The VB..............

I joined good friend James for a quick nip down the Valle Blanche earlier in the week we were one of the first teams down, having got an early 'bin' up the snow soften during the decent a great trip as always in stunning surroundings

 Working hard on the bumps

Spring and pow pow..................

Yesterday I joined Alison, Hetti & Donna, Hetti and Donna were doing there Mountain safety modual for the British Association of Ski Instructor (BASI). the aim was to have a days touring utilising all the skills need to lead a none glacial ski tour.

The plan was to skin skin up to the Col des Autannes form the the chair lift at Le Tour then a traverse across to the Lac de Charamillion then UP to the Col then ski the pow pow into Switzerland.

Awesome the route down the Col des Autannes is in the back ground just out of sight on the right

There are loads of options from the col as can be seen in the pictures.

Well done to Hetti & Donna who both passed. I was the guinea pig for the day. I was told to do as  was told and be quite..................................

A great day out thanks guys

They call it skiing

I just got back from three most excellent day ski touring. With a group of 16 students three guides and me we set off from Villars on Thursday morning our aim being to use the lift systems, pistes, public transport and touring/skinning to summit Les Diablerets 3209.7m.

The forecast for Friday was good so off we popped to the summit of Les Diablerets, with all the team summiting and great day out and a fantastic effort by all at alltitude and in the warm.

We skied Isenau on the way on nice spring snow, then the bus and up to the Cabane from the Col du Pillon at 2525m a couple of off piste runs and back up the lift made for a tip top day.

Les Diablerets summit

Above the skin to the summit.............. top banna

Saturday saw us do a couple of runs on the glacier in cold a swirly weather (reminded me of skiing on Caingorm) reverse much of the route the highlight being the whole skiing very well the black run down to Reush (great ice climbing venue not far off the piste) with all their rucksacks on.A great few days, thanks to guides Hannah Burrows-Smith, Willy Brand & Pratice Khol

Good times

Its been a busy few weeks out here in the Alps with working, exploring ski touring and getting better from the Flu ( I was sent to the Doc.........)

 Above the approach...

I have explored a very nice ice climbing venue that we use with school it's great you park in a tunnel walk through a small passage past a small hanging pillar turn left and there is a great little ice fall with fixed belay points at the top, grades from WI 2 to 6