Bonjourno Italia!!!

So last Week the newly weds went to Italy for some more skiing action. We went to a national park called 'Grand Paradiso'. It was a trip with the Eagle ski club. So we drove over to a small village called Pont which was about 4 hours from Gap. Here we met the other 4 people we were to spend the week skiing with - Paul, Rich, Mandy and Richard.

We woke up in the morning to foul weather and the original plans we had to go up high and over some high exposed cols went out the window. We decided to change valley's and go one valley further north. So we all pilled into our cars and drove back down to the valley floor and back up again to the other valley. The qweather was not much better there but the weather was suppose to get better the next day........

Above is us climbing up to the hut, there was a lot of old avalanche debris to cross which made it a littel slow going.

After about two hours we finally got to our home for the next 4 days - the Refugio Benevolo. A quite small but very warm refuge with a really lovely couple who are the gardians who thought it was brilliant that a couple would come to their refuge on their honeymoon.

The next day the weather was better but had really low cloud. Lara, Paul and I decided to go out any way and at least get some excercise in. The could was trying to lift, so to kill some time we decided to dig a snow pit to see what all the new snow looked like and how safe it was

And as if the gods were with us as soon as we finished the snow hole it cleared!!!

So off we went on outr way up. The sun was amazingly hot and the snow fast became very heavy.

It was a hard ski down due to the heavy snow, but none the less it was lovely being able to see where we were and get skiingThe post beer ski at the refuge was also another added bonus!

Woke up the next day with bad weather again. the forecast showed that it was suppose ot get better in the afternoon so we thoguh we might as well go and get out there and try and get the climbing out of the way so that when the weather (if it did) get better we we could enjoy the decent. So the above is us setting off into utter poo weather. It really was snowing hard.

The motley Crew hald way up. Thankfully near the top the weather cleared up, again greating us with great views of the mountains we were in. Skinning up the last final bit before we got to the top of that days goal. Pic de Polenti (3108m).

I do not have any pictures of the decent as my hands frove when we got to the top. I broke trail for the last half of the climb (apart from the last bit above) as the snow was really deap and it was very hard work, so in true me fashion, i sweated a lot and that when i stopped froze my gloves. I got hot aches half way down which were some of the worst i have had but after i was grateful for the warmth. The ski down form the top was in great powder until half way down when it got heavy agin. But we were all still glad we did get out that day.

woke up to glorious sunshine and clear skis at last. So had breakfast at 6:o0M and got out as soon as we could

lara leaving the hut as the sun comes intot he valley, it was very cold until we got into the sunlight. Today we decided to go and ski Pic de Calibre.A lot of snow had fallen over the last few days. So a littel wary of where we went due to avalanche conditions. Above Lara, Rich and Mandy.We had a long way to go, we had quite a long way to climb up a glacier till we got to the bottom of the actual climb to CalibreLara climbing up teh glacier, our goal of the day can be seen to the left of her head. as it warmed up avalanches from the steap gulleys coudl be seen and heard.Manged to get the biggest one we saw coming down, this slightly unerved Mandy! It was very impressive and humbling to watch.

So after about three hours of hard work in hot sun we finally managed to get to the top (3512m) and were greated with stunning views of the alps. we could see Mont blanc, Grande Joirasse, Grand Combin, Matterhorn and the Grand Paradiso.

Lara arriving at the the top.A slushy picture of us to at the top. I saw there for about an hour just taking in the views and waiting for the rest of the party to arrive. The ski down was brilliant, fresh tracks all the way down. Not to steep so very fast. I did not get teh camera out much as i was havign too much fun. But i did get one picture of the wife giving it bigg'un going downOur feet were rather sore at teh end of this day and there was not much to do apart from ski out the next day. We loved the skiing in the GP national park, would definitely go back again, who knows, maybe next week!!!!!