The mighty Mont Blanc!

Wednesday dawned bright and clear, another perfect day as we set off from the mid station of the Aiguille du Midi after catching the first lift at 8:10am. From the mid station we traversed up and across towards the Bossons Glacier crossing under the hanging Glacier of the Rhonde, which avalanched massively only last week as a huge serrac calved off and showered the route across the Bossons junction towards the Grand Mulets refuge in which we would stay the night. Our crossing passed uneventful and we were soon past the debris roped up and on our way across the massively active and deeply crevassed Bossons Glacier.

Mark, Liam and Matt crossing through the junction on the Bosson Glacier

A couple of delicate snowbridge negotiations and we were back on slightly more solid looking ground and with crampon on we hiked straight up towards the refuge where we arrived shortly after midday.

After a relaxing afternoon in a very overcrowded refuge, diner and a quick sleep we were back up for a 1am breakfast and ready on the snow at 2am.

From the refuge at 3056m we headed up and across the glacier towards the North ridge of the Dome du Gouter or the arrete Royal, a safe distance from the huge hanging serracs that over hang the petite plateau and regular route up to the summit. Amazingly some people still take the original route oblivious to the immense danger that threatens that route as it zig zags its way through the tell tale blocks of fallen ice.

With crampons on and soft snow the going was a bit slower than it could have been but we worked our way upwards and soon joined the sharp ridge that runs upwards for about 800m and started our climb towards the dome at 4300m.

Ross and Roger on the upper (milder) section of the Arette Royale.

The ridge was steep and exposed, although the darkness hid from view the drops all around, and we made good progress, passing over steep ice sections where a good swing of the ice axe was needed and then plodded our way on up over the Dome du Gouter into the rising sun at about 6am.

Roger, Ross, Andy and Simon take a break between the Bosses on the Bosses ridge, the summit is in the background still over and hour away!

We downed tools (boards) at the Col du Dome and from here with lightened loads set off for our summit push up the Bosses ridge. The sky was once again a perfect clear blue and the temperatures mild for the altitude and the time of year. The team were getting weary and the altitude was starting to take its toll but the pace was steady and step by step the summit was drawing nearer.

Some of the team, Roger, Stacey, Ross and Liam happily on the summit!

At about 11am some 9 hours after leaving the refuge a tired but content looking team finally stepped onto the summit of Mont Blanc at 4810m. The weather was perfect, no wind and the views staggering as always!

So we were half way! and now the long descent to the valley began.

Mark with Liam and Stacey descending the sharp, steep Bosses ridge after a successful summit push.

We made quick work of the descent down the Bosses ridge to eat a quick bite at the Col du Dome as we prepared our kit for the ride ahead.

The first snow fields down towards the Grand Plateau are nice and wide and the snow was pretty nice with plenty of fresh tracks to be had by those with the energy left to get them. The team were pretty weary by now though and for most riding down Mont Blanc is purely a matter of survival. We made good progress and soon were ready to negotiate the tricky and dangerous Petite Plateau with its threatening array of overhanging ice blocks the size of tower blocks. Passage through the maze of icy debris is delicate and some big crevasses add to the feeling of tension. Calm nerves are needed and everyone negotiates the obstacles well and we are soon through the danger and breathing a sigh of relief as we find some good powder turns down the big slopes below heading down towards the Grand Mulets refuge.

A couple of deep looking crevasses with delicate snowbridge crossings and we're past the refuge and roping up to cross the junction through the maze of deep holes and cracks that change daily, the glacier moving up to 8ft a day through the upper section!

After what seems like and endless descent we ride down and across the junction and begin the hard slog back across to the mid station of the Midi where we arrive at around 4:30 some 15 and a half hours after getting out of bed and 14 and half hours on the move.

A massive congratulations goes out to the whole team, Stacy, Liam, Roger, Ross, Andy and Matt and a big thanks to fellow Guides, Mark Charlton and Simon Abrahams.

Today we had a relaxing day at the thermal pools at Bain des Saillon complete with saunas and steam rooms and tomorrow we'll head up the Grand Montets for a riding day off the lifts to see if the storms this evening have dropped any fresh snow for us to play in!

My winter season is coming to an end just as i receive news from Jeremy Jones that the first Wide 168 flagship board will be pressed and on its way to me in a couple of weeks (I'll just have to go up high and try it out somewhere!) and that if at all possible he might pay a flying visit to join us on one of the Splitboard courses next year, watch this space!

I'll have next years courses up on line within the next week or so, sometime after the 7th and then we're all go on taking bookings for next winter 2011!

I'll need deposits for those wanting to join either of the trips, Norway and Greenland pretty quick and then for those wanting to join one of our Chamonix or Alpine based courses again a deposit will be needed to secure your place on the course.

Last years courses booked up very quickly so to avoid any disappointment don't leave it too late!

Of course I've a full summer of Biking and Mountain Guiding to get on with first and it seems a bit strange to be thinking of snowboarding next winter already but I have to say I am already quite excited at the prospect and I hope you are too!

All is good,

Neil.