scialpinismo – Ross Hewitt Guiding

Newsletter

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

Vallencant – A Different Perspective

4th Apr 2015by rosshewittguidingLeave a comment

Photos from Tommasco Cardelli (White Spirit Guides, Dolomites) of your recent trip to Cristallo and the Vallencant Couloir.

Dolomiti Freeride

31st Mar 2015by rosshewittguidingLeave a comment

When Minna first sent me a note asking if I wanted to deploy to the Dolomites for the weekend, I have to say I was less than enthusiastic. I’d just finished a heavy week training on skins, bikes and pushing weights, I had work to do and DIY to finish. The perpetual climate change hurricane was destroying the snow in Cham and I felt like I could use my time more efficiently at home than getting up at 4 am and driving half the way to Kalymnos and back in the hope of some snow. Its been a long time since we spent every winter weekend driving through the night chasing Scottish winter climbing conditions and I have to say I don’t miss the driving. Then she mentioned 80 cm. And no wind. Well maybe!

Arriving at Passo Rolle we set of for the Burreloni Couloir and at this point I found the plan was to climb the line rather than ski to the top. I’d left the spanking paddles at home and with so much snow about I didnt have much hope of success which was fine as my body was tired and sore and it was nice just to be in the sunshine discovering a new place. As we entered the cirque, the slide path of a Cat 5 avalanche triggered in the hot afternoon sun the day before confirmed how much snow was about. We skinned up towards the couloir and started the monumental task of swimming up the couloir.

The ski down held super sluffy powder on the left bank and it was a real pleasure skiing with the snow running all around – we havent had much of that this season. Those Dolomiti lines really are ancient hallways gouged through the big walls, very Baffinesk.

Next day Domolmiti Guides Tommasco Cardelli and Cristian Dallapozza joined us to ski on the Cristallo. Conditons were perfect with no wind so we decided to climb along the ridge and ski the Vallencant. I’ve been wanting to ski this one for about 20 years so it was great to finally go. After a firmer top section we hit the pow and the fun started. In the afternoon we skied the beautiful Bus Tofane under the big walls and finished the day with a well earned beer and Pizza.

Our last day out was on the Marmolada where we skied some complex line avoiding limestone slabs down the North West Face. It was a real Cairngorm howler of a day with low vis so I didnt bother taking a camera.

A big thanks to Minna for doing all the driving, to Tommi for letting me stay and to both Tommi and Cristian for showing us some great stuff.