For one reason or another we didn’t get up to Grands Montets until mid morning. The Bochard was closed because of the wind so headed up the Hearse. It was bitter cold and so skins and couteau went on quickly. The up was firm and the couteau were invaluable, especially on the traverse over to the Col de Rachasses which was super exposed to the wind. We tucked in behind the hut on the bend to change back to downhill mode before heading out over the glacier off the back and into the exit couloirs.
For comparatively little effort to get up there I have to say that the ski down was fantastic. The couloirs were full of blown in snow and in amazing condition.
