Ready for the PDG

Posted on April 18th, 2008 by info.
Categories: General, Race Reports, Ski Races, Als Blog.

Zermatt is currently filling up with ski rando racers today, all arriving for tonights Patrouille des Glaciers (Glacier Patrol Race - Zermatt to Verbier 65k, 4000m ascent - ie the longest ski mountaineering race in the world).  We’ve 3 British Teams in tonights race, so we’ll let you know how everyone gets on soon…

GB RESULTS

Well it was an interesting nights racing - starting at 2am with an hours running, before skinning up the Tete Blanche at 3700m in a snowstorm, followed by plenty of mayhem down to Arolla. 

Out into the daylight, the poor weather continued as far as the Rosablanche where the sun finally came out down to Verbier.  We arrived in 8hr 43mins (37th place), with Olly doing brilliantly on only his second ever race - having truly given it everything.

In the other GB teams, Jon Morgan snapped a ski coming down to Arolla - so he, Carron and Rick Marchant sadly had to drop out - whereas Nick, Ben and Dougal finished in 12hrs 11mins.  In the half race from Arolla, Ivor Ligertwood also raced with two of our juniors Nick and Rupert who finished in 5hr 08mins.

It’s quite difficult to comprehend the sheer length and terrain covered on this race, as you plunge off into the darkness and snow in Zermatt in the middle of the night - then after a whole lot of running, skinning, skiing, climbing and effort, finally end up miles away in Verbier just a few hours later.  Skiing the Haute Route just won’t feel quite the same again!

2am start, running out of Zermatt.

Climbing the Rosablanche, the last big climb on the course.

8hrs 43mins later - Olly, Jon and Al at the finish in Verbier.

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Mont Velan

Posted on April 17th, 2008 by info.
Categories: General, Mountain Conditions, Skiing Conds, Trip Reports, Skiing, Als Blog.

We had a big touring day up Mont Velan yesterday, after backing off the Plateau du Couloir first thing (lots of wind and snow the previous day, so knarly slab danger).

Avalanche risk is considerable out here at the moment, with lots of fresh snow coming in every other day or so - a skier triggered a slab near the top of Mt Velan today for instance - so considerable care required whilst out touring.

Crossing the Col de la Gouille on fixed chains.

View of the Grand Combin from Mont Velan.

Skiing the couloir down the Glacier de Valsorey.

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Chamonix Couloir Action

Posted on April 10th, 2008 by info.
Categories: General.

Just a quickie on couloirs around Cham at the moment - Rich and Craig Booth, plus myself and Andy Collins did the Vogel couloir on the back of the Cosmiques Arete today.  Rich and Craig made the last bin, Andy and I didn’t - so skied down instead. 

Due to the constant snowfalls we’ve been having out here recently, careful choice of routes to avoid avalanche danger is essential at the moment (for skiing, as well as climbing…)  Rich and Craig had a wild day on the Cosmiques Couloir earlier in the week too, but many of the classics on the Tacul are too dodgy a proposition - so if you’re heading out soon, then plan routes carefully.

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Super Trophee du Muveran 2008

Posted on March 31st, 2008 by info.
Categories: General, Race Reports, Ski Races, Als Blog.

This was a race I’d been wanting to do for a while and it certainly lived up to expectations - with a great course and lovely weather.  The Super Trophee (ie long course) involves nearly 2800m of climb split into 2 big climbs, with some long sections on foot including the famous 500m high Pacheux Couloir.  Racing with Jon Bracey, things were never going to be anything but quick - but we were both quite surprised to find ourselves in the lead of the 6.30am start group after just a couple of minutes.

Jon was going strongly as ever, despite having worked on the hill every day since the Pierra Menta - whilst I on the other hand had picked up a stomach bug which came to a head on the second climb, with a desperate two minutes pulling a lycra catsuit off in the woods!  Nevertheless, we managed to hang in there and finished in just under 4 1/2 hours.  With other teams starting at different times, we couldn’t wait around for the prizegiving to see all the results - but looking at the online results it turned out we’d finished third, so a damn good result.

Climbing the 500m high Couloir du Pacheux on the Grand Muveran

Ever friendly Matheo Edalyne of Italy, winner of this years TSF Millet

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Gran Paradiso Tour

Posted on March 29th, 2008 by info.
Categories: General, Mountain Conditions, Skiing Conds, Trip Reports, Skiing.

Jon and the team have just got back from a good few days touring in the Gran Paradiso National Park, escaping the high avalanche risk around Chamonix and Western Switzerland due to the recent heavy snowfalls.  This was originally scheduled to be a Haute Route week, but fresh Lavazza coffee, friendly Italian huts and a ski ascent of the Grand Paradiso more than made up for the change of plan.  By the time things finally cleared up in Cham, the team enjoyed two great final days skiing up on the Midi too.

The Gran Paradiso National Park - seen from the Aiguille du Midi

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Intro Ski Touring Course 2008

Posted on March 22nd, 2008 by info.
Categories: General, Mountain Conditions, Skiing Conds, Trip Reports, Skiing, Als Blog.

Just a quick report from Chamonix, where we’ve just finished our intro ski touring course as the mother of all dumps is hitting the western alps.  A good enjoyable weeks skiing, including some great powder off the Aiguille du Midi and a 2 day tour around the Wildstrubel area in the Western Oberland across in Switzerland.

Great powder coming off the Col D’Entreves on Tuesday.

Reaching the summit of the Schneehorn on Thursday.

As for current ski conditions, nearly a metre of fresh snow has now fallen at the top end of the Chamonix valley, with strong winds high up - and the outlook is to stay cold and unsettled with further snow expected.  Currently the Col de Montets is closed, it’s category 4 on the avalanche front and I’m having to skin up and ski down from our accomodation because the road is shut!

It’s a similar story all across the southern and western alps, so I’ve been over to Italy today in order to get some better weather - if you are planning to go touring in the next week, then my advice would be to head to the Gran Paradiso region where there is a lot less snow and things may still be possible.

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Pierra Menta 2008 - great result from Bracey + Scrimgeour

Posted on March 16th, 2008 by info.
Categories: General, Race Reports, Ski Races.

Jon and Carron just finished the Pierra Menta this morning after 4 days of racing and 10000m of ascent, finishing in an excellent 27th place.  This is a considerable achievement, as the race is effectively more competitive than the world championships - and by far the best result for a GB Team in the Pierra Menta.  Jon reported good weather, but difficult snow conditions on many descents for the 4 days - Well done guys!

On top form - Jon Bracey giving it some in the Pierra Menta.

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Tour Soleil 2008

Posted on March 16th, 2008 by info.
Categories: General, Mountain Conditions, Skiing Conds, Trip Reports, Skiing, Als Blog.

Just back from another fun week in the Tour Soleil region on the Swiss-Italian border - heavy snowfall and strong winds during the first half of the week required some careful planning and navigation to steer well clear of avalanche danger.  After that, things progressively cleared up and we enjoyed plenty of good skiing, finishing with an awesome run down into the Rhone valley today.  Best of all, we had this wonderful area entirely to ourselves and didn’t meet a single other ski party all week - ie every descent untracked on the whole tour.

A snowy start in the Binntal - Nick remembering to dewax his skis (don’t ask where the frying pan came from!)

Great snow coming off the Hohsand Gletscher on Thursday.

Andy reaching the top of the Sulzlicke today.

More powder in the Lepontine Alps today.

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More Eiger North Face Pics

Posted on March 5th, 2008 by info.
Categories: General, Mountain Conditions, Alpine Conds, Trip Reports, Alpine.

Just a couple more pics from Rich’s ascent of the N Face of the Eiger the other week.  Three of our other guides - Jon Bracey, Matt Dickinson and Jonny Baird also made ascents during the same week, so another N Face takes a hammering!

Eiger N Face - the world famous ‘38 Route

Rich and Andy relaxing at Death Bivouac

Andy Benson on the Traverse of the Gods

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Ski Mountaineering World Champs 2008 - final score

Posted on March 3rd, 2008 by info.
Categories: General, Race Reports, Ski Races, Als Blog.

OK - so the final two races (Vertical Race and Long Distance) went off well on Thur/Fri with some good results, meaning we stayed ahead of the USA and finished 13th overall in the National Rankings - ie not bad at all. 

In the vertical race, Ben came 36th and Jon Bracey finished 32nd in the Long Distance - this last race in particular turned out to be a gruelling affair, held in full ’scottish’ conditions ie rain at the bottom, blizzard at the top, skiing 7 times up and down between the two - luckily I was ill in bed, so missed it!  Florent Perrier lost his skins 3 times on the final ascent, so missed out on a clean sweep in by finishing 2nd to Guido Giacomelli of Italy in this last race.

Team race on Tuesday - Dents du Midi behind

Scary Sight - Florent Perrier (FRA) winning the Vertical Race

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