April 27, 2010, Glaciological research

After yesterday's awesome tour, we had trouble choosing a follow up for today, and ended up with a very late start from the parking above Villar d'Arene.   After ascending about 600 meters up to the Glaciar de l'Homme, we saw the results of an awesome slide off the Glaciar du Lautaret and decided we should study the shrinkage of the glaciers instead of proceeding higher in the warm weather.   We saw a dozen or so skiers descend l'Homme from the Eagle's Beak Hut, decked out in harnesses and full gear.

When they asked what we thought we were doing ascending at this late hour, we told them we were studying the glaciers, and pointed out that the Homme had sunk about 30 meters in the past 140 years, Ecrins scholars that we were (or pretended to be?)

Like yesterday we had a pretty mushy descent, and since it was only noon, I decided to traverse the col d'Arsine back to our gite while Rob drove to check out La Grave and then back for a rest at the gite.   The traverse was good exercise, the Arene hut has incredible views, and the skiing was unconsolidated snow, but another 600 meters of character building turns.