Day 23, what were we thinking …
It’s Monday so what else for it but Malfatta. One of Rich’s obsessions (along with the Poubelle couloir at the Grands Montets and more realistically Lavancher bowl all the way down to the road),
So we can tick one of the list at least thanks to Rich’s research, prep, rope clue and skills of persuasion.
The snow conditions were pretty incredible so we expected the couloir rope shenanigans to be slightly more straight forward than some scientifically researched you tube videos would lead us to believe. So armed with the off piste book, map, GPS, the avalanche research of snow history, aspects, steepness etc.. 2 ropes, harnesses and a bit more gnarl than normal we set off.
After the longest traverse ever we reached the top of the famous couloir.
Mission 1. Get us all down safe and sound.
Mission 2 don’t get back to Alagna too late to get the lift back up!
Glad to say both missions completed with some degree of competence and panache. My newly defined rule of thirds applied.
1 third effort (epic traverse & scary couloir)
1 third amazing down (check out the snaps and the video) and …
1 third penance of combat ski back to civilisation (it had it’s moments but wasn’t too terrible .. no walking needed at least)
And finally Chris & I are feeling proud our skis are too fat to fit in the Alagna bubble so have to become honorary snowboards.
What a day!
badkneeclub 