Dent du Châtelet : Face NW

solo trip, but the area was quite packed, especially around Blonniere and a whole crowd going up Coillu à Bordel

Fresh snow ~10-30cm depending on the altitude, starting already below from the parking, although there it fell straight on the soil and rocks. You can put on skis shortly after the parking, but there is tons of sharks and some parts without snow, so on the way back it's better to walk the last ~500m or so.

Higher up the snow relatively light and nice, less so on the W slopes where the sun has already transformed. As long as the valley itself was very well protected, the main ridge is completely wind blown, with extreme cornices and windslabs all over Dent du Chatelet face. Anywhere further towards Pointe de Merdassier looked also like it can explode any minute, hence steeper and more exposed stuff definitely needs time to settle.

Still, lower down, even steeper slopes felt relatively safe, regardless new snow falling on a hardpack. Around the middle you could feel the base below the snow, higher up not really. Closer to the road some rocks started sticking out already. Effectively great day but you had to play safe. Coillu à Bordel was gangban**d already by those going up. Surprising crowd given it wasn't the safest option today IMO.

blue sky, perfect condition, except for the main ridge which was extremely windy