In reply to pec:
Well, I'm now a little more qualified to give an opinion on the conditions, I just got back from a trip down the Gros Rognon.
I am, to be perfectly honest, absolutely amazed by just how well filled-in everything is, considering what I had heard and what I was expecting. Yes, there are a lot of holes around, and yes, you've got to keep your eyes open, but as long as you are confident and capable on a few slightly icy bits to get through the Dining Room, there's not much wrong with it as a descent at the moment. It's certainly nothing like the epic mountaineering expeditions that were being reported back in December, there's no rappelling off of seracs or mandatory crevasse hucks or anything like that.
The arete has a rope, the Z has been built, and there are decent steps all the way down to where you put your skis on, but I'll still stick with my crampons and axe for now, thank you. For the time it takes to put them on and then be able to nip in front of guided groups and overtake people taking their time (whenever safe and appropriate), I still think it's worth it. But, again, maybe I'm just a big wimp.
It's a little bare getting back to the train (a few rocks and bits of blue ice poking through, but the actual motorway is fine), and I've heard bad things about carrying on down towards the bootpack for the James Bond trail, but other than that it's just like skiing it in any low-snow April. Except that it's February.
Post edited at 12:58