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Opportunities present in a dry December

The driest December in this area since measurements began in 1864 created new challenges for a mountain guide like myself. I could have behaved like Chicken Little and believed the end was near, or rather taken advantage of those conditions. The foehn episode that dried the northern Alps in November, coated the southern Alps with a lovely layer of fresh powder. Living close to that main divide here in Verbier, my clients and I profited from the situation, ski touring and heliskiing in the south, and hiking and climbing in the north.

For those who enjoy being outside no matter the weather and conditions, I’ve found it so rewarding to share these mini adventures with you. Thank you! The following 20 pictures show some of our days together on skis, skins and foot, enjoying what mother nature provides.

Winter!

October snows, leading to November snows, leading to December sun! Conditions are excellent at altitude, resembling prime alpine conditions of spring time. A stable snowpack in the high mountains has stuck to many of the icey faces that often don’t see snow until spring. Isolated areas, protected from the November Foehn winds, give rise to primo conditons for steep skiing in boot top powder.

For those of you who have heard about the ISTA method of avalanche training, I am a certified ISTA instructor, offering group and private avalanche courses. After spending a few days with me, talking about snow metamorphism and slope analysis, you will feel more capable to understand and analyse the untracked slopes you want ski.

This gorgeous weather is forecasted to be with us for another week, when this high pressure system should weaken, allowing more humidity to make its way onto the continent. Have fun skiing that boot top pow!

Autumn Thoughts

As the cold rain pitter patters outside my window, it’s snow at altitude, shutting down my current summer alpine dreams. My thoughts skim back over these past few days, weeks and into last year’s snows. It’s been a fun and relaxing summer with family, friends, and clients, new and old.

Fi and I mixed it up, climbing the Nadelhorn last week, then spending a wonderful day on the Jagihorn, cruising up delightful granit under a warm, blue sky.

Fiona near the summit of the Nadelhron

Fiona near the summit of the Nadelhorn

Hans Ahead

Yours truly nearing the summit of the Nadelhorn.

Fi climbing on the Jagihorn

Fi climbing high on the Jagihorn

I had some nice days with my two “kids” on local rock.

Anya climbing local rock

Anya climbing local rock

And a super week with Susan, preparing for the Matterhorn.

Susan Dennard on the top of the Matterhorn.

Susan Dennard on the top of the Matterhorn.

I’m preparing for another fun winter season, scheduling early winter avalanche courses and off-piste ski days. Contact me as soon as you know your winter schedule so we can share more fun adventures together. Maybe we’ll get another November start like last year’s!

Opening day Verbier- Winter 2015/16

Via Ferrata Loéche les Bains Gemmi-Daubenhorn

Have you ever done a Via Ferrata? Thanks to the Werlen bros. and many others, Switzerland has a huge one! I’ve climbed and ski toured many times in and around this valley and have always been impressed by this huge cliff towering above Leukerbad. It’s unimaginable that one would put a via ferrata up these 1000 meters of rough limestone. The amount of rock fall alone would make this project seemingly impossible. But the route is amazing. Calculate a solid 6 hours up and 2 hours down.

One starts by taking the lift from Loeche to the Gemmi pass. We got on the first ride up at 7:50 with the employees. A 30 minute walk down to the start of the via ferret got us going at 8:30. One starts with some horizontal hiking, high above Loeche. We flushed a couple of Ibex who knocked off some sizeable rocks, but below us. Then the fun begins with a few moves across a vertical wall, a couple of short ladders, then more hiking. It’s all a blur now, but passing through a natural tunnel in the wall, seriously gripped traversing a vertical section 100 long, seemingly 1000s of meters above the valley floor, (no photo taken here!), then onto the final ladder, too vertical on failing arms… Just a blur…