Extreme 2-day ski tour in Mont Valier, Pyrenees

Mont Valier, 2838 meters high, is the eastern and most isolated glacier of the Pyrenees. It is also a symbol of L´Ariege for its slender pace and the absence of any easy normal route. It shares the slope, the orientation –facing north– and the elevation of the Great Casse in Vanoise´s west face.

We will ski its face of transformed snow between noon and 2 PM.  We will leave the parking (skis on the bag) the day before. The altitude change is almost 2000 meters and timing is important! So, we will spend the night in the unguarded Estagnous refuge (2246 meters).  We will melt snow to make our own meal and wake up the next day at 7 AM.

A descent of the classic Pic du Midi early in the season is essential so that I can arrange all the details of the adventure. We will climb almost all of the hard snow with crampons. After a visit to the summit of this iconic belvedere, we will attack the descent, with a 350 meters vertical drop. We are in “steep slope” mode.

It is a beautiful race that links mountaineering and skiing. You do not have to be a climber, but you must be an excellent skier (16 years old at least).

If you are up to this challenge, do not hesitate to book this trip to Mont Valier!

Or, if you are willing to experience a less demanding tour, check my Ski touring initiation in the Pyrenees or my Mount Aneto ski touring, Pyrenees.