Swedish Lapland - Kebnekaise

A couple of more excellent days on skis in Swedish Lapland.

  With stable powder springsnow and long beautiful days in the land of reindeers and aurora borealis.
But also a high number of steep couloirs and big faces...

"Rullevare Rännan"

Booting up "Rullevare"

  The magic with this area is that the more time I spend here the more interesting lines and possibilities I see. Like two more for everything I finds out...

The last couple of lines is in the area of Tarfala and a cool narrow couloir in Láddjuvággi.

//When Life has no value Death has its price.

Aiguille de la Tête Plate : Couloir N de l'Arête Plate

  Some good conditions and still not to warm around Chamonix. Great time to ski some steep couloirs.

As always or at least often the Aiguille Rouge area has a high number of interesting lines.
The classic Col du Belvédère as an often skied example. At this moment in a very good safe condition. A little out-skied at the top, but still ok with some unused areas...

Rappel down col du Belvédère 

Skiing down col du Belvédère

  An other classic is col Beugeant. Also a good ski run with only some 700 vertical meter access via lac Blanc.
On the same direction is the little less known Couloir de l´Arete Plate.
A little, but just a little more awkward to get to, but the payback is double tums up!
If your unsure of the start, there is an improvised anchor to rappel off from. The outcome if you fall is bad so make sure not to.
The skiing is engage to start with and up to 40-45°.
And in the end it takes you to Glacier d´Anneuley and down to Le Buet.
Just a great days adventure!

Approach at the bottom of the scramble

after the climbing section, now its just steep hiking...

And then it goes back to skis on the last bit...

Rappelling down at the start

or just skiing it...

Some great exposed couloir skiing!

Anna at the upper part of Couloir N de l'Arête Plate

Lower part of Couloir N de l'Arête Plate

And just enjoying the late March powder at Couloir N de l'Arête Plate

Anna keeping it together

ZAG powder to the people - Chamonix!

Equipment

30m rope if rappelling.

Might be useful to have on the way up as well on the scrambling part...

Crampons if icey

Piolet

Harness

Glacier equipment
Plus info at Camp to Camp

//You can't improvise from nothing. Therefore we all need something.

Météo mauvaise...

  The beginning of this year 2016 has been an remarkable bad year regarding snow and ice conditions, so far.

Big avalanche, self released, in Uri Kanton

  Every week, more or less, has involved heavy snow, hard strong winds and then very warm temperatures.

This might have given good mixed conditions on altitude, not given the super dry warm weather during late fall.

Gemstock, Andermatt...

  Finally, at least the average snow conditions has become quite good. The avalanche danger has also been pending between 4 to 2 in just a few days.
At this point there is a high 2 on the scale, but just a couple of days ago it was a 4!

Jochgrubenkopf (2453m), Tyrol
link http://www.skipass.com/news/130961-avalanche-de-grande-ampleur-en-au.html

  There has also been quite a lot of big avalanches, les Aravis has suffered with a few mortal ones as well.
But also in Sweden and Switzerland there has been a number of giant slides.

http://www.dt.se/dalarna/alvdalen/fjallraddningen-har-fatt-kontakt-med-skidakarna-som-overlevde-lavinen-nordvast-om-grovelsjon

  This has meant low activity with exposed climbing as well as skiing, at least from my point of view.
Personally I have keep t the activity low, just a few low angle ski-touring and off-piste skiing days.
So far....

But, now and then the skiing has been briljant and specially the tree-skiing is amazing!

Now I hope to get a springtime with bon montagne condition...

/go safe

La Balme a wintery day

//Vi ska alla dö en dag, men alla andra dagar lever vi!