In search of snow!

Conditions are shit in Chamonix at the moment. The lifts aren't opening until the 20th, which is the day I leave and no snow is forecast. So we have to be creative and intuitive and seek out those hidden areas which could potentially hold enough powder for a few keen turns. This is the first time, for me, being in Chamonix that you actually get funny looks for carrying skis!

learning to skin!

I arrived in Cham last night to cold temps and a dusting of snow, however the conditions are far from perfect. This morning, me and Colin decided to head up to Argentiere and skin up Pierre a Ric to the Lognan on the Grands Montets to see what conditions are like. There have been a few changes to the lifts since my time away, the most noticeable being the replacement of the Plan Joran chair lift to a brand new lift station and bubbles.

Chris Walker Memorial Trust

I just want give a huge thank you to the parents of Chris Walker for giving me a place on Alison Culshaws Off Piste for Mountaineers course via their sons memorial trust.

For those who don't know about it, sadly Chris died in an avalanche in Feb 2010 and his parents set up a trust fund in his name to help those with a passion for the mountains.

For more information visit his website:

http://www.chriswalkertrust.co.uk

Once again, thank you. This will be a huge step for me in gaining the knowledge and experience needes for becoming a British Mountain Guide...

...one day :)

Popping my Cloggy & Dinas Mot cherry

I've always hated the drive up to North Wales, it's always at night, I'm always tired and the drive is always boring. Except for the time I was sideways on the M56, that was an interesting drive. But every time I make the journey up north, I know that I'm about to escape from reality and spend the weekend in a place where I'm truly happy and where I feel I belong: In the mountains.