Getting Scared – Skiing the Glacier Rond

A few days ago I skied the Glacier Rond. This is just one of the fabled places that professional freeriders fear to tread.

On looking up at the Midi from home it looked lovely at dawn (right) but little did I know what my friends had in store.

The route itself begins the same as a normal Vallee Blanche decent (which on this particular day had a lovely 50 mph crosswind). Once you have traversed around behind the summit to the Col Du Midi the route enters the top of the Glacier Rond.

The glacier itself is just a bit of ice hanging precariously on the northwest face of the Aiguille Du Midi. We were greeted by 2ft of fresh powder…this is a little intimidating when you are first skiing 50°, becoming 45° (right, view 2, view 3)

About half-way down the glacier you head left into a equally steep couloir, to continue onwards one faces a 350m (1000ft) drop. Once in the couloir (left, view 2) you feel a lot safer…..no potential death drop below…only a long slide…

At the end of it we still had to negotiate a very cut up glacier (right) which required all sorts of inventive manoeuvres on and off skis.

For this terrifying/fantastic experience I have to blame/thank my friends Phil (ex BUSC) and Roger (Ski Weekend).

Words and Pictures from Tom Greenall - Natives Resort Reporter in Chamonix

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