Tag: Chamonix
Nonne Eveque
We planned for a 2 day stay in the Couvercle refuge and set off carrying food, stove and gas for the stay. On the approach to the hut the wind kept getting stronger and snow quality for skiing was deteriorating rapidly. At the hut we stopped for an hour or so to brew tea and wait and see if the wind would drop. We could see the big South facing ski lines were covered in wind polished, crusty snow, there wasn’t going to be any good skiing in the Telefre basin the next day. We decided to take our kit and go home via the Nonne Eveque which would be sheltered from the wind and contain good snow. I have been wanting to go there for a few weeks now as its not often that the moraine is easily passible and the hot afternoon sun usually runnels this West facing line. Its a great line, never that steep, with the added interest of a narrow ice choked chimney at its base. 
Photo credit: Phil Ingle. Check out his page at http://philingle.com/breche-nonne-eveque/
Pelerins Descent
Last week saw a probably 1st descent of the Pelerins normal climbing route by the Italian Snowhow team of Davide Capozzi, Julien Henry and Luca Rolli. I’m sure there are very mixed opinions of such a line out there. More photos here:
http://www.snowhow.it/pagina%20foto/aigpelerins%2013/aigpelerins13.htm
Tacul Shoulder
Today I was joined by Andy Houseman, Max Turgeon and Tom Grant for a quick tour before the weather broke. We went to the Aiguille du Tacul to ski the shoulder, the lasting memory of the day will be the bitter cold. I toured the whole way with goggles and a buff protecting my lungs from the super cold air. Maybe thats why the Midi was deserted today?
Tour Ronde Brenva
This week I have had the fortune and pleasure of two runs down in the Brenva cirque in great powder throughout the 2000 m + descent. The first run entered the Brenva Glacier down Couloir Cache, the second time we took the South West Couloir from the summit of Tour Ronde. This time I enjoyed the company of Michelle and Andy Benson.
The Brenva Face of Mont Blanc in the background.
The amazing backdrop of the icy North Face of the Aiguille Blanche de Peuterey, first skied by Anselme Baud and Patrick Vallencent, and its impressive rocky East Face which has only been skied by Italian Maestro Stephano de Benedetti in the early 80’s. De Benedetti poetically describes his motivation and rewards for taking on the immense psychological challenges of Big Mountain Skiing in the clip below from the movie ‘Steep’. Check it out:
Ross Hewitt Guiding 