Perfect conditions for my last MB of the summer!

The sun sets over Glacier du Tour.

I'm just down from my last Mont Blanc of the summer season.

Dev and Kris all emotional on the summit of Mont Blanc!


My self, Dev Nayak and his brother Kris set off from the first lift off the Aig du Midi at 8:10am yesterday with clear skies and a great weather forecast and headed up over Mont Blanc du Tacul (icy lower down but good up high, the crevasse that needed a ladder for crossing has now started to close and a bridge has formed) over Mont Maudit which was in great condition (the final steep ice wall is quite technical but has good steps in the ice) and then through the col du Brenva, up the mur di Cote and the final slog up to the summit where we stood at around 3pm.

It was quite windy up high and cold but never too bad and we had the summit to ourselves before descending down the classic route to the Gouter refuge from which we descended this morning.

Petite Fourche, the first alpine summit for Dev and Kris!

Prior to the ascent we had perfect conditions climbing the Petite Fourche and the Aiguille du Tour for the acclimatization training days.

Early days and big smiles on the way up to the Petite Fourche with the Chardonnet in the background.

Dev and Kris are both new to mountaineering, Dev having experienced some high mountain pursuits on a BC Snowboard course last winter. After 300m of ascent on Mont Blanc du Tacul Kris stopped and said 'enough is enough, I feel terrible!' to which I replied, 'remember this feeling, its the best you're going to feel all day!' Yep, mountaineering is such an enjoyable experience and that's why we do it.

Anyway, they both dug in deep and after a 7 hour ascent stood on the top of Mont Blanc in perfect conditions so nice one guys, a great effort!

Mont Blanc is, I think, one of the most under rated mountains in the Alps. I often hear people saying that it's not that hard and not technical etc. I've been to the summit near on 60 times now and not once have I stood up there and thought, wow that was easy! Anyone who has actually climbed it will attest to the hard work involved in climbing it, only those that haven't been to the summit will ever say that it is easy. Its a high mountain and in perfect conditions its hard work but quite straight forward technically. However, the conditions are often harsh and changeable and its very often a serious mountain with a hard earned summit. If you want to climb it don't under estimate the effort involved!

Tomorrow we'll go and climb in the Aiguille Rouge before the guys head off tomorrow night. After that I'll be back out on the bike to get fit for the coming tours that I'm riding with GPM10 and maybe I'll do the Les Houch'ard time trial on Sunday if I can fit it in.

Looks like we're in for a bit of an Indian summer, it beautiful out here at the moment so should be a great Autumn.

Ruth is busy taking bookings for the coming winter and tells me that another 3 courses are provisionally full and just awaiting deposits before I can take them off line. Quite a few people are now taking advantage of the 15% off Jones Snowboards deal through the TSA so it looks like a few of us will be riding the same boards next winter.

I'm really looking forward to this coming winter now, last season was so much fun and next season has so much potential! It feels like things are starting a fresh each year, my enthusiasm just keeps on growing as we explore new places and new levels of riding.

I'm looking forward to blasting through the trees in Courmayeur, digging deep fresh turns at the back of Le Tour. I'm looking forward to exploring new hiking possibilities with the Jones Split board and accessing new areas of endless untracked fresh. I'm excited about riding the classics down to Trient, Col du Passon, Pas du Chevre and dropping over into the Berard Valley by one of the big cols like the Belvedere or the Beaugean. Deep turns await in the Valley blanche, over on the helbronner and up the Argentiere Glacier to access the likes of the Glacier du Tour Noire which is perfect for a day out on a split board.

Then there's all the new spots to explore given the right conditions and this is going to be the season of getting out there and getting the goods.

Yep I'm well excited about the coming snowboard season so I hope you're all feeling the vibe and getting in shape ready to get the goods.

Of course, that's all along way off yet so time to get out on the bike and get some good pure down to earth suffering done first, in a good way of course!

All is good in Chamonix!

Neil.