Author Archives: Hans Solmssen

About Hans Solmssen

I am a professional mountain guide living in Verbier, Switzerland. I grew up on the Big Island of Hawaii after my father moved to Hawaii to teach at Hawaii Preparatory Academy. He created a horse program at this high school, located in the middle of the largest, privately owned cattle ranch in the US. Horses were a major part of my life, even playing polo for a few years. I moved to northern Vermont to go to school, and discovered skiing. Little did I know, this would become my life's passion: guiding friends and clients over the mountains around the world on skis and foot. I moved to Verbier, Switzerland in 1982, and entered the Swiss guide's program in '88. I received my UIAGM "pin" 3 years later in 1991. I have two kids, Anya and Kevin.

The Haute Route on Skis

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Variable weather had me wondering where we would end-up for our Haute Route. As it worked out, the fluctuating cumulus clouds lead us to heavenly climbs and descents. This kept the crowds at bay most days, leaving us tranquil in the huts. 80cm of fresh snow was deposited as we started, giving us fabulous runs to the valley floors. The climb over the Pigne d’Arolla was done under perfect blue skies. Wednesday, we skied cool powder then corn to Arolla, then skinned up to the Bertol Hut. The clouds were thick at times, cooling us for the climbs, but breaking enough to let us enjoy the downhill runs. The preparation for the PDG was apparent in bit and pieces. The Swiss Army was setting up the high altitude posts for this prestigious race. Download the App to follow your favorite team. Jamie and his two friends, Bill and Andrew, made for super companions for this Alpine traverse. Thanks so much you guys!

(Update: Dec.11) Jamie has produced some mind blowing prints of his shots.

And I have this great urge to thank my sponsors for everything they have done for me these past few years. Mammut has been with me since I started selling their gear in my shop 15 years ago! Their colection has exploded into a vast array of Gor, polypro and wool. Handling a Mammut rope is a climber’s dream.

My first pair of skis were K2, and I still get super excited to feel the wind in this team’s sails, year after year. The energy I get from each turn of these skis, makes me convinced I am flying, not skiing, trough these fabulous Alps.

Scarpa has pushed the limits for so many years with their telmark and randonnée gear. The idea of putting baffels into a plastic boot, completely made it for me. The lightness one has, moving up and down through these hills, is a feeling not attainable by any other boot. I often forget to take my F1’s off at the end of the day becaues they feel like a pair of runnng shoes.

Thank you so much, you happy skiers who skied with me, for a wonderful winter season. Here comes sumer time!!! (And just a few more Alpine ski decsents…)

The Mont Velan

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A classic, and apparently quite “a la mode” now, the Mont Velan makes a great day (or two) of ski mountaineering. We climbed a SW facing couloir from the col d’Hannibal to reach the summit. Then skied a sweet couloir into Italy. 2200 meters of skinning and cramponing made it a full day in these hills. I’m looking forward to more days like this, this spring. Come join the fun!

Balmhorn

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Searching for a big face on a large mountain, we found the Balmhorn, smack dab in the middle of the Bern-Valais border I love to ski. Though I wanted to ski more spring snow, we decided to go here because of the strong Foehn forecasted. Spring snow would probably remain frozen all day (it was), but powder at altitude is still good. I’ve wanted to ski this face for years, so it was a blast for me to finally get on it! On the map, it looks steep, rolling off the flat summit towards the elbow of the Schwarzgeltscher. It’s a good long climb of 1800 meters from Spittelmatte, and good steep skiing on a north face. This climb can be a bit technical, requiring some crampon use on the upper glacier, and ski crampons, after the freeze/thaw cycles in spring. We got to use all of our cool alpine gear, making it a proper alpine, ski mountaineering summit, in a day. And the ski descent was superb!

April snows will certainly add the alpine snowpack, creating great conditions for alpine ski ascents like these this Spring. We will climb some of these peaks in a day, and others over two days. People should be able to skin for 4-6 hours and be comfortable skiing down steep slopes. Send me a note if you would like to join in fun. Prices will start at around SFr.170.00. Details can be found on the new page I have created for Alpine Ski Mountaineering.

Three Country Heliski Safari

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Winter bloomed into Spring this week as I prepared for another five day heliski safari. Though in the past, I’ve traveled far and wide looking for adventure, this week I chose to stay close to home. We flip flopped between Switzerland, Italy and France, riding lifts, helicopters and skinning to get to mature, spring snow. We started with a traverse across the head of our very own Val du Bagnes, from the summit of the Pigne d’Arolla, down the Otemma Glacier, then skinning up through the Fenêtre de Durand. The ski down on the Italian side was a trip to the Moon- it was so wind blasted. But with a supreme descent into the belly of Val d’Isere, back to the back-side of the Mont Blanc, then down the 8km long Tré La Tête glacier to Contamines, with a savage return to Bagnes, even *my* head was spinning. I’ve tried to whittle the photos down to a manageable number, but failed miserably. I hope they demonstrate that sense of adventure we all experienced, right here in my back yard.