Velan Western Face between North-northwest and West Ridges

Western Face of Mont Velan (3734m) above the Glacier de Proz

From left or North: North-northwest Ridge from Petit Velan and Dents de Proz up to the Quota 3670 meters and V'lan 's Summit also Ice Cup (3731/34m; in yellow; August 1897, in ascent).

First couloir from North or "Northern Couloir", even named by the ski-mountaineers as "Ypsilon Couloir": to the North-northwest Ridge just before and in right in respect to the Top of Aiguille du Velan (not market in picture but preceding the route in springgreen; August 1877 in descent, July 1966, in ascent).

Second couloir from North or "Central Couloir": to the little saddle 3607 meters, in left just below the Summit of Aiguille du Velan or with exit out more in right to the rocky wall of Quota 3670 meters (in springgreen; August 1877 in descent, July 1966, in lonely ascent).

Third narrow and vertical gully from North: into the rocky wall of Quota 3670 meters (in pink; not yet climbed both uphill and downhill).

Fourth couloir from North also called this as "Ypsilon Couloir" or "Annibal Couloir": even this known with the first name (see above "First couloir from North"), by the mountaineers of Years '70, while currently is more used as "Annibal Couloir", by the ski-mountaineers- The same goes up to the more large saddle between the Quota 3670 meters and Quota 3678 meters (in azur; at the end of Years '80, in ascent).

Fifth couloir from North facing South (way of the first absolute ascension): in the vicinity of Aiguille du Déjeuner (3341m; in fuchsia; August 1799, in ascent).

Western Ridge also called "Hannibal 's Crest": from the homonym Col (2992m): to the Quota 3678 meters (in violet; Summer 1826, in descent,).

Photo by emilius

Traced by osw