More biking, more Mont Blanc, more loving the summer!

All alone in the valley Blanche (Adv BC - winter 09)

Wow, just back from a week in Scotland with the family where it pretty much rained everyday! We had a couple of dry days or maybe half days but apart from that it rained pretty much non stop!

Back in Chamonix now where its blue skies and sunshine again, Phew!

I've 3 weeks of work Guiding up in the mountains now, so will be pretty busy and not in the office so much. Mel is taking bookings for next winter, which is already looking pretty busy, so if you need any info just drop her and e-mail or give her a call. I'll also be checking e-mails on my new iphone, so if there's any info needed from me she'll pass your questions on to me and I'll get back to you.

I'll have a few nights down in the valley and will be getting out on my bike as much as poss as straight after my 3rd week I leave for the GPM10 Chamonix - Nice bike ride (after which I think I might now have another Mont Blanc to guide).

Nearing the top of the Dome du Miage (BC Custom winter 09)

There's quite a few interested in the late season Summits week which is great. I'm thinking of starting the week over touring around the Grand Paradiso region in Italy with perhaps a quick ascent of the Grand Paradiso itself. If the weather allows this should be a big week and I'm looking forwards to it already.

Summits team on the top of Mont Blanc after climbing the 3 summits cosmiques route (BC summits).

Right got to go pack for the hills and then get out on the bike.

Neil.

Summer news! Another amazing week in the mountains.

The Matterhorn in all its glory!

I'm just in from 6 perfect mountain days of a Haut Route, sunny skies and nice stable temps followed us on a perfect high mountain adventure from Chamonix to Zermatt finishing under the towering peak of the picturesque Matterhorn (seen above).

With a group of 6 regular summer clients from Cork, Ireland, I made the trip with fellow Guide Kathy Murphy on a 1 to 3 ratio. We started out from the Albert Premier refuge above La Tour, headed over to Champex, round to the Montvoison Dam from where we did an excellent new (secret) variant, 1200m straight up and over to the cabanne de Dix. From here we climbed the Pin d'Arolla before carrying on down to the newly refurbished Vignettes hut (very nice), another big day over the col de l'Eveque, then down and up to the airy perch of the Bertol refuge. Then a final big day up and over the Tete Blanche (on which we arrived for the sunrise) and onwards down the never ending Stokki glacier to Zermatt.

I now have a weeks holiday on the 'wet coast' of sunny Scotland with the family before three more weeks up the hill. Then one day off and the GPM10 bike ride from Chamonix to Nice for which I will be joined by Andy Cook (who some of you will know from winter courses) who is busy shaving his legs and training right now so that he can be in Nice days before me!

We had a great response to the new 2010 calendar of courses, Mel has all the dates and prices so if you need information don't hesitate to drop her an e-mail or give her a call.

As I mentioned in my last blog/news, we have cut down dramatically on the number of courses running as I want to maintain the personal level of service and attention to detail that I feel the courses require.

Anyway, the response has been very good, it seems this is a popular move and especially for this time of year the level of interest and early bookings for next winter is amazing and the hardest part is going to be fitting everything and everyone in as there are lots of 'custom groups' which is great!

I love it! So looking forwards to next winter already!!

However, the summer is great too and I've some biking to fit in today and tomorrow before I head off to Scotland so I'd better be off as (fellow Guide) Jonny Baird is no doubt waiting to take me up some horrendous steep hill he has scoped out, trained on and then will say, 'I wonder where this goes, lets have a look!'

Tosh has now finished the brochure, it looks very nice and we will soon have a new look to the web site too.

All good, all change, keep the progression.

Neil.

Winter 2010 program?

Hi all,

Hope you’re all having a good summer, keeping busy and getting a little bit excited about the winter 2010!

After an amazing winter season 2009 filled with fresh snow, fantastic courses and amazing trips it is time once again to come up with a new and improved program for 2010.

As most of you are no doubt aware, the end of the winter brought with it the tragic news of the death of our friend and partner, Keith Mckintosh.

Keith, whom many of you knew well from our courses died doing the sport that he loved to do more than anything else in the world. He lived his life to the full and was an inspiration to us all.

His passing has probably made us all reflect upon the things we do and the values with which we live our lives.

For me, it has made me simply more determined than ever to live for the things that I love, to love them with all my passion and to be true to these feelings in everything that I do (a bit hippyish I know, but bear with me here!)

One of my greatest passions is, of course, Snowboarding, but what I learned this season, after weeks and weeks of perfect riding and amazing snow conditions, it is not just the ‘fine art’ of snowboarding that I love, it is also the ability to share the great experiences that snowboarding gives to me, with you!

When I look back on the season past, my strongest memories are not just of craving deep powder turns in feather light powder, my strongest memories are of the days where these experiences were shared with an enthusiastic group of riders, all getting the buzz, pushing themselves beyond their limits and creating new opportunities and expectations from every run.

On reflection it is my ability to share my knowledge of snowboarding and the experiences that it brings that keeps me inspired and keeps me searching for greater and better things and of course that works both for me and for you!

So in planning this coming winter I have looked hard at what I want to be able to offer, what I want to give and the experiences I want to share. It’s been quite hard trying to fit everything in with out spreading things too thinly and I had to drop a couple of things that I’d like to have done, but I think finally we’re there!

For me 2010 is all about quality over quantity, it is all about the finer details. I want to be able to offer you the best riding experiences possible and so I have cut the program in half to keep it manageable and personal. Today’s world is all about streamlining, sustainability and quality of product and I already know that there can be no finer product.

So here’s how it’s going to work!

We’re going to drop our accommodation package and recommend 2 partners that we’re going to work with, for one think luxury catered chalet through ‘Cold Fusion’ in les Bois. For the other think nice hotel, sociable, comfortable but more cost friendly, Hotel Vert in les Gaillands just out of Cham sud. We will help you with your arrangements but you’ll book direct with which ever you choose. If you’re part of a large group on a budget, there will also be the option of you taking on a self catered apartment.

We’re dropping the lift pass from the package as quite a few of you have season passes and if you’re going to do more than a couple of weeks in Cham through out the season then this is something you should think about getting as you’ll save costs. For our courses you’ll need the Full Cham ski pass with Courmayeur etc. Lift passes can be bought by you in resort or organized through your accommodation package.

The courses! I personally will be running our scheduled program, tech clinics, Off piste clinics, BC courses and trips away. Our regular BC Guides Ralf Tenbrink and Seb Montaz will be joining me for extra un-scheduled courses, custom courses and trips where 2 guides are needed.

This season I feel that we can really offer you the best on the hill experience possible, you get a to have a say in your off the hill package and we all get the best of both worlds.

Spaces will be limited and when a course fills we won’t be putting on another as we have in the past unless it’s a complete custom course, so what you see is what there is.

That’s it that’s all!

Hope you’re feeling as inspired as I am, I’m already looking forwards to getting stuck in and carving some lines, can hardly wait!

Look out for the program on line, but here’s a sneak preview (not finalised) and prices will follow shortly!

All the best,

Neil.



The Winter program 2010.
(Autumn courses not included)

1. 03-09/01 – Tech clinic – 6 places

2.10-12/01 – 3 day Off piste – 3 day/6 places

3.14-23/01 - Gulmarg/India (Voyager exp) - 6 places

4. 24-30/01 - Off piste clinic - 6 places

5. 31-06/02 - BC Intro - 6 places

6. 07-13/02 - Adv BC custom – 3 places

7. 14-20/02 - BC Intro – 6 places

8. 21-27/02 - Tech clinic – 6 places

9. 28-06/03 - Off piste clinic – 6 places

10. 07-13/03 – Tech clinic – 6 places

11. 14-20/03 – 3 day BC Intro – 3 day/6 places

12. 21-27/03 - BC Freeride – 6 places

13. 28-03/04 – 3 day Off Piste - 3 day/6 places

14. 04-12/04 – Kamchatka (Voyager heli) – 6 places

15. 16-24/04 – Lyngen/Norway (Voyager exp) – 6 places

16. 25-01/05 – BC Summits.

More news from Chamonix!

I'm just down from another Mont Blanc ascent! It was pretty windy up there a strong 60Kmh on the upper ridge, we set off up from the Tete Rousse refuge at about 4:30am, made good time up to the Gouter refuge but then delayed departure from there as the wind was howling.

It was forecast to drop a little so at around 7ish we headed on up, stopped off quickly in the Vallot bivouac hut to layer up and headed up the summit ridge. The wind dropped to about 40kmh, still quite strong when you're walking up a narrow ridge, but we made the top at 11:30am to clear skies and fantastic views.

We made the valley pretty early the following day and so of course I had a quick outing on the bike just to ease the legs. This of course didn't work so good and I can hardly walk today!

No Pain no gain or something like that!

Think I'll have a rest day today? or maybe a quick ride might loosen the quads off a bit?

I have a week off now to finish off the brochure and I've just written a couple of articles, one for Document Snowboard Mag and one for the Daily Mail ski and board mag so look out for those in the early editions.

Jeff Swindles, one of the Kamchatka crew from April 2009 has been busy making a video of the trip (when he obviously should have been working!) and has produced a nice little movie so check it out.

McNab Crew heliboard gig, Kamchatka April 09 from Jeff Swindles on Vimeo.

I've had quite a few inquiries about next winters Kamchatka trip, places are going to be limited so if you want to come out there get your name on the list.

More news soon!

Enjoy,

Neil.