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.

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.

Powder, sun and Mont Blanc!

Heading up to the col du Tour Noire today in perfect spring conditions.

On Friday for the last day of the BC Intro course we hiked up to the Col du Entreve for what might be my last powder turns of the 2010 Winter. We found great cold winter snow from the Col at around 3800m right down to around 2600m in the Valley Blanche. It was a perfect blue bird day, really hot in the valley and from about 2600m where we joined the VB classic, it was deep spring corn snow. Not a bad last day for the course!

This week is the Summits week which we started again off the Aiguille du Midi finding nice cold fresh snow down to about 3000m from where it turned to thick deep rotton corn snow due to a storm in the night and rain up to nearly 3000m!

Another storm hit last night laying down some more fresh snow and then the skies cleared so the mush all froze underneath. Another perfect day dawned bright and blue so we headed up the Argentiere Glacier and hiked up to the Col du Tour Noire. About 1000m of vertical, so good training for Mont Blanc and very hot! The ride down was really nice as we found cold fresh snow conditions on a firm smooth base, great for carving and for the first time this winter I took my skis for a bit of a change.

Tomorrow we're up early to head up to the Grand Mullets refuge where we'll relax for the afternoon before setting off up the Arete Royal, the North ridge of the Dome du Gouter and then onwards to the summit of Mont Blanc, if all goes to plan. Its a massive day with near enough 2000m of up and all at high altitude!

The forecast is good, infact we're having extraordinary conditions at the moment with summer temperatures so hopefully it will be a pleasant Mont Blanc rather than the cold harsh summits that we are used to at this time of year.

Anyway, I got to go pack and prep for tomorrow so I'll let you know how it all panned out in a couple of days when I'm back down.

All is good!

Neil.

latest news, Summer Guiding and 2011 updates!

Nearing the end of my penultimate week of the winter with one more day of a 3 day BC Intro to go before the Summits week. Here's some news on this week, this sumers guiding and some updates for next winter 2011...Read on!

Yesterday we went out wide on the Rognon Glacier off the top tickets lift at the Grand Montets. We traversed right out under the Aiguille Vert and then worked our way down through the maze of crevasses and serracs. There was some quite neice snow out there and it was a great run in an inspirational backdrop. The snow up top was still winter cold but on the whole we've been riding and looking for soft spring corn and slush to carve about in.

Today we went up the Midi and did a Petite Envers. Again there was some nice snow to start off with due to it being cooler at altitude. we then had some quite icy lumpy tracked snow to deal with for a little way before we hit the softer spring snow lower down. We did Crevasse rescue training on the Mer du Glace before heading back to the Montenver and Chamonix.

Tomorrow we're heading back up the Midi and will tour up towards the Italian side before hooking around and descending the Glacier Noire back into the Valley Blanche. It looked quite good over that side today and is a beautiful tour so it should be pretty good and a great day out!

I've pretty much finalized the calendar for next winter. Its pretty much as I mentioned in my last Blog/News piece so check that out for an idea of whats on offer.

Prices and exact dates will be online 2nd week of April. We've already had quite a lot of interest and quite a few people penciled in on different weeks but we can't take actual bookings for next winter until I've had a meeting with my accountant on the 7th to discuss how things will run next winter as I think we'll be charging in Euros from now on.

I have to say I'm already pretty excited about next winters courses and I'm really looking forward to hitting Norway and Greenland again and getting the splitboard thing working as I think this will really open up a lot of options for BC access, touring and trips for the future.

A quick note to say that I am now taking bookings for Summer Guiding. I Guide in the summer on a private basis and offer Rock climbing, Alpine Climbing and Mountaineering for all levels including Mont Blanc ascents for keen Novices. There's great climbing for all levels here in Chamonix so if you fancy it give Ruth a shout and we'll work out a plan.

Apart from all of this I've just started to hang on my fingers and arms again after a pretty long lay off from climbing due to tendonitis and although obviously weaker it feels good to be hanging again. Went on the Turbo trainer again last night but was probably a little tired after riding as it felt like my lungs were shrinking and my heart was going to pop. Legs were ok though, kind of!

Anyway, all is good in Chamonix!

Neil.