Its been a long powder season and this could be the last of it. We enjoyed a few laps on the Midi to get the most out of it.
I’m psyched to get a few steep ski mountaineering routes done now. 
John Minogue getting his first face shot of the day.
Betony up to her thighs.
Michelle carving
Into the Cosmiques
Jake Morgan popping his cosmic virginity – what a day to choose. We went staight back up for more.
Luca joins us for a 5 o’clock run.
Enticing creamy pow
After fighting the queues to get up the lift we were all psyched to get going on a big Midi day and making the most of the fine weather. Drew Tabke has some time off after winning the men’s FWT title and joined Dave Searle and myself. On the way down the arrete I started to feel some discomfort in my back and by time we arrived at the Cosmiques hut my back was seizing up quickly. After a handful of ibuprofen tablets it was time to push on and good skiing took us to the col at the top of the Salopar. By now I was feeling the pain standing still so Dave took over leading and the rope work. The snow was good but with the usual sharks teeth in there to snag the unwary and the straight line exit created sufficient speed to ruffle the ski pants.
Back at the Plan I had Dave kneeling on my chest and rotating my legs to try and unlock my back but the day had ended prematurely for me and it was time to download while the guys did a few more laps. At the car it took me about ten minutes to get my ski boots off. At one point I thought I would have to call Michelle to come get me as I was unsure I could drive home!
Hopefully its just a few down days for me.
The normal Rond is shown by the red line with the Salopar, ‘heart of the Rond’ shown in orange.
So what do you do Drew? Well, I just won the Freeride World Tour.
I’ve been down and out the last couple of days with a niggling cold that has made a comeback after our long day on the midi. Why won’t it just die? Over the last month the guys here have been busy filming, photographing, writing and editing while compiling a round up of January powder action in what must go down as one of the best ever. I was surprised to see a photo of myself in there under the Helbronner cable car, kinda ironic for a Scottish skier to be in Powder Magazine. I grew up skiing using ‘The Force’ in whiteouts with snow varying rapidly and randomly from ice, wind crust, sastrugi, wind buff, powder. If for some sadistic reason you want to increase your FOMO and find out what you missed out on, or are planning to come to the Alps soon check it by clicking on the link below:
Ross Hewitt Guiding 