The dream line. Punta Dufour - Parete Sud
The dream line. Punta Dufour - Parete Sud
domenica 28 giugno 2015
It has been some years since I wanted to ski Dufourspitze south face. This line can be seen from Colle del Lys, but i started thinking about it the first time I reached Lyskamm’s summit. Dufour is a massive and rocky pyramid with some snowy lines crossing it’s south face; amazingly steep and technical, I wondered for years if one of those line could be skied. This week-end along with Luca and Alessandro we went to sleep at Bivacco Giordano at Balmehorn to try to ski this south face.
Sunday conditions seemed great: blue sky, low wind and temperatures rising. We reached Colle del Lys, the lined seemed to be ok. We approached the face crossing Grenz glacier and we climbed extremely quickly the whole face, thanks to the hard snow that made the progression easier. We arrived 20 meter below the top, because a strong north wind made dangerous to climb the mixed part to reach the peak.
The skiing part was really challenging, doubtless it has been the most difficult descent I ever attempted. The snow was really hard at the top with ice underneath. Things got better going down were the sun was warmer and the snow softer, but the face was steeper.
An incredible journey with friends who don’t give up in any situation
Thanks to Luca Calzone, who climbed the Rei ridge, for the photos! I hope to see you on another journey!
Punta Dufour - Parete Sud, Via Dechy - Biner - Michel
Prima discesa Luca Zattoni, Alessandro Stucovitz (sci), Luca Zanette (snowboard)
Difficulty: 5.4 E4
Top: 4634m
Skiing top: 4620m
Steepness: 55° - 50°
Vertical drop: 550m (100m on the ridge)