February 28, 2009 Yours Truly and Micha Elevation gain: 1500 m Distance: 15 km Avalanche danger: nil Conditions: spring skiing Why: Because the summit is clearly visible from Grenoble, because the building I work in is named after it and because its a spectacular route! Warning: I went panorama crazy! Where: Le Taillefer, FRANCE Micha and I decided to go do this summit finally, after I've been wanting to do it for at least a couple of years!  It's 45 miunutes from Grenoble and quite the exciting route.  Here, on the initial climb, you can see Grenoble in the valley in behind. The crazy cool lunar landscape half way up. The crux of the route: an exposed little bootpack to get up to the ridge. L'Arete de Brouffier leading up towards the summit. Cool wind formations on the ridge. 180 degree view of the arete, showing our route up. This is a shot of the wild descent we did with Christof back in October (see here). Looking down the north face from the summit. The summit (2857 m) taken with my camera screwed into my pole. A wicked route that needs doing!  The north face of le Grand Armet       (2792 m). Micha in a nice 40-45 degree couloir to get off the summit. Ditto. Micha carving the steep turns on the 1200 m north face descent! Le Petit Taillefer in the background.  Spectacular trip!  Spectacular day!