offpiste – Page 21 – Ross Hewitt Guiding

Springtime – start of the road biking

23rd Mar 2013by rosshewittguidingLeave a comment

We went for a tour in the Aiguille Rouge but had to bail from all options other than skiing down from the Col du Belvedere due to unstable snow. This left plenty of time to get out in the afternoon on my first bike ride in 6 months up to Col des Montets. Despite feeling very rusty it was a lot of fun to be out on the bike.

Last of the Blower

21st Mar 2013by rosshewittguidingLeave a comment

This week has been an unexpected late season extended freeride session in the trees down to the valley floor.

Fuelling up for the day. More caffeine required.

Acres of cold blower to be had.

The odd face shot.

Just the two of us skiing.
The zone with the best lift access ski hill in the World.

Belvedere East Ramp

18th Mar 2013by rosshewittguidingLeave a comment

Plan A was to got the Verte. The day before I went up the Midi on a recce and was greeted by bitter cold due to northerly air flow. This was hardening the snow and would also mean alot of time trying to keep the extremities warm. Time for Plan B; this also started from Grand Montets but in the morning the wind was too strong for the lift to open so now it was time for Plan C; the Belvedere East ramp. We found very variable snow on the way there with thick wind crust dominating but once in the wind shadow of the Belvedere there was a lush amount of powder. The bowl above the ramp was out of the shelter and heavily wind effected so we skied from there.

Thanks Sylvain for the photos.

The Cosmic Virgin

13th Mar 2013by rosshewittguidingLeave a comment

After a very busy month ski mountaineering almost every day, the unsettled weather last week brought a chance to rest, hydrate and eat lots; like 5 or 6 meals a day. I was almost light enough to race a bike again!

I also got bored of standing around taking photos and with a neck injury healing up its been good to ski some long pitches and get some downhill power back that has evaporated with all the ski mountaineering. I did however take a few shots of Ally Swinton popping his Cosmiques Virginity in one of the blower runs his week in between gasping for air!

Petit Mont Blanc – Bonatti Couloir

4th Mar 2013by rosshewittguiding2 Comments

Davide de Masi and Max Turgeon waiting for the gondola to open.

Hard snow. I skied lots of this stuff as a kid in Scotland and its as pleasurable for me as skiing over peoples tracks. I’ll come back to GS this in pow.