The NE Face of Les Courtes has about 1,000m of vertical relief, and is about 45° the whole way down. Its a classic!

We may have been the first party to ski it in 2008 as you would normally wait for spring conditions. But Sky, as always, was ready to roll.

We climbed the main face to near the top, but had to take a variation climber’s right to avoid some nasty black ice on the normal route. The snow was amazing. Boot-top to knee depth, compact wind deposited powder. It was pretty crazy to open it up and make big, fast powder turns on a face like that. Thanks, Sky!

Evening at the Argentiere hut.

Climbing the NE Face.

On a face like that, there aren't many obvious places to take a break. But it does make a beautiful canvas.

Near the top.

I normally try not to swear on my blog, but fuck yeah that's sick!

Oooooh Yeaaahhhh.