We found some great snow today which was a real pleasure and unexpected after the high winds. Thanks to Michelle for capturing this shot. I’m looking forward to the next reset to open up the terrain in the Chamonix area and fill in some holes.
The first adventure of the season was to an often overlooked line that provided superb situations and stunning views. About 1000 m up from the glacier lands you at the top of the line. Despite being on the sunny side it was bitterly cold and my feet were continuously painful and on the wrong side of cold. The prolonged exposure to the cold in Baffin has definitely taken its toll and I will be investing in some warmer liners later in the week! After months of solid office work it feels great to be back into the mountain and synchronising with the natural rhythm of life, having fun and working the body hard.















This week we Dave Searle and myself went back to the Miage Glacier under Mont Blanc’s Himalayan sized West Face with the idea to have a semi-rest day and camp on day 1 and then get and early start and ski a line mid-morning before it got too hot. I had some expedition kit to test out so this provided the perfect opportunity. 


At the foot of the Miage. We soon got bored of load carrying in the heat and set up camp.
Chilling out in the evening.
My touring set up this season.
Our line for the day on looker’s right
Dave at the start of the 1100 m bootpack
The shrund was bottomless and we roped up
The snow deteriorated due to being worked by spindrift so we skied the good stuff






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
Liz Daley
Davide de Masi superstylin
Our line
Heading to the bar for a well earned cold beer