses the col to the west of the col you actually cross if you want to continue up the easier angled route to Punta Galisia summit. I think it is fair to say that whilst the Italians have a far greater culinary flair than their Swiss neighbours, cartographically, the boot is on the other foot!

Just back from 2 day expedition in the Val Feret with an overnight at the supert Bonatti Hut. Enjoyed some fine spring snow on the descent from the Col de Malatra yesterday. The Northerly aspects have now developed a breakable crust so where there was powder a few days ago there is better skiing now elsewhere. There was 10cms of light fresh snow at the Bonatti Hut this morning which fell last night with virtually no wind. It was still snowing and very cloudy and we navigated over the Col Entre Duex Sauts (2524m) and back down to the Val Feret Ski de Fond via Armina. Things warmed up very quickly at lunchtime as the weather improved and there were some major point release avalanches off crags on nearly all aspects.