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Reports from the Mountains.... |
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BMC International Winter Meet 2007 |
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Alpine |
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| Alpine Summer 2006 | |
| Alps Summer 05 - Pizza and 4000m Peaks | |
| tWorldwide | |
| Meru Sharks Fin, Gangotri Himalaya | |
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Highland Guides News & Mountaineering Report
6/4/09 Ski Mountaineering in the Austrian Alps - Tirol and Silvretta....
I
joined Chamonix based British Guide, Andy Perkins and a strong team
from the Eagles Ski Club to start the tough ski tour of the 'Hoch
Tirol' in the Austrian Alps. Huge amounts of fresh snow combined
with the steep sided valleys left us concerned about the avalanche
risk. In response to this we programmed Ichgl into the Sat Nav,
drove for 4 hours west and got an evening snow cat ride into the
slightly more mellow Silvretta Alps. |
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Using
some of the famously luxurious Austrian Huts (Heidelberg, Jamtal
and Wiesbadener) we were able to journey through this fantastic
area, seemingly designed for ski touring (read
previous Silvretta report here). Skinning, skiing, mountaineering,
powder, crust and spring snow - we had a bit of everything, rounded
off every afternoon with a magnificent applestrudel! The week finished
with an ascent of the Silvretta's highest peak, the Piz Buin. This
provides an excellent short PD scramble up an impressive alpine
peak. The long ski out to the valley at Galtur gives plenty of time
to reflect on a great ensemble of touring treats.....with the excellent
and cheap Austrian cuisine being high on the menu! |
| Check out Andy Perkins ski blog for more details and photos. |
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Chamonix to Zermatt, The Haute Route Ed, Charlie and Rod joined IFMGA Guide Andy Teasdale and myself for a perfectly timed 7 day trip on the classic High Level Route from Chamonix to Zermatt. The hills were plastered with snow, the skies blue and the sun just kept shining. Snow has returned to valley floor level in Chamonix today and the memories of a great weeks skiing will linger for a long time. |
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After a days ski touring training at Le Tour the team set off on the tough first day of the Haute Route bound for the Trient Hut. Skiing away from the Grand Montets with a large pack at over 3000m and grappling with the steep kick turns of the Col de Chardonnet may feel like quite a baptism of fire for those new to ski touring - Zermat seems a long way away! The Guys showed that fitness, determination and an ability to learn the ropes quickly can stand in for experience. |
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By
starting the route on a tuesday in early season we enjoyed both
quiet hills and huts with the notable exception of the bottle neck
at the Col de Chardonnet. Skiing the Val d'Arpette, off the Rosablanche,
getting a frost nipped nose on La Luette above the Dix Hut and then
the final amazing descent of the Stockli Glacier, under the Matterhorn
N. Face and Zermatt - Good memories and a suitably fitting climax
to a great weeks touring. The beers were flowing very freely that
night. |
14/3/09 Tour de Soleil & Andermatt Off-Piste
Local
Guides reported more snow in the Andermat region of the Swiss Alps
than for the last 10 years. Chamonix based British Guide Ric
Potter, 9 members of the
Eagle ski club and I gathered in Realp to start the classic
Tour de Haute Soleil. Realp resembled a disneyworld vision of what
a Swiss Mountain village should look like in winter. Mr. whippy
creamy snow cornices, metres deep, overhanging the road creating
an unusual urban avalanche hazard. The combination of huge amounts
of fresh snow and poor weather meant we never really got started
on this inspring but intricate and engaging tour. I'm sure most
of us will be back. Making the most of the conditions came in the
form of constant steep, deep and fresh tracks in the brilliant off
piste 'resort' of Andermatt. |
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3/3/09 Alpine Ski Touring Season Starts & New Ski Kit List... After a bumper start to the ski season in the Alps the potential for a good, snowy touring season remains promising. I'm heading out to the French, Swiss and Italian Alps for the next couple of months. The Tour de Haute Soleil (Eastern Switzerland), Classic Haute Route, High Tyrol, Swiss Valais and Bernina are all on the itinerary so stay tuned for some reports from the great Alpine hut to hut tours. In the meantime, stay on top of your touring gear and don't forget any crucial items with our new Ski Touring Kit List. |
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24/2/09 Icicle Gully and End of Season Reports....
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Dan and I enjoyed some more ice climbing on the East Face of Aonach Mor today. Avoiding the good but crowded conditions in the Twins area we were lured into Icicle Gully by a fine sustained grade III ice pitch. This routes central pitch is a bit thinner than others hereabouts and required quite a delicate touch. Unlike numerous other fatter ice lines on the East Face this one will not survive for long if the thaw continues. |
That
concludes a very short Scottish Winter Season for Highland Guides
this year as I will be heading out to the Alps for the ski touring
season. Many thanks to all those who booked and enquired about courses,
check out some of the feedback we received here.
We will be back on the winter crags of the Highlands next season
and in the meantime stay in touch with current conditions on the
Alpha,
Abacus,
West
Coast Guides and Mountain
Plan blogs..... |
