Major Ski Lines

 

Mont Blanc

Arete de Peuterey, 50º, 5.4, TD+

Benedetti, West Face of Mont Blanc 2200 m, 50º, 5.4, TD+ with the late great Tof Henry

Saudan, West Face of Mont Blanc 2200 m, 50º, 5.4, TD+

Brenva Spur – East Face of Mont Blanc 700 m, 45º, 5.2, TD-

Dome du Gouter

Dome du Gouter, SE Face, 45º, 5.2, TD-

Dome du Gouter, SE Couloir, 45º, 5.2, TD-

Aiguille du Midi – The North Face

Frendo Spur 1100 m 55º 5.4, TD+. A rare descent following in the foot steps of those Super Heroes that skied it over the years since the snowy summer of 1977: Jean-Marc Boivin, Laurent Giacomini, Francois Regis Thevenet, Alex Pittin…

The Mallory (Porter), 1000 m, 55º, 5.4, TD+ 

Eugster Couloir, 1000 m, 55º, 5.4, TD+ multiple times

Tournier Spur entry to Col du Plan 800 m, 55º, 5.3, TD multiple times

Aiguille du Midi – The West Face

Salopar 400 m, 50º, TD, 5.3 rocky, probably my least favourite line on the Midi

Rond-West Couloir, 800 m, 50º, TD, 5.3 onsight, multiple times

East Face of Mont Blanc du TaculCol Diable 50º 800m,TD, 5.2/3 (purple), Gervasutti Couloir 50º, 800 m, TD, 5.3 (red) 

Geant Glacier

Tour Ronde North Face, 50º, 350 m, 5.3

The Boivin – Gabarrou,  West Face of Mont Mallet  50º, 700 m, TD, 5.2 onsight.      A wild and savage arena to ski.

The Traverse of Point Yield. 50º, 500 m, TD, 5.2 onsight. I skied this one a couple of times and glacier recession has made this one a lot harder these days. It the biggest roll over I’ve come across and its difficult to know you are heading onto the right line.

The North West Face of the Noire. 45º, 600m, TD-, 5.2? Never steep but always rolling over and no obvious features also makes this one difficult to read.

Italian Side

Petit Mont Blanc

Grassi Marone Stratta (cyan) 50º, 800 m, 5.2

Bonatti Couloir (blue), 50º, 1100 m, 5.1

Domenech Couloir (purple), 1200m, 5.2

Aigle Couloir (pink), 1200 m, 5.2

The South Face of Dent de Geant. 50º, 700 m, TD-, 5.1

Charpoura

Nonne-Eveque, 45º, 600 m, 5.2

Talefre Basin

Ascent of Couturier to ski Whymper onsight on Aiguille Verte. 50º, 550m, 5.3

Col des Droites, 45º, 600 m, AD+, 4.3 (red) twice

South Face of Les Courtes, 50º, 800 m, TD, 5.2 Solo traverse via NE slope (green)

Couloir Angelique, 55º, 700 m, TD, 5.3 (purple) traverse from NE slope

Croullante Couloir, 50º, 600 m, TD-, 5.1 (cyan), multiple times including Cristeaux-Croullante traverse

Argentiere Basin

Aiguille du Chardonnet South East Face, 50º, 700 m, TD, 5.2. One of my favourites

Aiguille d’Argentiere, Y Couloir Left and Right Branches, 50/45º,600 m TD-,5.2, 5.1

Col des Courtes (Pointe Eales) 55º, 500 m, TD+, 5.4

Col des Cristeaux 50º, 700 m, 5.1 (red) The easiest line in the Argentiere Cirque. Multiple times

The North East Face of Les Courtes 48º, 800 m, 5.2 (purple). The classic, 9 times

Central Spur of Les Courtes, 50º, 800 m, 5.2 (blue). Rarely in condition but it was in the mega winter of 2013. We skied from where the blue line stops

Cordier-Gabarrou on Les Courtes, 50º, 800 m, 5.4. Rare to get the upper part in condition and I got sick and turned round at the top of the green line. The others skied from the top in great powder.

Ecrins

Les Agneaux, Davin Couloir, 45º, 800 m, 4.3?

Switzerland

Matterhorn / Cervin East Face – skied on the 150th anniversary of the 1st Ascent

50/55º 1000 m, 5.5, ED (ref camp to camp)

Eiger

Eiger West Face, 45º, 1600 m, 5.1 

A Neuve Cirque

The North East Face of Aiguille de l’Amone, 50/45º, 500 m, 5.2. One of the most beautiful Cham lines. I sent this in 12 turns last time.

Passage d”Argentiere, 45º, 600 m, 5.1

East Couloir of Col Tour Noir Superior, 45º, 600 m, 5.2 (blue). Amone in yellow and Passage d’Argentiere in red.

Les Dents du Midi, Chablais

Doigts North Couloir, 50º, 800 m, 5.2  also skied the easier Dent Jaune North Couloir

Italy

Dolomites

Canale Vallencant, 50º, 600 m, 5.3

Canale Bureloni 50/45º, 600 m, 5.2

Alaska – Ruth Gorge (heli drops in Chugach omitted)West Face of Mount Barille, 50º, 500 m, 5.1

Japanese Couloir, Mt Dickey, 50/45º, 600 m?, 5.1

Argentina/ChileEast-North-East Couloir of Volcano Lanin (3747m), Argentina, 800 m, 50º, TD-, 5.1. The Cosmiques of South America but rarely skied. We were first to ski from the summit that season on any route. My Vulcan boot was in walk mode after snapping off the buckle! Possible first female descent by Michelle Blaydon.

Baffin Island, Arctic Circle, Canada – North East Fiords

13 lines were 1st known descents

Map of Camps and Couloirs Skied

Scott Island South Face, Scott Inlet, Baffin

Line 1 Scott Island South Face, Scott Inlet, 40º, 450m 1st known descent

Line 2 Scott Island South Face, Scott Inlet, 40º, 620m 1st known descent

Line 3 Scott Island South Face, Scott Inlet, 45º, 500m 1st known descent

Line 4 Scott Island South Face, Scott Inlet, 40º, 450m 1st known descent (cyan)

Line 5 Scott Island South Face, Scott Inlet, 45º, 500m 1st known descent (purple)

Gibbs Fiord

 Line 6 Gibbs Fiord, Sillem Island, 45º, 1250m 1st known descent

 Line 7 Gibbs Fiord, 45º, 1000m 1st known descent

 Line 8 Gibbs Fiord, 45-55º, 1000m 1st known descent

 Line 9 Gibbs Fiord, Sillem Island, 40º, 650m 1st known descent

  Line 10 Gibbs Fiord, Sillem Island, 45º, 1200m 1st known descent

Line 11 Stewart Valley, Crosshairs Couloir, 45º, 1100m

Line 12 Walker Citadel, Walker Arm, Debris Couloir 45º, 900 m

Line 13 Walker Citadel, Walker Arm, Notch Couloir 40º, 900 m

 Line 14 Beluga Spire, Polar Star Couloir 50º, 1100 m

Line 15 Walker Arm, South Facing Zone Opposite Walker Citadel, 30-45º, 1450 m, 2nd known descent 

Line 16 North West Passage, 50º, 1200 m

Line 17 Walker Citadel, South Couloir (Citadel’s Secret/Wet Dreams), 1st known descent, 45º, 1500 m

Line 18 Stump Spire NW Couloir, 45º, 1100m, 1st known descent

Sam Ford Wall, Sam Ford Fiord

Line 19 (dark blue) Escort, 45º, 700 m

Line 20 (purple) Mustang 45º, 800 m

Line 21 (yellow) AC Cobra 45º, 950 m 

Line 22 (cyan) Model T, 45º, 700 m

Line 23 (red) Bronco, 45º, 900 m

Line 24 (orange) Pinto, 45º, 700 m

Line 25 (green) Ramp, 40º, 450 m 1st known descent

Line 26, West Side of Sam Ford Fiord North of Great Cross Peak, 50º, 1000m 1st known descent