Frey Hut – Day 2 & 3

Up at 8 for a breakfast of oatmeal and a few coffees to jolt the system. The main objective for the day was to ski Monk’s couloir. The sun was shining so we were hoping for some nice soft snow by the afternoon. The start of the skin up was much like yesterday’s approach for the Central Couloir but we veered off in the opposite direction after gaining some elevation.

Jorge and Paul skinning up the slope

The bootpack became steeper than yesterday’s but the snow was good quality and felt quite secure. I also learned a new technique from Jorge — hold skinned skis vertically in hands and press them against the hill to allow pulling with the upper body. I felt like spiderman, very cool.

Steeper bootpack

Our up trail veered off into the shadows of the spires and became quite firm and icy. It was time to pull out the ice axes.

Charlie and Kade, axes out

After our little icy traverse we hit a nice protected resting spot and were able to relax for a few minutes.

View from resting spot

I fiddled with some panorama shots of the view and our fearless leader.

Jorge Pano

We had one more brief bit of exposure to traverse…

Charlie all smiles after exposure

and after that, the bootpack eased and we quickly arrived at our destination where we began to get back onto our skis. By this point the sun was hiding behind clouds and the temperatures were beginning to cool — so much for the afternoon of soft snow.

Charlie almost there

Paul almost there

The Monk chute was wider than the one we skied yesterday afternoon. There were was more space to choose a (slightly) more mellow line or a steeper one. There was still a bit of a crust at the top but the middle portion was sheltered and had retained some nice snow which made the skiing more enjoyable.

By the time we hit the bottom the clouds had fully rolled in. The Londoners decided it was time for a beer in the hut. I put the skins back on with Paul and Jorge and we headed up a different slope. The skinning on this aspect was challenging, there was soft snow on an icy layer which made the kick turns a chore. After a bit of a slide I decided it was time to become spiderman once more.

By the time we made it to a smaller lake sitting above the main one, I opted to ski down and join the Londoners while Paul and Jorge continued upwards to ski a committing slope with a >45 degree entrance. It was nice to finally cruse down a more mellow slope. There was a mix of good snow, ice, and crust. At the bottom, I waited to watch Jorge and Paul do their decent before heading back to the hut for warmth and sustenance.

By the evening it was snowing pretty heavily. We went to bed dreaming of powder but woke up on day 3 to rain. The group agreed the best option was to take the summer (hiking) path out instead of risking the alpine route on loaded slopes in crappy weather. It was a bit of a slog and very reminiscent of ‘bobsledding’ out from Whistler’s backcountry on the Singing Pass trail.

We rewarded ourselves that evening with steak at Alto el Fuego. Best damned steak in Bariloche.

Lomo!