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Col du Bal

Puy-Saint-Vincent

A stunning line near Puy-Saint-Vincent ski resort

Ski Touring Difficult

Distance
11 km
Ascent
1 km
Descent
1 km
Duration
5-6 hrs
Low Point
1.7 km
High Point
2.6 km
Gradient
39˚
Col du Bal Map

A great line in a stunning valley, this line is just alongside the Puy Saint Vincent ski station but you can’t see it and it feels wild. It can be accessed from resort with a bit of booting and skiing over a crête, so don’t be surprised if you see a few more people coming down than you expected.

Description

From the parking near 1800 resort cross the road on the bend and follow the path, it quickly crosses a piste and then continues flat in a NW direction. Cross a metal gantry and continue until you reach the valley of Narreyroux. Here turn SW and follow the valley floor, after some steeper steeps turn north and climb to the Col de Bal. From the col it is possible to follow the ridge west for a few hundred meters. This gives access to some steeper lines which can be scouted on the way in.

Descent

There are a few options for descent depending on snow levels etc. The easiest is to just follow your track back, but it is possible with a bit of planning to ski across and descend the valley on the left hand side if you are skiing down, this side is often less tracked, but does need a good snow level as there are some rocky sections that need covering. There are also some steeper lines if you have travelled further up the ridge, but you need to have scouted them first and its not alway obvious what goes and what ends in a drop.

Difficulty

Difficult

Serious gradient of 30-38 degrees where a real risk of slipping exists.

Low Exposure (E1)

1 out of 4

Exposure is limited to that of the slope itself. Getting hurt is still likely if the slope is steep and/or the snow is hard.

Remoteness

2 out of 4

Away from help but easily accessed.

Best time to visit

between January and April

Features

  • Face
  • Single Descent

Equipment required

  • Skins

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