Euro 2014 Day 5

Lillaz

The plan for the day was simple, ski up a steep 1300m to a pass and then back down 1800m to the town of Lillaz.  Simple except for how steep the 1300m uphill was.  The top graph is for the route we skied (mostly), 1230m ascent over 3.8 km. The bottom graph is the North west Ridge of Mt Aspiring from Colin Todd Hut, 1279 over 3.7 km!

 We shared the hut with a group from the Turin Ski Club who, as was usual for us, left the hut about an hour before we did.  The hill slowly steepened and we could see the 25+ members of the ski club slowly skinning their way up the steepest section of the route.  I was concerned about this part of the climb, which from appearances would require ice ax and crampons.  When the ski club disappeared above having all kept their skis on, I was relieved thinking that it was not as steep as it looked.  It was a mixture of confusion and alarm when we got to the section and found hard snow and protruding rocks with a “you fall-you die” attitude.  As much as I hated to be defeated by the house wives and accountants of Turin,  I had everyone stow their skis and put on crampons.  It was not a hard climb but I followed in wonder at the slight indentations that the ski club had left behind in the ice.  Difficult to to see but if you look carefully you can see Graham front pointing up the gully below.  If there is ever and Olympic skinning event I am confident Turin Ski Club would be bronze, silver and gold.

Every day is a new highlight of the trip but reaching Di Teleccio Pass (3300m) was magnificent.  It was a long hard slog at high elevation but the satisfaction of only having downhill before us and achieving a well earned day off, was the best top out yet.

Skiing down the Di Teleccio Glacier was 8km of spring snow downhill.  Firm at the top, perfect in the middle and soft at the bottom. 

The valley slowly narrowed with signs of habitation appearing in the form of small dams and bridges.  This valley is famous for ice climbing in winter.  I loved this sign.

Before long we joined onto groomed x-country trails and finally a downhill deposited us in Lillaz, at the Ondezana Hotel and its effusive owner Andre.  I was finally realizing that every major downhill run in Italy ends at a pub of some sort.  Selling beer to us at the end of a long day was really shooting fish in a barrel. As it turned out Mara from Pontese worked at this hotel in the winter and Andre just had to call her to let her know we had arrived alright.  We could hear her laughing on the line. 

After an hour being entertained by Andre our transport arrived for the ride to Cervinia, the starting point of the next leg of out trip.  I don't know if we were more excited by the prospect of a shower or the sight of our hotel being dwarfed by the Matterhorn.  Day off tomorrow!

GO TO DAY 6