Mallory

VERY EXTREME skiing. Danger of death. Exit the Aiguille du Midi cable car station and after walking down the ridge take a hard left traversing onto the north face. Descend the narrow face below you and stick to the side of the rocky outcrop before going slightly left as the angle backs off. Another small pitch leads you into steepening terrain at which point traversing hard right will bring you into a rock garden and eventually a steep narrow gully leading you to a small col. Take a right onto some of the routes steeper terrain and after skiing down and gently left a technical traverse left, passed with a short rappel or some serious shuffling with bring you to the top of the Pan de Rideau. This large slope is incredible riding and not as steep as it looks. Ski the slope and head left at the bottom to work through a narrow choke - again a small rappel can be made hereafter which a long left-hand traverse and short sidestep brings you to a 20 meter rappel that puts you in the last couloir giving steep yet relatively relaxed skiing that brings you back to the the Cosmique couloir route and the mid station.