Tracks in the Pays Desert

Today we skied the Pays Desert. Getting there, the Vallon de l'Iseran lift took us over the scene of last week's fatal avalanche. It was unnerving, to say the least. There was another slide on the big face at the top of the Montets T-Bar, the same place where we witnessed three skiers survive a huge avalanche in the spring of 2009, and another big slide on a steep slope in the Desert itself. Constant reminders all, for vigilance and care.

At Alpine Experience we follow the alpine etiquette of following tracks. The guide lays down the first track, and each subsequent skier follows the contour of this as closely as possible. Not only does this practice provide a really useful rhythm for turns, but it also conserves fresh snow - a scarce commodity in a busy resort like Val d'Isere - for later use. And of course it leaves a really aesthetic mark on the mountain. It's possible to see Alpine Experience tracks from miles away.

Skier: Gideon Miller
Photo by Jean Ribart: picasaweb.google.com/jean.ribart