MERA PEAK
Ski Expedition 2003

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11.02.03       Superconditions during training session in the Alps

The trainingweekend above Verbier brought exceptional conditions. In the 2 weeks previous to our training some 100 - 200 cm of fresh snow fell in the region. The avalanche danger went up to 4 a few days before our arrival, but then fell back to 3 on Friday, giving us back the hope that we could do something substantial.

On Saturday we started with an intensive day of off-piste skiing. We were the first to ski down stairway to heaven after the heavy storms and we challenged ourselves on cliffjumps.



In the afternoon we were in the last ride up the Mt. Fort, on our way to "the backside" to sleep in the Refuge St. Laurent, when the Telecabine broke down and went back down. This meant we had to change our plans. After a quick skin up the piste we reached the Refuge Tortin, just below the Mt. Fort. Unfortunately they had not enough space for the entire team, so Jan Maerten, Rogier and Falco had to sleep in a snow cave. Poor guys!

On Sunday we had an early start at 7, and reached the summit of Mt. Fort just when the sun appeared from behind Matterhorn. The steep upper part of "the backside" with heavy packs on our bags was challenging on hard snow. On the lower parts we found some excellent powder.



We then skinned up to the Rosablanche. From the summit we had awesome views on highest peaks in the Alps including Matterhorn, Dent Blanche and Mt. Blanc.



The 2000 metres descent to Fionnay was incredible. We shot some great movies. In some parts the untouched powder was the best one can get. The last 400 metres was in a narrow and steep couloir between frozen cascades on avalanche debris, which squeezed the last energy out of us.

The weekend proved to be another "Super Training".