Friday 26 February 2010

Loads of snow and tech clinic.

Well its been snowing on and off all week and up high there's tons of it. Lots of wind too though so expect some pretty serious avalanche risk if you're heading away from the controlled areas. Areas of Le Tour are particularly risky with the present conditions so pick your lines carefully when ducking the ropes.

I'm running a Tech clinic this week which is going very well. So far we've been to Le Tour where we started the week with a run through the science behind snowboard technique in a guided discovery fashion. We worked through how the board works, how the line you take works with the terrain and controls your speed with out skidding and then looked at the bio mechanics of the body and the movements we need to make to bend and turn the board by design rather than by force.

We've had a fair few white out days this week, Flegere with fresh snow but bad visability, Grand Montets again with fresh snow and bad vis in the afternoon. Courmayeur with prefect pistes and great conditions and today with stormy weather everywhere we ended up in Les Houches where we had a great day perfecting technique with everyone making great progress.

I'm always amazed at how little people know about snowboard technique and how much and how quickly things change as their understanding grows. Yesterday and today we looked a little bit at some advanced technique such as the cross under edge change turn for steeper terrain and general freeriding. Everyone has made great progress and all are well on the road to a high level of riding.

I also did a little video feedback today, the first time they have seen themselves riding since making the new changes and I think they were all pretty surprised at how good they actually looked.

I'm pretty happy with how things have progressed and we have one more day left tomorrow and loads of fresh snow up in the hills so lets just hope everything opens up and we can get up there and get at it.

All is good in Chamonix!

Neil.

Wednesday 17 February 2010

BC Intro course starts, Not so bad!!

I've just started a BC Intro week, first day at Le Tour which was pretty tracked in all the usual back bowls but not so bad and we finished the day with a great run down from the Tete du Balme down to Trient.

Day 2 was the best weather forecast for the week so we headed up to the col du Passon. Big delays getting up the lifts with it being the big holiday week meant that we didn't get started hiking until 12:30. Even so we made good progress and were up the top in about 2 hours 30. Although loads of people had obviously been up the Passon, most of them had taken the same route down (for some strange reason). This left the right hand side of the descent under the Glacier totally untracked for us! A great descent with plenty of fresh turns for all.

A good friend of mine, top UK Freerider Will Hughes came over for the weekend and joined us for the first couple of days riding before heading back over to Tignes where he lives during the winter.

Today the weather changed and the foehn wind started up. The light went a bit flat this morning so we did a top tickets front face off the Grandes Montets and a bit of a technique session on the Herse. The sun came out in the afternoon so we nipped back up the top and came down the Pas Du Chevre which again still had some good untracked lines down the middle of it and was in good condition all the way to Chamonix.

It looks like it might have been snowing in Courmayeur today so that might be the ticket for tomorrow. I'll check the web cams in the morning and make my decision then. Looks like a bit of snow might also hit Chamonix tomorrow so hopefully things will start to fill in again.

All is good in Chamonix,

Neil.

Saturday 13 February 2010

Two more prefect days to finish off a perfect week!

Breaking trail up to the Col du Floria, a hard 2 hours of thigh deep trail breaking!

An amazing week this week, one of my best ever I think. There's not much we didn't do, not much else I'd have wanted to ride and the conditions were amazing!

After an amazing first 4 days (see previous news) the weather stabilized with very cold but clear conditions.

Dick leading the team nearing the top of the exposed ridge on the Grandes Autannes.

After Thursdays Grandes Autannes outing (see photo above of the climb) where we found some absolutely amazing powder on the way down (in fact we didn't have to look so hard as it was everywhere and no tracks anywhere!) I was going to have to come up with something special to keep the dream alive!

The steep ascent to the Col du Floria.

Nothing for it then but a Col du Floria outing in the Aiguille Rouge. With no tracks leading up the steep couloir above the Index lift at Flegere I set about braking a trail in waist deep fresh snow. 2 hard hours later we were at the top and looking down the steep 45 degree North Face that was in perfect condition and not a track in the whole valley below!

Just our tracks in the whole valley! half way down the Floria descent.

Amazing powder all the way until your legs were burning and at the bottom you could hardly stand and definitely not stop grinning.

The steep 45 degree slope is behind Dick and Ian on the Floria descent.

the second hike up to the Col du Berard is always a bit of a slog but with breakable crust all the way and another 2 hours of trail braking I decided not to do a big squatt session in the evening. The descent from the Col du Berard was also pretty good although a bit more tracked than we were becoming used to although and we found a real nice line with the perfect pitch and deep untracked cold powder. A massive day but with some amazing riding and a fantastic mountain day, definitely one to remember!

So what to follow that up with?

Sunday, the last day dawned cold and clear. I'd thought about getting a bit more extreme with the guys as they'd taken everything I'd thrown at them with gusto so far.

The South Face of the Aiguille d'Entreve has been waiting for me to revisit its steep flanks for many years (I last did it in the late 90's with a group in spring conditions). A massive steep 45 degree 500m slope of steep and deep, fully engaging from start to finish with rock bands and crevasses to negotiate followed by a smooth long steep glacier that is, at the moment, totally filled in and perfect!

The Entreves had our names written all over it as we headed round to Italy and up the Helbronner. From the top lift an hour long Glacial hike gets us to the Col d'Entreve from where I take a look and decide on an entry strategy whilst the guys look on in nervous anticipation. It looks pretty serious and the constant chat has suddenly stopped. After some super steep and technical side slipping through a narrow entry couloir the face opens out a little and we regroup and survey the situation.

A big slightly delicate traverse out right to where the slope aspect is more South East brings us to perfect snow at around 45 degrees angle and from here we drop in and let it run for about 300m vert of steep and deep. The Glacier below is excellent and we're back at the mid station for 1pm.

On the way up first time I'd been checking out the steep couloirs below the 2nd cable car. This is serious territory, steep, hard to get to and there's only one way out through the cliffs below. A quick bite to eat and we're on our way up to the top.

The entry to the face is guarded by a hanging glacier which we pass to the right of. The slope is getting steeper and a big drop below threatens. A rocky ridge to the right needs to be traversed over in order for us to gain access to the couloir that I have chosen for our next descent and so we slide onto a ledge and take our boards off. Under foot the terrain is a bit loose and the big drop below gives it an air of extreme exposure. We traverse carefully around to a snow field where I dig a ledge and we get our boards on. From here we traverse again around into the couloir which is steep, straight and airy.

the snow is for the most part pretty good and we make controlled short turns down splitting it into sections for group and sluff management. The exit is steep and everyone rides it in good control out onto the completely untracked glacial slopes below.

We finish the week with some more amazing fresh turns down yet another completely untracked mountain side and ride to the valley below.

An extreme days riding, I think I was probably more nervous at times than the guys were as you've got to always try to be one step ahead, checking out all the possibilities, the risks and the calculating the possible outcomes. It was another great day out in the office and the last day of an amazing week!

Big respect goes out to Mike, Dick and Ian for coping with it all so well, 6 big days, and for joining me on one of my best weeks riding and guiding in a long long time.

And so it all starts again tomorrow evening when I meet the next team for next weeks backcountry Intro.

The conditions are good and my expectations are high so bring it on!

All is good,

Neil.

Thursday 11 February 2010

two more amazing days!

First, we have had a cancellation for next weeks BC Intro, arrival day Sunday, riding days Monday to Saturday so if anyone wants to join me next week and can get the time off then give Ruth a shout asap.

I'm just loving this week so far, two great starting days (see previous news) and two more just following on.

These low ratio (1:3) Advanced BC courses are great fun. Yesterday, with the weather not looking so good, we hit up the Grands Montets where I'd seen on the web cam that the top tickets lift was out of the cloud. We headed straight up and did a front face which was pretty good, fresh turns all round but hitting the base a little at the top, lower down was perfect. We then headed straight back up as the cloud was lifting and the Rognons Glacier came clear just as we got ready to ride. This descent was amazing, super deep and all filled in after a night of snowfall. Straight back up again and this time we hiked along the super exposed Belevedere Cable from the top viewing platform, which I've not done for ages, and dropped in right from the top. Again perfect turns all the way but this time we hit the cloud that had risen again from the valley and so had a run of faith exit in zero vis. fortunately we'd headed across left and exited onto the piste just in time.

A quick lunch stop and then we had a great run in Lavencher bowl which was surprisingly empty, untracked and filled in due to the constant snowfall still present low down in the valley. We then did a couple of great laps through the dream forrest where the snow again was surprisingly deep. To finish off the legs (and by this time the boys were starting to feel it) we did a PLan Joran 'Y' Couloir, which again I've not done for years, and it was amazing (or I thought so, although I think some were a little too shot to maximise the potential of the descent!) Anyway, another great day of fast paced riding!

Today we had the Grandes Autannes in our sights up at Le Tour. Again it had filled in over night so we started out with a few warm up laps of the big powder bowl above the Vallorcine lift, which was fantastic. It was so good we just kept lapping it until we'd tracked it out and then moved on to take a look at our project for the day.

The snow pack was a little unstable and we'd already watched one slab avalanche go on it own simply due to wind loading and the face we needed to climb was looking a little loaded in places too so prudence was going to be needed. We took a look and I saw a safe line up the main part of the slope to where we could exit out and crampon up the ridge to the left. We Snowshoe'd up to the steeps, small cracks in a very soft thin slab surrounded my feet in places but nothing much to worry about and we kept a distance just in case it was supproting anything further up. We eventually made it to the ridge and changed to crampons. Further up the ridge I'd envisanged traversing across to the normal exit up easy snow fields but again these proved to be a little unstable and so we climbed the rocky ridge to the left which became quite steep and exposed in places. The guys handled it well and climbed smoothly upwards to come out on the top in glorious sunshine after 3 hours on the go!

The descent, I have to say, was amazing! It started off a little thin and we were touching base for about the first 150m and I was thinking, 'oh no, not after all that effort!' but then it just got deeper and deeper, perfect fresh light and deep powder, you could almost feel every crystal coming out from under your base. At about half way down we rode a perfect windlip forming a vertical wave for about 200m. Slashing the lip and cutting back up and down this perfect wave is what I'd like to imagine it feels like surfing the perfect wave in the ocean. It was amazing all the way down into the valley in trient, powder all the way and definitely one of the best descents of the season.

Tomorrow, if the weather holds we're going for the Col du Floria. A big day out with some steep climbs and steep descents at 45 degrees on the North Face. Should be good, I'll let you know!!

All is good and the snow is great!

Neil.

Tuesday 9 February 2010

Wow, a great start to the week!

A big first day and big grins on the Passon!

Wow, what a great start to the week!

I kicked off the Advanced BC course by diving straight into it with a big day out up the Col du Passon. This Chamonix classic, which I haven't done for ages involves a descent of the Rognongs glacier off the top tickets lift at the Grands Montets, a scoot across the Argentiere Glacier to the foot of the climb and then a couple of hours of steady uphill snowshoeing to the foot of the final steep couloir which brings you out at the Col and the top of the big descent down the Le Tour Glacier back into the valley at the village of Le Tour.

Fresh tracks for all down the Passon, great!

The day was perfect, blue skies and perfect temps for hiking, not many people on the route and as always all the other parties had headed straight down the middle taking the left hand variant which of course left the right hand slopes towards and under the Glacier free of tracks and in perfect glittering powder from top to bottom!

The next day was due to be a bit mixed with cloud and snow showers (one of the reasons for taking on such a big first day). We headed up to Le Tour to check out the back bowls, not really expecting too much. Three days after the storm and especially after 3 sunny days I was not really expecting to find so much and was hoping at best to fill in the gaps between other already ridden lines. The visibility wasn't too bad so we took a quick ride in and out inspection of the back bowls finding straight away some really nice powder. An inspection of the slopes above showed not too many tracks and the face and couloirs of the Arollete completely untouched!

We made a swift descent to the lift and hiked up over the Tete du Balm, descended to the col and then hiked up to the summet of l'Arollete. I then had a look into the couloir that runs straight off the summit and found it to be in perfect condition, perfect snow and not one track anywhere in the couloir or on the face below, Gold dust!

We rode the steep, narrow couloir and it was perfect before spreading out on the face below and scoring perfect powder all the way in to the bowl below. An amazing find for just a 15 minute hike!

We went straight back around and scored the same deal off the other side of the peak taking the diagonal couloir that splits the North Face. again steep, narrow and perfect snow all the way!

Next we hit the Possetes couloir which was great at the top but a bit more tracked than we're getting used too. A bite to eat and then back up and a quick hike up to the Tete du Balm, a slide across to the col above the Croix du fre bowl and then a new line that I've always wanted to ride down the steep south face from the col to Trient, again no tracks and perfect 10's all the way!

And so, what could have been a bad vis 'make do sort of day' turned into one of the best riding days of the season so far!

I have to say I like these 1 to 3 ratio courses.

Could this be the future?

So what to do tomorrow? Grandes Autannes is looking sweet so if the weather is a bit mixed I think we'll go for that. If its clear high up though I quite fancy the Glacier Marbree or my tip for the top the South Face of the Entreves but we need perfect weather for that. Looks like a good forecast later in the week so fingers crossed!

All is good,

Neil.

Sunday 7 February 2010

Another great week comes to an end!

Had a great course last week with the first BC Intro of the winter. The weather played out perfect and we got a bit of everything with Freeriding at Le Tour to start the week, Glacier riding at the Grands Montets with a Rognon and Pas du Chevre, a Tour in the Aig Rouge, a day off the Midi, a perfect storm riding day in the trees in Courmayeur (Courmayeur at its best) and then to finish off the week the Creme de la Creme day running a couple of laps in insanely deep powder on the Helbronner/Toule Glacier under blue skies.

I start an Advanced BC course tomorrow, fast paced 1 to 3 ratio! Conditions look good and again there's some new snow maybe coming in which is always good. Might start the week of with a Pas du Chevre variant followed by a Valley Blanche variant, both in the same day if the snow looks good. Or maybe straight into it with a hike up the Grandes Autannes or col du Floria, or maybe le Tour session to Trient. So many options, who knows what we'll get up to? But I'm sure it'll be great!

Ok going skiing with my daughter Manon now and then back at it tomorrow!

All is good,

Neil.

Thursday 4 February 2010

Two more perfect days!

Gwri nears the end of the second hike up to the Col du Berard yesterday!

Two more perfect Backcountry days of fine untracked powder with yesterday a Crochue/Berard Tour from Flegere over to le Buet and then today a Gross Rognon descent in the valley Blanche.

the Crochue/Berard is a classic Chamonix Backcountry tour climbing up from the Floria lift at Flegere to the col du Crochue on the ridge high above. The weather started out cloudy but the forecast promised sun and blue skies later. On breaching the first col, after an hours hike, the valley behind appeared shrouded in white out conditions. From here there are a few options, such as the Glacier du Mort trip, the col du Dard returning over the ridge a little further on and descending down past Lac Blanc back to Flegere or the descent down into the valley below the col du Floria. All are big days out and so for a first outing we stuck to the Col du Berard itinerary. From the first col you have to negotiate a long and tiring traverse which when shrouded in mist can cause a few problems. The snow looked great and then before our eyes the cloud started to clear and we were off. The traverse leads you around the valley side to a second hike of about 30 mins. After a quick stop for lunch and with the skies now totally clear we hiked up to the col du Berard from were the big descent begins.

The snow was perfect and with only a few ski tracks before us there were fresh lines for everyone. The descent goes in 2 parts, a first bowl that leads into a steep and deep face followed by a long second bowl. The Snow was amazing, the steep face deep and untouched, perfect!

There then follows a long commando finish as you fight your way down the undulating valley for a well earned drink at the bar in Le Buet.

Today the weather produced a window of opportunity for a Valley Blanche and so we headed straight up and took on a superb descent of the Gross Rognon variant finding some amazing snow, totaly untracked and the perfect angle, Nice!

We finished the day of with a crevasse rescue training session on the Mer du Glace and then made the long ride back to Chamonix to finish another perfect day.

looks like we're in for some snow over the next couple of days so some tree riding in Courmayeur might be on the cards.

Should set things up nicely for next week too so super stoked!

All is good!

Neil.

Tuesday 2 February 2010

Wow, great turns today!

So the day dawned bright and clear so we hit up the Grands Montets for a couple of runs off the top tickets lift which was surprisingly untracked!

A 20cm top up over night also helped to smooth things out and with a Backcountry Intro on the go we tooled up and headed out down the Rognons Glacier for the first run. After an extremely dry summer the Glaciers here have been full of holes and its good to see that most of the crevasses are now starting to bridge over. Its obviously still a little nerve racking in places and good route finding and terrain awareness is essential. We headed down right of the Rognon and then cut out left of the ridge below finding great untracked cold and deep powder leading us down and left to the exit couloirs onto the Argentiere Glacier.

The weather was threatening to turn, the forecast said a change was coming so it was then a bit of a race against the coming storm to get back up and check out a quick Pas du Chevre before the light went flat.

The cloud level was still high on the peaks and things looked good so we set of down the right hand variant finding yet again perfect untracked powder all the way down in to the steep couloir. The steep gully was stacked with fresh still and in quick time we were all standing above the massive field of powder that follows the steep section of the descent. No danger here so we all spread out and everyone got their fill riding the whole thing in a one'r till back legs were burning and arms were reaching for the skies.

Fantastic! It doesn't get much better than that in the Pas du Chevre so I'm stoked that we did it today. Even the exit couloir and ride to Cham were the best they've been this season so a great day and big grins all round.

I'm hoping the weather will hold off for some touring tomorrow. It would be good to get out in the Aig Rouge for a day out if the weather is good, if not maybe a Grandes Autannes which is still calling my name and is feasible even when the weather isn't perfect.

We'll see tomorrow, I'm sure it'll be all just fine!

Can't hardly wait!!

Ruth just shouted down to tell me that there aren't many places left on courses so if you see availability and want to get your name down give her a shout!

Neil.

Monday 1 February 2010

Great conditions in Chamonix!

Straight back from Gulmarg (see previous post) and straight into an Off Piste clinic. 6 great days of Off Piste riding and Off Piste technique last week. Scored some great fresh turns down the Pas Du Chevre, great turns down into the Dolonne valley in Courmayeur and some steeps down into the Val Veni again out of Courmayeur. It Snowed about 30 to 40 cm towards the end of the week and we had a great last day with a descent of the mid station of the midi in the morning followed by some really deep turns down from the liason between Flegere and Brevent.

Another great week in the bag!

I started my first BC Intro of the season today, a few familiar faces with Gwri, who was on the course last week and Rob and Sara who attended a tech clinic earlier in January. The rest of the team is made up of Xavier, a friend of Gwri and Stewart and Darren who are driving over from Les Carroz every morning.

Its a strong team, fast moving and keen so it should be a great week. The snow is amazing at the moment and today, after transceiver training first thing, we had a fantastic day at Le Tour with some reall nice turns down the Croix du fer bowl, overhead plumes and full white rooms every turn. We followed this up an amazing descent from the Tete du Balm down to Trient for the final bus of the day.

Conditions are great and there are so many places I want to go ride, its difficult to decide where to go! Might head up the Grands Montets tomorrow for a Pas du Chevre via the Rectalin couloir or maybe a hike up the Grands Autannes which looks to be in perfect condition at the moment and is completely untracked.

Choices, choices!

Where we go? I'll let you know!

Neil.