Ross Hewitt Guiding

Bouldering, Beer, BBQ

3rd Apr 2012by rosshewittguidingLeave a comment

With a period of poor weather approaching in the mountains it was time to swap skis for rock shoes and visit our backyard boulders. As usual at this time of year the feeling is one of being as weak as a kitten but its early days yet and I’m featherweight after 80 odd days in the mountains this winter so far. With the cooler weather, contact was perfect.

Afterwards we lit the BBQ and had a couple of beers and had the pleasure of meeting Philip’s 80 year old father who was visiting.

Philip in holiday mode after work.

Philip going for the one handed ascent holding a beer.

Beer landed safely.

How come no one told me I am sporting a mullet in the making. Time for a haircut!!

Last rays.

Sunset

Always drink responsibly. Contrary to Scots thinking, beer does not qualify as part of a balanced diet as one of the five a day.

Black Crows, Scorching Heat, Sunbathing Girl

1st Apr 2012by rosshewittguiding1 Comment

Cyclops.

Michelle starting down.

Creamy snow.

Me skiing.

Approaching a short mixed section.

Lunchtime. The route goes from South to West so we hung out waiting for the sun.

Still waiting.

Feeding the burds.

Nearly had my finger off. Didn’t know they had teeth!

Glad we did some slope maintenance on the way up to get rid of the death cookies.

Sunbathing Girl

Col de la Terrace SW Couloir

30th Mar 2012by rosshewittguidingLeave a comment

We’ve both hand stomach problems the last couple days so not felt super energetic but with the snow level rising fast we were motivated to do the long 1400 m tour up Tres les Eaux to Col de la Terrace to get the superb corn descent down the SW Couloir. I’m certainly getting a workout dragging heavy alpine touring kit round the mountains but it makes the descents so sweet. I’ve toured so much this year I can barely remember what its like to be in glove like race fit 130 boots!

We didnt see another person all day so it was fantastic having the mountains to ourselves with amazing spring snow conditions.

A ‘Modal’, Ripper Corn & Dave Showing Some Leg

30th Mar 2012by rosshewittguidingLeave a comment

Michelle just finished a 3 day photo shoot for Berghaus and was itching to get back out skiing. Dave Searle also joined us for a relatively mellow day ripping lush velvet corn. We went to the Southern Combe on Mont Oreb which was really fun.

Mt Oreb North Couloir

29th Mar 2012by rosshewittguidingLeave a comment

We went the long way. 1300 m from the valley. We weren’t sure of the cornices, and going from the lift would mean it being already hot by time we got to the top. Arriving at the bottom we were disappointed to find it got skied the day before – no first tracks and variable snow. Both couloirs off the upper snowfield had been skied, we chose the one with the marginally better looking snow. When the snow got poor we stopped and made the changeover to skis. The skiing turned out a bit better than we thought going up the bootpack but it was still a bitter sweet day in the end. Photos of me by Philip Ebert.