Iron Cross Pass Our 2012 «winter» first snowkiting session 2011 september 20th
Not really winter yet. Not even autumn as it’s due to be on the 21st. That means this snowfall from yesterday was dumping in summertime... Probably the reason why this report is not about a real snowkiting session though. Anyway, that was a perfect moment. Let’s check it out together.
Yes, it was snowing yesterday. Zero degree about 1.900m elevation. It was raining so hard all the day long in the valley, pretty cold as well, we were expecting a huge snowpack on this spot called the Iron Cross Pass. The real name in French is Le Col de la Croix de Fer. You’ll find it on Google Maps. From Grenoble, it’s less to drive than the famous Lautaret Pass. We are used to come here every year for our first snowkiting session. When the snow is falling near 1.800m in autumn. We can get up-there during a couple of weeks and after the road is closed
in winter because of the snow. Normally, we’re coming here late october and november. It’s unusual to go snowkiting in september. But, with my friend Laurent Hémard owner of the shop Kites&Boards, we decide to give a try here for our first session. Once at the pass, actually one kilometer before the pass, we can see that unfortunately the snowpack is really small. A very lot smaller than expected. Anyway, it’s only grass here in these fields for sheeps and cows, ten centimeters of snow will be enough for snowkiting and there is for sure more at the top of the spot. As you can understand
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