dave searle – Page 4 – Ross Hewitt Guiding

Friday’s Freeride

29th Mar 2014by rosshewittguidingLeave a comment

I headed into the neighbour’s back garden the other day with the usual suspects; Liz Daley (armed with her perma-stoke), Davide de Masi and Dave Searle. Our efforts were well rewarded and we found exceptional rip-able powder waiting for us in this long hallway. A fantastic day which was ended with a beer ontop of a mountain in the sun.

All quiet, the cirque to ourselves

Let the dance begin Perma-stoke Searler, Liz and de Masi wishing they had spanking paddles (snow plates) in the deep pow

This is going to be sick

Dave Searle

Liz Daley

Davide de Masi superstylinOur line
Heading to the bar for a well earned cold beer

Another Sick Sunny Powder Day

28th Mar 2014by rosshewittguidingLeave a comment

Liz Daley and Dave Searle enjoying and easy start to the day

On our way up with the Te Crew boys

Dave getting used to a camera I lent him.

Dave killing it, about 2000 m more to comeLiz realising its primo

Dave Searle

Liz is in there

Liz killing it

A little tree adventure and then perhaps last of the pillow lines for this winter

Lush spring walk down to down

My Backyard

27th Mar 2014by rosshewittguidingLeave a comment

Couturier-Whymper on La Verte

13th Mar 2014by rosshewittguidingLeave a comment

Dave Searle and myself have been wanting to do a traverse of the Verte for a couple of years now combining climbing Couturier and skiing Whymper onsight. After all the free-riding in January and February I was up for an alpine traverse trip like this which offers so much in the way of adventure, challenge, unknown, excitement and great training. The Aiguille Verte is an amazing mountain at 4122 m and all its routes are long and demanding. We were joined by Mikko Heimonen.
C0uturier

Aiguille Verte on the far right with the 1000 m Couturier Couloir descending direct from the summit.

The sunny side of Aiguille Verte, Whymper Couloir descends right of the summit.
Couturier Whymper La Verte Couturier Whymper La Verte Seale Heimonen-4

Nearing the top of the Couloir and the end of the neve with black ice and seracs looming. Couturier Whymper La Verte Seale Heimonen-6

We threaded the seracs along a ramp in the sun above the rock. Couturier Whymper La Verte Seale Heimonen-7 Mikko on the Verte for the first time.

Almost feeling Himalayan due to the cold, with 40 kph wind we were glad to get off the austere north side and into the sun.

Summit of the Verte for me!

Panorama Aiguille Leschaux to Mont Blanc

Mont Blanc and the Chamonix Aiguilles The wind tugged at our skis along the exposed ridge.
Couturier Whymper La Verte Seale Heimonen-15

The snow stayed pretty frozen with the wind.

Petit Mont Blanc – North East / Bonatti Couloir

3rd Mar 2014by rosshewittguidingLeave a comment

Its was always going to be a long day, especially with the amount of bad weather we have had this winter that has prevented us getting tour fit. It was deep going in. Then it got deeper. By late afternoon as the couloir steepened up it got ridiculously deep where I expected it to get faster for booting. Even with snow plates I was waist deep and trenching, the others up to their chests in my trench. Our team of 5 were cooked. We called a stop about 150 m from the top and skied amazing pow in the glow of the evening light. Thanks to Michelle Blaydon, Kirsti Lehtimaki, Cedric Bernardini and Robes Parron for a stunning day.