Loads of snow on Mont Blanc!!

On top of Mont Blanc at 6am the other day!

So last week I cycled around it, this week I went to the top of it!

Yep I'm just down from my first Mont Blanc summit of the summer season. I spent the first half of the week wading around in deep snow in zero visibility following compass bearings through snow blizzards. It snowed down to about 2000m, it finally cleared when we were up at the Trient refuge, (which we navigated to in complete white out, wading through knee deep snow on the Glacier du Trient) and so we climbed the Aiguille du Tour in perfect winter climbing condition and waded through light sparkling powder to both get there and get back down to the valley.

Check out the sparkling fresh snow, amazing riding conditions!

It would have been perfect riding conditions!

The last couple of days the weather was perfect and we did Mont Blanc from the Gouter refuge 3800m. The first day you climb up to the Gouter refuge from the Nid d'Aigle 2372m, some 1400m of climbing the last 600m of it steep rocky scrambling in crampons. The second day we did from the hut to the summit, 1000m of climbing which we did in just over 3 and half hours (which is pretty quick). we were the first teams on the top and had the summit to our selves for the sunrise, perfect conditions but bitterly cold!

Sunrise on the summit of Mont Blanc, the Monta Rosa massif in the background.

Again there was loads of snow and it would have been great for riding instead of wading around in it!

I now have a couple of weeks off to ride my bike some more before a busy August in the mountains. The Tour du France passes through Morzine so I'll cycle over there to see that. Andy Cook who some of you might know from winter courses is coming out to stay so we'll get some rides in and go visit the Tour before I briefly head up MB again mid July.

Winter bookings are going very well, Ruth will start taking deposits very soon and then all these provisional bookings can be confirmed. 2 courses are provisionally full and 3 or 4 others have only 1 or 2 places left! Amazing for this time of year!!

Jeremy Sladen from the TSA has been in touch to offer a 10% discount on 'Jones Splitboards' to anyone who has booked on one of the 'Split board courses'. Anyone interested in taking up this offer should get in touch with me as he only has limited stocks (but can order more if interest is high). I've replied to see if this offer can be extended to all the 'Jone Snowboards' range on all 'McNab snowboarding courses' so watch this space for further news. We'll contact everyone who has booked with news of the offer once deposits have been taken.

I've also been asked to do a monthly BC feature in Whitelines next year so that should be good. If anyone has any specific BC topics they want to see covered let me know and I'll see if I can do something with it.

I'll also be writing something on Off Piste/BC riding on the TSA web site soon, so again whatch this space for further news.

I'm out cycling with the GPM10 team again tomorrow, the weather has finally come good these past few days and it looks like summer has finally hit!

All is good in Chamonix!

Neil.

The summer season is here!

I just got in from a four day cycling 'Tour du Mont Blanc' on road bikes with GPM10.

I must be getting a little better as Mark (GPM10 boss) finally asked me along as one of his cycling guides. As I mentioned in my last news post, I came 69th in the Time Megeve last weekend but 20th in my age Category so that's not so bad for my first outing, and I feel like I've improved again since then.

I'm never going to be the best uphill (with my size), but I can feel it getting better, the speed and power are increasing and my stamina and sustainability is getting better. Just got to keep working on it and keep pushing on through to the next level. I unfortunately live in a very hilly area for cycling so I'm just going to have to keep working on it!!

It's great to feel and see the gains as you progress. With my rock climbing (and I guess also with Snowboarding) where I've already pushed myself to the highest levels of the sport it feels a bit different. With climbing especially it can be quite frustrating as you're always pushing yourself to try and get back to a level that you have been at in the past. You know what it takes to get to that level, but back then its all you did, your life revolved around it and now you have other commitments that kind of get in the way a little, plus its difficult to keep motivated when you're chasing a level that you've been at and you know the effort it takes to get back to it.

With the cycling its all a big unknown, I've never been at any kind of level in cycling so its all a bit new and quite exciting to see how much I can improve. I've always been more of a power player, (short steep powerful climbs were my cup of tea) and with the cycling I'm having to improve my power endurance and endurance capacities which is interesting. Having to change my bodies performance capabilities and change my muscular make up a little for endurance mileage.

Its taking a while but I'm starting to feel it coming along now and so just can't seem to stop. I think when you know how hard it is to make the gains, you feel like you can't afford any time off or you'll drop the hard fought fitness you've just gained.

Its almost like an addiction but I'm loving it!

Anyway, the last four days have been great!

Chamonix to Champex over the col du Montets and the col du Forclaz then the big climb up to Champex.
Champex to La Thuille over the Col du Grd St Bernard and half way up the Petite St Bernard.
La Thuille to the Col du Saisses over the Petite St Bernard and the Col du Rosalin.
Last day to Chamonix, over the Saisses, the col d' Aravis, the col du Columbia and then up to Chamonix.

I went out this morning and did some power intervals up one of the local climbs so will rest tomorrow (No I'm not an obsessive kind of guy honest!).

I go up Mont Blanc at the end of the week or I at least start a Mont Blanc ascent week at the end of the week.

First I ride around it and then I go up it!

So my mountaineering summer season is just about to kick off, it'll be nice to get back up in the peaks although the weather is a bit unpredictable at the moment so it could be interesting. I'm not going to be acclimatised for the first trip but at least my aerobic capacity should be good.

Provisional bookings for next 'Winter' are going amazingly well, we already have 2 full weeks and 3 more weeks each with only 1 place left on them. I've started work on next years brochure for the ski show but at this rate I might not need it as we could be full before October!

If anyone needs any info or advice with any of the courses just drop us a mail or give us a call.

Ok enough of my waffle.

All is good in Chamonix!

Neil.

News from McNab.

Arrora Borealis as seen from the mess tent, Greenland.

Its starting to get hot out here in Chamonix and the summer season is now just around the corner.

Yesterday I did my first Cyclosportif bike race with the 'Time Megeve' which starts in 'Megeve' (obviously), goes over the 'col du Aravis', down to Thones, up the 'Col du Crois du Fry' (really hard!) down and back over the 'col du Aravis'down to Flumet and then if you're doing the short one (88km - 2000m of climbing) then back to Megeve.

There's a middle and longer distance race at the same time, one at 115km with another 900m of climbing on top and then one at around 150km with around 4000m of climbing!

There's about 3500 cyclists at the start all leaving at the same time en-masse. Its a great feeling and the start is really fast as you head down the valley from Megeve to Flumet before the first big climb of the day.

I rode the short course earlier in the week in 3hrs 20mins so wanted to beat this time and try to get in the first 100. I rode the course in 3hrs 9 mins and came in 69th which I'm happy with, it being my first attempt and I now know how it all works and where to make up time in the future.

I'll ride the courses every now and then this summer and I'm determined to try to knock a good 10 mins off my time, it'll be good to get under 3hrs!

It's meant to be one of the harder courses with some pretty major climbing. I'm more of a 'power sprinter' model and find the climbing hard but as I live in the mountains I'm just going to have to keep working at it. I'm getting there 'slowly'!

Anyway it was all great fun in a hard suffer fest kind of way!

I'm riding with the GPM10 crew at the end of the week for a tour of Mont Blanc which should be good. 4 days, lots of cols, beautiful scenery and some great descents. This will put some miles in my legs and then I'll try the Megeve course again.

After that I have my first Mtn Guiding work with my first Mont Blanc and then the summer takes off and I'll be up in the mountains here and elsewhere. I have a Via ferrata week in the Dolomites coming up which should be good and quite a few winter snowboarders coming out to try their hands at climbing.

The Winter calendar is looking very busy already, it normally looks this busy in November!

Good to see some people early planning and getting excited about snowboarding already. I'm really looking forward to next winters courses. I enjoyed this last winter so much and next years will be better still as I'll have the new 'Jones' boards to ride which look fantastic.

Pure float in deep perfect powder, Winter is on its way, well kind of!!

Imagine the powder turns we'll be getting, Pure float!

Ooooh its going to be good!!

Here are a few more Greenland shots to wet your appetite, enjoy!

Damian takes the local taxi to base camp.

On the way up to climb another virgin peak with all that descent waiting below.

Right now back out on the bike, strong legs, strong legs that's what we need.

Couple of new posts on the Ask McNab Q&A blog too so check them out!

All is good in chamonix!

Neil.

The Summer buzz is here but we're already thinking about the winter 2011!

The Lyngen Fjords in Norway.

Things are moving swiftly forward over here. The Summer buzz is here but we're already thinking and getting excited about next winter and by the way the bookings are going so are you!

We now have provisional bookings on all our courses for next winter, 1 course is provisionally full and others are on their way.

I recently spoke with Jeremy Jones, who will has said he will link the BC courses to his site too so it looks like we're in for another busy and amazing winters riding and will maybe get some more visitors from the US again!

I'm particularly looking forward to Norway and Greenland. Exploring new areas and hiking, climbing and riding virgin peaks in amazing environments is really something special.

Alan and Damian hiking virgin peaks in Greenland.

With the access advantage of the Jones Solution Splitboard this winter these trips should really come into their own and I'm already excited about the future and where this might all lead.

McNab on polar bear watch at base camp!

The solitude of Base Camp, Greenland.

For those on the Greenland trip I'm putting together a kit list at the moment and so will send it on to you shortly.

Dinner time in the mess tent, Greenland.

We'll be self contained in our Base Camp and so expedition style kit is needed and I'll recommend specific items that will be both essential and useful.

For those on the Norway trip your standard Backcountry kit will suffice.

All those provisionally booked on courses will be contacted by Ruth shortly once we start to take deposits.

It seems strange to be already thinking about next winter, but also kind of nice to be looking forward to it already.

Firstly though we have a great summer ahead of us. I'm getting slowly fitter and faster on my bike and my summer Mtn Guiding calendar is filling up nicely with some interesting work such as a week in the Dolomites with a group doing 'Via Ferrata' for which the region is famous.

Right, enough time in the office, the sun it out, Ruth's out running and all is good in Chamonix!

Neil.

Another level!

It's finally stopped raining over here and there's a feel of summer in the air. Still pretty cool but sunny and the temps are climbing slowly upwards.

I've been getting out on my bike quite a bit lately, had a real hard day on Sunday when I felt like I was going to pass out when ever the road started to climb. I pushed on through figuring no pain no gain and what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. Not sure if these are good maxims but it got me though.

I had a day off and then went out with a friend of mine on Tuesday to hit the col du Saisies from Passy, quite a climb and my friend usually really pushes me on the climbs so I was ready for more pain but was quite surprised to be feeling in good form and pretty strong all day even having to slow down and wait every now and then.

Wednesday was to be the big test then, out with the Bracey again (suspected to be by many the fittest man on the planet) and Jonnie Baird, another of those light weight uphill climbing cheating types now sporting a full carbon set up. Jonnie gave me a real work out last time we were out and Bracey we usually see only when we get to the top as he's laid out having a kip waiting for us. However, with my new found form I managed to keep the Bracey in my grasp all the way up to the top of the Col du Aravis and was pleased to see him panting as we neared the top with the Baird a couple of hairpin bends behind. I felt strong in my legs all day, my breathing is still a little strained but I definitely feel I've upped a level and am no longer right down on the bottom rung!

Feels great! I love it!!

I'm riding with the GPM10 guys at the weekend doing a little cycle guiding/windbreak work with a Chamonix to Annecy ride which should be good fun (kind of).

I've been trying to keep my summer guiding work to a minimum as I've been overloading my calendar in past summers and so haven't had time to do anything but work and this summer I want to really get into the cycling and see what I can do.
Unfortunately, the van (service) just cost another big wad of cash so it looks like I'll have to fit another Mont Blanc summit into my schedule before to long. I'm also getting quite a lot of Backcountry snowboarders looking to try their hands at a wee spot of mountaineering, which is great! There's heaps of really good fun Intro to Mountaineering climbing around the peaks here, more fun than climbing Mont Blanc too so if you're up for it give us a shout.

The winter calendar went on line a week or so ago and I kid you not, Ruth started penciling names onto her planner less than an hour after it was officially on line and its starting to look pretty busy already. The new split board weeks are proving to be popular, one of them has only 1 space left already and the Tech and Off piste Clinics are booking up pretty well, which is good to see as this means more people are starting to understand that good technique is the key to the higher levels.

There's good snow up high here at the moment, a lot of the big North faces have been skied over the last few days but its starting to hot up a little now and you can see lots of sluff slides trails down everything now and you know that underneath all of this new snow the old rotten layers are still evident. Its got to be good for the glaciers up high though as the winter snow depth must have doubled over the past 2 weeks of snowfall.

Anyway, hope you're all going well and getting out and about now that summer is on its way. If you need any info on courses summer or winter then let me know or give Ruth an e-mail and we'll help out all we can.

Out on the bike again tomorrow, I know Bracey will be training 24/7 now, I shouldn't have pushed so hard as now he'll be mad for it and kick my butt next time out. No pain no gain!

Here we go again.

Neil.

2010/11 courses are now online!

I've just posted the new calendar of courses for 2010/11 on the web site and the bookings have already started!

www.mcnabsnowboarding.com

You'll find all our regular classics plus a few new exciting additions, so I hope you'll find the program as exciting as we do.

I'm really trying to push the idea of the progression from 'Tech clinic' (On piste to Off Piste technique) to 'Off Piste performance clinic' (Off Piste technique to easy access Backcountry riding) and then onwards 'beyond technique' with the specialist Backcountry program.

The Backcountry Program starts with the BC Intro and then progress's through BC Freeride, Advanced BC Freeride (ratio 1-3), the new additions with the BC Freeride Splitboard courses, the new BC Splitboard touring course and then on to the expeditions.

2009/10 was my best season yet with regards running courses and I'm super excited as to how things are progressing. We still get a few people under estimating the levels of the courses and so I re-iterate that all our courses are designed for strong intermediate and advanced riders looking to perfect their skills and develop their awareness and enjoyment of the high mountains.

The 'Technical clinic' is, in my opinion, probably our most important course with regards your riding progression and is the course that I recommend everyone should do, with a guided discovery style exploration of what is 'Perfect Snowboard technique'!

The 'Off Piste Clinic' follows on from where the 'Tech Clinic' leaves off and looks more at 'the importance of matching your movements and line to the mountains terrain'.

The 'BC courses' go beyond the 'Clinics' and beyond technique and explore the amazing natural terrain to be found out amongst the high peaks and the safety aspects that go hand in hand with riding out there.

Our first level 'BC' course the 'BC Intro' shouldn't however be under estimated! This course is definitely not a lower level course, technically, than our follow on 'BC Freeride' courses. The main difference, I'd say, is that the 'BC Intro' is designed for those that haven't yet explored the 'Fine Art' of riding in the 'Backcountry' and so it involves a lot more safety and BC access training than the follow on courses, (which are designed for those that have already covered these aspects on previous courses).

All the courses will be now 5 days, Monday to Friday (unless otherwise stated). This gives you the possibility of coming out early if you want to get yourself warmed up or having a chill out day or 2 after the course and gives me an extra day to recover!

The Splitboard courses are already proving popular! only been on line a few hours!! and I'm personally looking forward to these new additions. Last season was my first season for year were I didn't do a single 'Heli drop' and although this wasn't necessarily due to a new 'green policy' I do like the idea of developing more eco friendly ways of accessing the deeper reaches of the high mountains as promoted by 'Jeremy Jones' and his movie project 9cleverly named) Deeper.

I think many of you are already aware of my new links with Jeremy's new board company 'Jones Snowboards' and I'm super excited to be a part of this progression and to be riding for a company with such a good ethos and outlook for the future. Plus the boards are designed specifically for the riding that I do and just simply love!

The Splitboard courses will be supported by Jones Snowboards and the Jones 'Solution' splitboard along with 'Sparkr&d' bindings.

I'm just super stoked on this new development and where it might lead to!!

This coming winter I'll not be running the BC Summits course (the Mont Blanc ascent/descent week) but will run this again the following winter 2012.

The Kashmir trip to Gulmarg will also get a gap year until 2012. This is a region I'm super keen to get back to as the potential is amazing but I'm also in need of another trip to Norway and Greenland and so for 2010/11 will be running trips to these locations instead.

Both Norway and Greenland really suit the 'Splitboard' approach and so I'm super excited about exploring the possibilities that this mode of access will bring to these super exciting locations.

I'm still working on details for Greenland but the basic plan is all in place and the minor details will follow soon.

Anyway, I hope you'll all find something to suit and satisfy your needs and desires in the new program.

If you find any mistakes in there let us know as I've been stuck to my lap top far to long and its all becoming a bit of a blur.

Its still snowing loads up high in the mountains out here but the roads are dry and clear so enough office work for now, I'm off out on my bike!

All is good in Chamonix!

Neil.

The Winter comes to an end and of course it snows!

So we're all done! It seems like ages since I first stepped onto my board last December but now having finally stepped off it again it also seems like it was just the other day!

Kind of weird really! I've been, pretty much, riding 6 days a week since the start of the year and now its over I'm kind of wondering and thinking about when I'll get back up riding again.

Jeremy (Jones) dropped me a line to say I'll have one of the first Wide JONES 'Flagship' boards to leave the factory in a couple of weeks (these are the last of the Flagship range to be pressed) so I guess I'll have to head up the Midi or the Helbronner to give that a try out at some point which is quite exciting! Shame about the timing but I'm going to be riding them all next winter too so there's something else to look forward too as well.

I've been going through all the course details and dates for next year and so they should be all online after the weekend. They're ready to go, but Ruth doesn't want to be answering the phone or stuck in the office all weekend so she's forbid me to put them on line today. We've already got a lot of interest for next years courses and quite a lot of names penciled in already so we'll be ready to take bookings as of the start of next week.

I'm already excited about next seasons courses and have been organizing the Norway and Greenland trip details this morning which should be amazing. Greenland needs a little bit more research as I'm looking at going to a new region, but Norway (the Lyngen Alps) is a location I've already visited with a trip and I'm really excited to be going back. Next winter I'm also adding new BC Freeride Splitboard courses (in collaboration with 'JONES Snowboards') and I'm hoping that this will open up new possibilities for the future including the Norway Lyngen Trip and Greenland, which will suit perfectly the use of a splitboard.

These splitboard courses should really open the doors to a new world of BC access and I'm looking forward to opening up new possibilities both here and around the World with regards this approach. Mr Jones, who has been touring the globe for the past few years with his splitboard for his 'Deeper' film project, is right behind the new courses and will also market them on his 'Jones Snowboards' website so expect them to book up pretty quickly! He will also look at the possibility of joining us on one of the courses if his schedule allows! He's a busy guy though so we'll see what happens on that front.

The Greenland project will follow the same sort of ethos as the last trip in an expedition style from a self contained base camp. For 2011 I'm looking at locating further North in the Liverpool Land region where the peaks are slightly bigger, The terrain looks amazing, the weather is more stable and the snow, by all accounts, should be good. As before there will be 6 places available on a first come first served basis and we'll have the option of taking the splitboards for easy touring access. Should be amazing!

Of course there will also be the usual progression of courses from 'Tech clinics' to 'Off piste clinics' through to the ever popular 'Backcountry Intro' course all with the underlying aim of making you a better rider and introducing you to the 'fine art of riding mountains'.

It's been a great winter 2010, I particularly remember riding amazing tree runs in Courmayeur from dawn until dark. I remember scoring so many fresh lines from trips up the Grandes Autannes and Col du Passon. I had some amazing experiences with first tracks in the Valley Blanche and I remember my 'week of the winter' which was without a doubt the Advanced BC week, that I shared with Dick, Ian and Mikey. First lines everywhere, new spots and old fav's plus some last day 'extreme' thrown in for good measure!

I always get a kick out of seeing everyone click with the technique on the Tech clinics and Off Piste Performance courses (in my opinion these are the courses that essential to your progression) and it was amazing to see some of you coming back to redo these technical courses and to see how much your riding had changed since last time and how far it progressed again, in particular big Paul Jacob's and Steve Locker who have both done Tech clinics and Off Piste clinics before and who's riding is now reaching a very high level.

Having said that, I've ridden with a lot of very good riders this winter and it would be impossible to name everyone so I'm just already looking forward to riding with you all again next year! Anyway, you know who you are! Yeah, just you, the ones who got their course certificate on the last day!!

Ruth now gets a load of e-mails from everyone who didn't get a certificate!

So I clarify, there is no certificate! I can get my daughters to make badges for next winter though if you want them!

Anyway the feedback was amazing for this season so thanks for your comments and I'm glad you enjoyed the courses. It's pretty much been snowing non stop since last weekend, down to 2200m and the Grand Montets is open until Sunday but for me its now Biking time, before I get back up in the mountains for the summer Guiding season.

I've been out a couple of times this last week, in between rain showers, and am slowly bringin the cycle fitness back on line. Unfortunately for me, Jonny (Jonny Baird who some of you have met in the past, small, strong, Scottish Guide who was in Greenland with me last trip) has gone and upgraded to a full carbon bike which unfortunately has speeded up his hill climbing ability, cheat! I also went out with Jon Bracey yesterday (another guiding friend) who I'd say, could easily be one of the World fittest individuals.

Obviously if you're looking for an ego boost on the bike these are 2 characters to avoid and not as I did 2 individuals to join for your first outings of the season. Fortunately for me they've both now gone back to Blighty for some family visiting stuff, and to eat pies no doubt and so I'm going to get out of the office right now and get back on the bike for some serious training!

Well maybe!!

Maybe I'll just eat pies too.

All is good in Chamonix, look out for new course dates on line early next week!

Neil.