Tag: aosta

Biking Season

9th Oct 20209th Oct 2020by rosshewittguidingLeave a comment

Post lockdown. June 3rd the Italian border opens. The ski season is over, time to escape to Finale and the warm welcome of our Italian friends
Chamonix doesn’t have much background in pedalling a bike. Sure there are some talented DH and enduro riders but not many are keen to ride through the mountains. There are a few exceptions, Oli Herren for one. In Aosta Davide Capozzi is always motivated for big missions. He’s lighter and faster than me uphill so I need to ride smart on days with him. Here we rode Col di Bard, Col Citirin, Chaligne, Becca Franca totally 3300 m of vertical, oh and it was still 40C at 1830 at 1000 m!
At Denis Tondo’s alpage in the Brento Dolomites
Dropping into Becca Franca after a long 10 hours riding in 40+ celcius. No gloves or kneepads to maximise heat shedding!
La Thuile lift access enduro day with Morgan Sahlen
La Thuile, EWS K run, Mont Blanc Range in the back ground. Photo Morgan Sahlen
The view to Lake Garda, off the back of Paganella
Bobby visits Chamonix
La Thuile, photo by Morgan Sahlen
Brenta Dolomites, I forgot all my protection except for my helmet and kneepads. Perfect for a place built with razor sharp rock. Photo Tim Longstaff
One of my favourite places in the world, Lake Garda. On the way to show Tim Longstaff my favourite pub in the world.
La Thuile magic. Photo Tim Longstaff
Canazei, Dolomites. We’ve just been soaked to the pants in a thunderstorm, I’m semi hypothermic so Tim and myself take shelter in the pub. In beer we trust! This was shit beer, check out Tim’s great beer at Sapaudia Brewing Company
Col Citrin with Davide Capozzi, this one gets harder the further you descend
La Thuile, photo Tim Longstaff
Posettes, photo Ben Tibbetts
La Thuile
Col Lussons lunar landscape, photo Dave Searle
Col Lusson, photo Dave Searle
Colle della Rosso, my favourite ride in Aosta
Colle della Rosso, photo Dave Searle
Brevent, yep its made of rock. Photo by Luke Jarmey
Back Country Finale in the Land Rover Defender
Piero and Filippo – Back Country Finale in Malare. A pleasure seeing our Italian friends post lockdown.
Bobby and Searle fiddling with the Donkey
Bellachat. Photo by Filippo Gualtieri
Early summer and heading to the Aiguillette des Houches
Alessandro Merlini on Bellachat
Nice view
Heading to Bellachat from Brevent. Rocky as fuck, stunning scenary when you can take your eyes off the trail which will likely be just when you stop
Nice view behind me! I love it up here.
Minna and friends on the skyline
All time crew L-R me, Filippo, Gian Luca, Oli, Alessandro, thingymabob et al, Howard
Me and my very good buddy Filippo on Chaligne above Aosta
Visiting Italian Jaco meets Bellachat, Brevent
Morning shred on Brevent before work, good for the soul
Evening shreds from Plan de l’Aiguille are sick. 1300 m of brown pow.
Check this guy out – that tent hitting the back of the knees would do it for me
Morgan cruising some rock slabs at la Thuile
Davide Capozzi at Col Chavanne. There was a lot of snow towards Col de la Seigne so we skipped that and headed to Col Arp Vielle
Davide Capozzi on the exposed start to Col Chavanne going into Val Veni
Val Veni views with Petit Mont Blanc and Aiguille des Glaciers
Davide Capozzi on the Tour du Mont Blanc trail from Col Arp Vielle. Tour Ronde, Skyway, Dent de Geant in the background.
Emosson to Martigny ride. Not my favourite
Not sure what this is – a wonkey donkey?
La Thuile with Tim and Howard
Evening ride at Le Tour
The remnants of the Le Tour Glacier
Letting the arms rest half way down
Davide Capozzi on the techy root section of Col Citrin
Last descent to St Nicholas after 10 hours and 3300 m. Its still 40C at 1800 hrs.
Poor pack horse looks a bit overladen
Taking in the view at the start of a Chatelyard run
Col Entrelor
Entrelor flowy section
A quick coffee stop in La Thuile on the Col Chavanne – Col Arp Veille loop
The Peuterey Ridge of Mont Blanc from upper Val Veni
The West Face of Mont Blanc, a 2000 m ski odyssey
Mont Blanc’s impressive Freney/Broullard faces above Val Veni
The Aosta autoroute – impressive engineering
Searle and Tibbetts on route to Lusson (3300 m)
Searle and Tibbetts on route to Lusson (3300 m)
Lusson, Loson, every map has a a different spelling in this region of Italian – Franco patois
Searle coming down Lusson
Colle della Rosso
The Italian Dolomites – Sella Ronda Tour with Filippo Gaultieri, Denis Tondo, Patrick DH, Tim Longstaff
Rodella
Marmolada views
Denis
Patrick
Tim getting patched up after slicing his leg open on a drainage channel
Denis showboating for the camera
When you grow up racing mx, you need a proper workshop
Denis showing his mastery of whips and berms
The Willy Wonka rail – a stunning blue flow/jump run
Lake Garda
Patrick and the Brenta Dolomites
Denis spent months shepherding at this hut growing up, now he wants to use it as a overnight stop over on Dolomiti mtb tours
Wait, why’s my bike on the chair?
Lake Garda
Riva del Garda, my favourite pub in the world. Scene of so much fun
Tim enjoying morning swims in the lake
That day I forgot my armour in the Dolomites. Highsided on a landing straight onto my spine. Luckily ribs just bruised for a month.
Chamonix, Aiguillette des Houches. Getting in the runs before the lifts close. Broke my clipless pedals in that crash in the Dolomites and De Masi had my flats so riding the worst pedals ever made.
The start of a beautiful day, riding solo in Aosta. 3800 m vertical, 5 cols, 1 summit. Col di Bard, Col Citrin, Col Malatra (2900 m), Col Entre Deux Sauts, Col Sapin, Testa Bernarda.
Col di Bard
Col Citrin with Mont Velan behind
‘If it didn’t exist 5000 years ago then don’t eat it’ – Laird Hamilton. Forget gels, shakes and other crap. Nuts, berries and some fruit will see you double your efforts
Col Citrin
On the 1400 m climb to Malatra.
Refugio Frassati, modelled on the rock architecture of Petit Golliat
Only 400 m to Malatra
Col Malatra
Sunny everywhere except where I am its hailing!
Flow trails below Col Malatra
Grand Jorasses in the background above Val Veni
Its a big day for a Nomad, 12 hours and 3800 m. I’m looking forward to riding a High Tower next season
Last climb done to Test Bernarda. Final descent of the day arriving in Courmayeur for pizza just as the light started to fail.
Should I stay or should I go? A murky day in Aosta had me soaked to the pants within the first half hour. Then it started to dry up so I set little goals (I’ll turn back there…) but in the end made the summit knowing the descent is a path suited to a gravel bike with no greasy rock to negotiate. In the end a super atmospheric day, the inclement weather providing dramatic scenes up Val Veni.

25th Nov 201925th Nov 2019by rosshewittguidingLeave a comment

As the year draws to a close I can’t help but reflect on what a vintage year it has been – if I was lucky enough to be your guide then thank you for making it utterly brilliant for me – check out the photos below and revive some of those incredible memories. With the shortening of the days I’m sure you feel the craving to get out in the mountains just like me. It’s time to start dreaming and planning your next adventure whether it’s some specific life goal or simply getting a boost catching some winter sun in the Alps. For winter 19/20 I will be guiding out of Chamonix from November to May and I still have some gaps in my calendar so if you having been dreaming of that place where the magic happens then don’t delay, get in touch before its too late. It will be a pleasure to spend time in the mountains with you again or get to know you if its your first time. rosshewittguiding@yahoo.com

December 1st winter kicks off on skiing the Toula Glacier with the opening of Skyway (Helbronner) on the Italian side of Mont Blanc. The Aosta valley has ALOT of snow right now with its huge option of early season touring and sidecountry. Mid-December I’m holding a 3 day avalanche awareness course for the new employees at Bluebird Cafe and Solocal who are Chamonix newbees. Aiguille du Midi opens on December 13th and Grand Montets is already open at the weekends.

January and February will be deep endless powder days based in Chamonix and Skyway including some Valley Blanche action. I am also guiding in the secret stash spot of Sainte-Foy for the second year running and can’t wait to get back for its legendary trees and easy access backcountry.

March and April I already have 2 steep camps with clients who are looking to access the steep and deep in the big mountains. Snow cover will be at its best and the longer days open up the classic ski touring possibilities. The mind boggles at the endless possibilities.

May sees the return of 2 clients hunting specific big lines in Chamonix which is always a great time of year for the high mountain.

Early December days at Skyway are some of my favourite

Avalanche awareness and terrain management course on Brevent

Deep endless powder days, Plan de l’Aiguille

Ice climbing in December and January

Teaching snow anchors & fundamental skills for crevasse rescue

Teaching how to build an ice screw anchor and equalise it

La Sentinelle ski touring meet was in Chamonix this year and Monte Viso in 2020

Good cop, bad cop at La Sentinelle

Traditional mountain food at La Sentinelle

Snow Sports of Great Britain ski test at Pila, Italy

Thats a 70k camera! Working as a guide and stunt skier for a UK film

Ski touring in the Vanoise national park

Bespoke ski guiding for Andrew

No rush for the powder in the Tarentaise, enjoying a backcountry picnic

Steep camp heading to ski Aiguille du Plan South Face

Returning for Aiguille d’Argentiere

Deep day on Mont Blanc early May

Riding giants, those dream lines forming the North Wall of the Argentiere glacier

Classic alpinism on the Midi Plan traverse

Dawn at the Vallot shelter on the way to Mont Blanc

Sunrise on Mont Blanc as we summit

Scrambling with stunning views

Classic Swiss ridges, this one done in a day hit from Chamonix

Sunset on the Matterhorn

Summiting the Matterhorn under 4 hours

The Matterhorn at sunset

Classic Italian Ridges easily accessible from Chamonix

Christmas as Skyway

Opening the Entreves Spur, Skyway, Chamonix

Snow Sport of Great Britain ski test at Pila Italy

traditional dining, La Sentinelle ski meet Chamonix

safety and skier for a British independent fictional film

bespoke ski guiding for an Australian based client

steep camp for 2 British clients looking for the magic

touring under the Giant Argentiere basin north wall

col des cristaux, the classic big steep line in the Argentiere basin

Passing the Vallot shelter en route to Mont Blanc

glorious sunrise near summit of Mont Blanc

summit of the Matterhorn under 4 hours, winner!

Classic Italian ridges in a day hit from Chamonix

Ross Hewitt enjoying deep january powder days

Marbree Couloir Triple

22nd Mar 2019by rosshewittguidingLeave a comment

The Wild Side

21st Dec 2018by rosshewittguiding

The Skyway area with its 1500 m high faces stretching from Tour Ronde to the Grandes Jorasses is locally referred to as the Wild Side. Yesterday with strong wind it was living up to its reputation as we opened the Marbree Couloir and the shoulder of Aiguille d’Entreves.

Film – 12000 m of Powder at Skyway

14th Dec 2018by rosshewittguidingLeave a comment

Boy have we been lucky with snow conditions. After a 3 day storm I went to Skyway with the dream team of Dave Searle and Tom Grant to see what had happened. 1-2 m accumulations were expected and were found, but after a couple of ski cuts nothing avalanched and we got on with hoovering as much powder as possible with each of our ten 1200 m runs. Here’s the goods: