Fat Marmot

Winter's NOT here yet!

2011-10-08T02:03:00.003-06:00

The blogs and tweets are all lighting up with reports of huge snowfalls, winter arriving early, and people getting stoked and psyched. Sorry to pop the balloon here, but as this photo I took yesterday evening at Lac Passy shows, there is just a dusting on the high mountains, and no more. Indeed we had more snow in one exceptional snowfall back in mid July. I really is time to come to our senses. I know the London Ski Show is just around the corner, but the lifts don't open until the week before Christmas, and especially in this economic climate I think there is a real risk that idiots shouting their mouths off about non existant conditions will do more harm than good. Some of the most guilty are ski companies, who have the most to lose when their clients lose faith in their bleets. Blogs and social media are brilliant for sharing information, but let's regain a sense of reality here. We had the same amount of snowfall in the Alps two weeks earlier last year, and the winter that followed was the driest for 30 years. I'm not suggesting the same will happen again, but let's wait for the real snowfalls, and just enjoy this amazing autumn until then!

Final summer Mont Buet

2011-09-23T07:34:00.002-06:00

So that's it for another summer season of trekking guiding, and great to finish on a high. Unsurprisingly, it was on Mont Buet, and the summit view across the whole Mont Blanc massif were perfect, as you can see from this picture. It's always a mix of emotions to finish a season; loads of great memories of places visited and people met, happy to have time off to go and explore other areas in their amazing autumal colours, and yet sad to change the lifestyle for a few months. Thank you to all those who I guided this summer. I hope that you gained a real insight into this amazing region and it's mountains, and memories that will last you forever. As to my plans for the autumn, first it's off to the south coast of France for some sun, diverting via parts of the Alta Via 1 & 2 on the way, then back to the English Lake District for a couple of months for some guiding work, fell running, dog walking and good ole beer drinking! Sounds perfect. Then when the snows come to the Alps, I'll be back for snowshoeing in France, Italy and Switzerland. It's a hard life!

Ultra-trail on Eurosport!

2011-09-21T01:35:00.003-06:00

UTMB 2011 by Eurosport - in English par UltraTrailMontBlanc

It seems that 2011 will be the year that trail running makes the move into the mainstream. A few days ago the Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc was covered on Eurosport in many languages across Europe. This media coverage is making household names of the likes of Kilian Jornet and Sebastien Chaigneau, and the increased profile of the sport is going to attract thousands more to dream of competing in the same race as their heros. For anyone who has heard me whinging about 'hurty legs' (that's the technical name for them) since the race, have a look at the film above. If you aren't inspired by the landscapes, emotions, and people, you have no soul!

UTMB finisher!

2011-09-01T01:45:00.003-06:00

It's a few days since I crossed the finish line of the Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc, and my mind is still a blur of emotions about it. The basic stats speak volumes about this race, but explain nothing of what it means. It was 170km (c.105 miles) long with 9700m (over 31,000ft) of vertical height gain. Of the 2300 runners who started just over 1100 finished. We encountered heavy rain, snow, ice, fog, and hot sun. But most of all we ran, walked and stumbled our way around the route over two nights and two days without sleep. It felt like I was in a trance for half the time, as the fatigue took its toll. Some of the hallucinations were bizarre. I saw rows of chairs along part of the route, and sat on one to rest, only to discover they weren't there at all! It's quite funny now, but I remember being confused at the time. Completing the UTMB was a phenominal experience, and I met so many amazing people along the way who helped me. A massive thanks to the physios in Champex who taped my tendons up, to enable me to continue. In a wierd sort of way, I feel quite empty now that it is all over. The cameraderie and support during the race was what it was all about. Now all I'm left with is a finishers jacket. Yes it's a badge of honour, and I'm proud to have got it, but I'm missing the emotions and feelings I had during the race already. It was a life changing experience to be part of something so incredible, such a dream, and to be part of such a close family of trailers, that already I know I'll be back. My legs still hurt too much to run, but my heart is still running free in the mountains, watching the sunrise over the peaks, seeing the snows glisten. I want to feel the winds on my face, and hear my shoes skipping over the rocks again.

Follow UTMB live!

2011-08-25T02:48:00.008-06:00

Tomorrow at 18:30, I start running the UTMB, the Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc! The day has finally come, after three years of building up to it, and gaining enough qualification points from other races. Thanks to all of you who've sent messages of support over the last days and weeks. In the next 24 hours, I'm mainly going to be sleeping and eating, so will disappear from view. Feeling good about the race, and really looking forward to it. Not quite as fit as I'd like to be, but minor things like working every day for the past three months, kind of get in the way. Anyway, enough of the excuses. It's time to run. For those of you who are stuck in front of computer screens over the weekend, you can follow online. The link to my race number is; http://utmb.livetrail.net/coureur.php?type=dossard&rech=2291. Good luck to everyone else running the UTMB!

Countdown to UTMB

2011-08-15T07:02:00.004-06:00

It's now only 10 days until the Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc, the 165km trail race around Mont Blanc, with 9500m vertical ascent! I'm starting to get a bit nervous, but really looking forward to it. The trekking guiding has been keeping my mind off things, but now I'm sorting out what kit to take. One of my favourite quotes about mountaineering is "the more you know, the less you need" by Yvon Chouinard. It contrasts quite strongly with the UTMB compulsory kit list...
- mobile phone
- cup (15cl minimum)
- water (minimum 1 litre)
- two torches & batteries
- whistle
- food reserve
- survival blanket 1.40m x 2m minimum
- adhesive elastic band (mini 100cm x 6 cm)
- waterproof jacket with hood
- long running trousers or leggings
- warm long sleeved clothing (180g minimum)
- cap or bandana
- warm hat
- warm and waterproof gloves
- waterproof over-trousers
- passport
Also they strongly recommended; walking poles, change of warm clothes, money, etc. It's quite an effort to ensure I'm carrying all the obligatory kit without turning it into an expedition, not a trail race! Still, after the 'apocalyptic weather' of last year (see my finish photo of the CCC), the organisation has made sensible suggestions to ensure that all competitors are safely kitted for all types of mountain weather.

Snow to 2000m in Alps!

2011-07-26T07:55:00.004-06:00

This week has seen several snowfalls down to 2000m (and even to the treeline) across the Alps. It's hard to believe that it's the end of July with this weather pattern. The photo on the left is of Lac Blanc yesterday, with streams of lenticular clouds enveloping the Grandes Jorasses and Aiguilles de Chamonix. The weather and snows aren't affecting the trekking too much, but extra care does need to be taken on the high passes, and on rocky ground that has iced up. The sun is due back in the Alps from Friday onwards, which is great news, and I can put my winter insulated jacket back in the cupboard! This week I am working with trail running clients, and the cooler weather has been good news for us, after the heat in late June and early July. Anyway, enough of a weather-whinge, and looking forward to a busy August in the lead up to the North Face Ultra Trail at the end of the month. Just got to stay injury free for four weeks...

Hoka's 'Time to Fly'

2011-07-13T02:41:00.002-06:00

I'm not one to often rave about kit, but once in a blue moon, something is developed that is so ground breaking and innovative that it should be shared. The photo is of me running in the Zermatt marathon at the weekend, actually in the last few hundred metres of the race. Where is the tiredness visible in the legs? It isn't! I wore shoes made by Hoka (the Mafate). They use soft EVA for the soles that is 2.5 times the volume of a normal trail shoe, so absorbing 80% of any impact. Great news for those with sore knees. The sole has a built in rocker for a good forward roll, and the sole is 50% greater surface area than any reference shoe. The net effect is that you run more efficiently, gliding over rough ground, accelerating on the descents, and never feeling pain on the knees. Some may not like these shoes due to their bulk / volume, but they are 15% lighter than comparable shoes, which makes the difference on a long day in the hills. Hoka have now released walking boots. As their strap line says "it's time to fly"! For more details visit; http://www.hokaoneone.com/

Zermatt Marathon 2011

2011-07-10T03:44:00.003-06:00

Yesterday I managed to sneak off after a week of guiding, to run the Zermatt mountain marathon. I finished in 98th place in 5 hours 26 minutes, and before anyone laughs too much at the time, as you can maybe guess from the location, there's a fair bit of uphill (around 2000m) to contend with. The weather was perfect in the morning, with building clouds towards the end, which provided some welcome shade on the final ascent to Riffelberg at over 2500m. Needless to say, I took the Gornergrat train back down to Zermatt, rather than walking. So that's it for my mountain races this part of the season, with the Chamonix marathon two weeks ago, and the Zermatt marathon yesterday. Both were build up races for the UTMB (Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc) which I'm attempting at the end of August. The UTMB is the 160km circuit of Mont Blanc with over 9000m vertical, so these mountain marathons are each only a quarter distance and vertical height gain of the big one! Anyway for the next couple of weeks, it's back to trekking guiding around Chamonix at a more serene pace...

Mont Blanc Marathon 2011

2011-06-28T11:58:00.002-06:00

This weekend saw the hottest days of the year in Chamonix, with the temperatures soaring to 35C in the valley. The heat neatly coincided with the Mont Blanc Marathon weekend, but that didn't stop the Fat Marmot team from scurrying around. On the Saturday morning, Sarah ran the Mont Blanc Cross, which is a half marathon distance with 1500m vertical. On the Sunday, I (Kingsley) ran the Mont Blanc Marathon, a full marathon in its length, with over 2500m height gain. Both were tough races even without the heat, but we both survived and clocked personal best times. Thanks to Gen (owner of Max's mum) for taking this great photo of Sarah as she crossed the finish line, en-route for the MBC beer tent. It looks like it was the thought of a nice cool beer that was keeping her going! No rest for the wicked, as I was out on Monday guiding a group in the Aiguilles Rouges, on another punishingly hot day. This week I'm resting the legs a little, before guiding a Chamonix trekking week, but the Zermatt Mountain Marathon is looming the weekend after next, so lets hope for some cooler temperatures across the Alps.

Are you mountain fit?

2011-06-20T07:41:00.002-06:00

I have now qualified to become a Personal Trainer Dip.PT (Inst.PT), to be able to offer mountain training and fitness days, in conjunction with my International Mountain Leader qualification. This is an exciting step forward, opening up many options that I can now offer, from guided trail running to training plans, fitness assessments to race training. For those of you who have been out with me before, don't worry as Maximus (my Bernese mountain dog) is perfectly happy to go out running with us, and only yesterday ran a mountain half marathon without looking tired at all. If even the thought of running and training makes you tired, I will still be offering the usual mix of Alpine treks and snowshoeing too, at a far more leisurely pace!

Snowshoes to trainers!

2011-04-21T05:14:00.006-06:00

This winter seems to have had all the headlines for all the wrong reasons; "the hottest winter ever", and "the driest in a generation", but as the season draws to a close, and the snowshoes break through the slush to touch the spring grasses growing beneath, it's time to say a massive thanks to all those who I have been lucky enough to guide this winter. I've discovered several new areas, and really had to think 'outside the box' to find the best secret powder stashes, and we've been very fortunate to have had such a busy season. I genuinely don't think it has been as bad as the press has made out. Sure we've had to earn our money by looking further for the best conditions, but they've always been out there. Surely that's a reason people hire a snowshoe guide. Anyway, nearly time to hang up the snowshoes for another season, but this photo of Max and his sister sums up the season for me... The conditions were harder than normal, but it's the people who've made it a great season. The dogs faces show it all; a love of being in the outdoors, exploring new places, but most of all sharing these amazing experiences with others makes it even better. Thanks to everyone who I shared days out with this winter! Hope to see you again.

Maximus the snowshoe guide!

2011-02-03T11:15:00.005-07:00

In his poem 'The Bliss of Solitude', John Wyatt wrote; "A trained dog is a great companion. On a walk a dog does not want to start a conversation or suggest an alternative route, and will not complain about stopping or starting, or of the walking speed, or lack of it; or make critical noises if your map reading goes wrong. Stop to listen and it will stop panting and hold its breath. Its friendship is unquestionable - especially when you stop and open a snack". He had never had the privilege of meeting my dog Maximus, who accompanies groups every time I take them snowshoeing. Max knows every route like the back of his hand (paw), always suggests alternative routes, whinges when I stop (woofs and rolls in the snow), and demands perfect seemless navigation (maps just get in the way of a good walk). He demands the best snow, the right pacing, and constant flexibility of route - just as you do! He's keeping up the standards, but don't worry his friendship is beyond questionable at the first rustle of a snack being opened.

Very very busy!

2011-01-28T04:36:00.002-07:00

Over the last 10 days I've taken out 14 groups snowshoeing, so the legs are feeling it a bit. Today is the first day off for ages, and so I'm catching up with e-mails, and the blog which was feeling a bit abandoned recently! There have been some great days out in the past weeks, with stable and cold weather. The conditions for snowshoeing are good and there is a very low avalanche risk. While the piste skiers may be crying, us snowshoers are laughing. This year is the best for snowshoeing I have seen in over a decade out in the Alps, especially up higher. Highlights of the past month have been several groups enjoying moonlight snowshoeing treks, a snowshoe ascent of Tete Entre Deux Sauts which is very rarely in condition, and some great fun days out with bigger groups such as Steph's dental practice on their annual outing pictured here descending from Les Granges. It seems that the message is getting through that snowshoeing isn't just for older trekkers - it's youthful, fun and exciting, and you get to explore the off piste regions skiers rarely access.

Busy early snowshoe season

2010-12-21T03:51:00.002-07:00

I caught the first Aiguille du Midi cable car of the season to get these fresh tracks snowshoeing on the Plan d'Aiguille on Saturday, and the snow conditions were great. The first few weeks of the winter season in the Alps have been very busy, and it's been great to get out almost every day guiding groups to spectacular locations such as the Refuges du Loriaz and Berard, and Mont de l'Arpille. Get in touch as soon as you can for any snowshoe guiding this season, as things are looking busy ahead too. Those of you in the UK who don't snowshoe yet, need to learn soon, looking at the weather you've had recently!

Winter in the Lakes

2010-11-28T04:03:00.004-07:00

Since this photo was taken of me with Maximus on top of Red Screes a couple of weeks ago, the winter has really arrived early in the Lake District, and there is now a blanket of snow in Ambleside village. It hasn't stopped us getting out and about in the hills, and we've enjoyed some great walking and running conditions over the well frozen snows. It's made a great change from the early November monsoon! We are now getting ready for travelling out to the Alps for the snowshoeing season to start in earnest.

Lake District snows!

2010-11-10T12:48:00.002-07:00

It's been a while since the last blog entry, and this photo explains why! We are enjoying the inter-season in the UK Lake District. This photo was taken today, and is of Sarah with Maximus, with Easedale Tarn and a snowy Fairfield in the background. As you can see, there's already a cap of snow on the high fells, and there have been a few glorious Autumn days where we've run straight out to take advantage of the good weather. This is in great contrast to the weather reports from the Alps at the moment, which is of quite gloomy rain and early snows. We're staying here until early December, then heading out to the Alps for the snowshoeing season. You can see photos of our walks in the Lake District at; http://picasaweb.google.com/FatMarmotSnowshoeing/LakeDistrict

TMB in Autumn snow

2010-09-30T13:11:00.002-06:00

This is a photo taken yesterday by Sarah of me with Maximus, running up to the Col du Bonhomme, one of the high passes on the Tour du Mont Blanc. As you can see, there was a beautiful coating of fresh snow on the ground from 1800m upwards, so things got a bit interesting higher up. As anyone who has been snowshoeing with us will know, Max is quite a big fan of the snow, so was in heaven. Literally his Christmas had come early! You can see photos of this great day out at; http://picasaweb.google.com/FatMarmotSnowshoeing/TMBInAutumn

Alpine treks with dogs

2010-09-21T01:32:00.002-06:00

Here at Fat Marmot, we offer snowshoeing and treks with mountain dogs. This photo was taken yesterday above the Mer de Glace, of Sarah with our Bernese Mountain dog Maximus and his sister Bess. This breed of dogs is ideally suited to the Alpine environment, with their thick coat to keep them warm in the mountains and during winter, and tough paws that are durable on rocky and icy ground. In the winter months the claws give great traction on hard packed snow, and they thrive in the cold temperatures, eating snow to provide them with water whenever they require it. There is still another month of the Alpine trekking season to go, but things are starting to get quieter now, so get in touch if you are looking to book a day out. Also the winter is really starting to book up now for snowshoeing, so contact us to secure your prefered dates. To see the photo gallery of the mountain dogs at work, click here; http://picasaweb.google.fr/FatMarmotSnowshoeing/MaximusBerneseMountainDogAtWork

Tour du Mont Blanc

2010-09-16T01:53:00.002-06:00

The past few weeks have been very busy for me leading groups on the classic Tour du Mont Blanc trek. It has been a nice change to trek round the massif, than run around it, and the weather has been great. Here is last weeks group arriving at the Refuge Les Grands beneath the Glaciers du Trient et Les Grands. Now I have just one final TMB trek before the end of this summer season to look forward to. People always ask if I would ever get bored of repeating the trek, and the answer is an emphatic 'NO'. There is so great a range of alternative routes, high passes, different refuges, and of course the huge variety of people you trek with, that I could happily trek this route every week of summer, and never tire of it. Having said that, as the autumn approaches, I must admit that I'm looking forward to the snowshoeing season in the winter months. To see some of this years TMB photos, click on this link; http://picasaweb.google.com/FatMarmotSnowshoeing/ChamonixTrekkingSeptember2010

Survived the UTMB CCC race!

2010-08-31T03:47:00.004-06:00

This year the North Face Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc CCC race from Courmayeur to Champex and Chamonix was perfect conditions for fish and Brits - wet and cold! It is a mountain trail race that is 98.5km long, with 5600m of height gain. I started in the rain in Courmayeur at 10am on Friday, and finished just over 20 hours later at just gone 6am in Chamonix. Here I am with Sarah at the finish. I came 361 out of 2000 runners, though only about 400 finished due to being cut off due to the harsh weather conditions and abandoning. Key memories; mud, rain, rain, puddles, stones, falling, rain, soup, rain, head torches, forests, rain, rain, villages, faces, soup, puddles, rain, fog, falling, rain, finish! Brilliant race, and really amazingly supported. A great experience. I had dreamed of running this race for years, and was so happy to finish. Anyway, back to guiding now, and led a group the length of the Aiguilles Rouges yesterday, so clearly the legs are recovered OK. You can check out some race photos at the end of this collection; http://picasaweb.google.com/FatMarmotSnowshoeing/TrailRunningRaces

Final days before the CCC

2010-08-22T01:42:00.003-06:00

As regular readers of this blog, will now be bored of hearing, I'm running the North Face Ultra-Trail du Mont Blanc race from Courmayeur to Chamonix. The course is nearly 100km long with 6000m height gain and a maximum running time of 26 hours, and it starts this Friday! I'm not guiding any groups this week, to rest the legs, and I am trying to get as much sleep as possible though the running dreams aren't helping much. My bag is packed, and I've done as much training as I could fit in during the season. Was it enough? No way, but that's the way it goes. Am I scared? Yes, it would be stupid not to be wary of the unknown, but I am relying on my mountain experience to get me through. Excited? YES. Now it is time to do as the race advertises and 'explore your limits'. If you'd like to follow my progress online, there are links on http://www.ultratrailmb.com, and you can get more details of this amazing mountain race experience. With luck by this time next week it will all be over, and I'll be waking up with a very tired pair of legs! A big thanks to everyone for their messages of support to date. Fingers crossed.

Sunshine & Showers

2010-08-15T02:16:00.002-06:00

The last couple of weeks have seen really mixed weather in the Alps, but that hasn't stopped us taking advantage of the good days, and goretexing-up on the rainy ones! Here is a summit photo from Mont Buet the other week, with the spectacular Rochers du Fiz chain behind. Yesterday was a great day out in the rain with Jim and the stag do crew, walking from the Mer de Glace to Lac Bleu and down to Chamonix, before their drinking recommenced!

Summer trail running

2010-07-20T07:56:00.004-06:00

It's been a very busy summer out in the Alps, hence the lack of blog posts. Every day that I haven't been guiding has been spent training for the North Face Ultra-Trail CCC which is at the end of August, so only a few weeks away now. Over the last months the ethic and spirit of trail running has grown on me - the simplicity of travelling fast and light through the mountains, with the only kit being shorts, t-shirt and some trail running shoes. The impact on the mountains is low, and the distance you cover, and the plethora of views you enjoy each day are unrivalled. You aren't weighed down by the heavy backpack and boots, the extra kit that makes a multi-day trek a self fulfilling prophecy rather than an amazing kaleidoscope of landscapes that can be enjoyed in one day. The video above is of me running the Marathon du Mont Blanc trail race with Sarah at the end of June, and whilst my times may not be great, my spirit and love of this method of travel definately is. It is a very true and ethically correct method of travel in tune with the mountains, running with the winds, not stomping against the hills. If you'd like to experience the exhilarating freedom and connection with the mountains that trail running can offer, then get in touch...

Alpine trekking in May

2010-05-19T11:44:00.003-06:00

There's no hiding Max's delight as he rolls on one of the final remaining snow patches at the Refuges du Loriaz yesterday, whilst we were guiding the Mayers from Santa Cruz CA for a couple of days of Alpine trekking. The conditions for May treks are great at present, and we really benefitted from a big improvement in the weather, and enjoyed two sunny days. Today we trekked from Montroc all the way up to La Flegere and down to Chamonix, and it was a treat to see a whole host of fauna; a young male Bouquetin (Ibex), Marmots, and a Golden Eagle. Not a bad tally for the day, and perhaps no surprise when you consider how quiet it is in the mountains at the moment, and the lack of other humans to disturb the animals. The link to the photos is at; http://picasaweb.google.com/FatMarmotSnowshoeing/ChamonixSnowshoeingTrekkingMay2010

Les Contamines in Spring

2010-05-11T07:59:00.002-06:00

Here is a photo taken this morning whilst out trekking in the Les Contamines region, exploring some of the non-documented variations on the Tour du Mont Blanc, with Maximus the Bernese Mountain Dog. These cunningly hidden variations will allow me to avoid the crowds on the classic tour, and to share some secret gems with clients. As you can see it's good weather in the Alps, interspersed with 'April' showers in May! The ground is fairly dry underfoot, and the snowline is creeping upwards daily, so the start of the summer trekking season is looking good conditions out here. Maximus is enjoying spring in the Alps!

Flemish Bonatti Finale

2010-05-02T09:28:00.002-06:00

Here is todays summit photo from the top of the Tête Entre Deux Sauts 2729m, a classic snowshoe summit above the Malatra valley. This Belgian group ascended to the Bonatti hut yesterday, and enjoyed the last night that the hut is open this winter, before the ascent today. Many thanks to Mara and Sara, the hut guardians, for all their great work and help this season! Today we set out in cloudy weather, but as we climbed upwards the clouds broke a little and rewarded us with some great views of a snow plastered South Face of the Grandes Jorasses. The Flemish team made it to the top of the Tête Entre Deux Sauts in good time, which was especially important for Bert, as it was his final training before running his first marathon next weekend - good luck!

End of the winter

2010-04-30T05:19:00.002-06:00

A picture paints a thousand words! It is very nearly the end of the winter season, and we are working the next three days snowshoeing, then that's it for another year. It has been our busiest winter season ever, and so a huge thanks to all those who came snowshoeing with us, who made it all possible. There have been some great memories this year, and a huge amount of laughs too, which is what it's all about. Now thoughts are turning towards the summer alpine treks season and so please contact us with your plans...

Still out snowshoeing!

2010-04-15T03:07:00.002-06:00

It's mid April, and still the Winter is not over yet (well technically it's Spring), as shown by this photo of a Fat Marmot Snowshoeing group on the Plan d'Aiguilles above Chamonix. Above 2000m there is still very good snow cover, and some of the huts are open for another couple of weeks, so if you are after any snowshoeing from a half day (up to 3 hours) to a multi-day snowshoe trek with nights in huts, then get in touch. The final work we have booked for this winter is at the start of May, then I think it will be time to hang up the snowshoes for another year, and to dig those trekking boots out again!

Max the photoshoot model

2010-04-09T09:01:00.002-06:00

If you clicked on the link to this blog post not believing what I'd typed, you'd be excused, but it is true! Here is a photo today of Max working as a photoshoot model, posing with three two legged models on Helbronner (above Courmayeur in Italy). Max worked it like a pro, pouting and posing for the camera. Just in case any of you are worried he hasn't yet been seen snorting lines of cocaine or being bulimic, so he's not planning a career change yet! He behaved perfectly, and didn't eat any of the models, probably because he was too busy perving over the Danish lovelies. Better still he got paid like a model. You can see the photos at the end of this set, obviously taken by me, not the pro photographer!: http://picasaweb.google.com/FatMarmotSnowshoeing/ChamonixSnowshoeingApril2010

Spring snow in the Alps

2010-03-26T14:46:00.002-06:00

Yesterday morning the weather looked quite threatening in Chamonix, but with Tony and Collin we found good weather all day over near the Swiss border, and here you can see them with blue skies over the Valais behind. The snow cover is still continuous from the valley upwards, though it is definately Spring snow up high. The temperatures today have dropped significantly, and are set to fall further this week, so the overnight refreezes will help the avalanche risks reduce more. The next fortnight looks very busy, and tomorrow I'm off out in the fresh snow that fell today!

Varied Alpine weather

2010-03-24T14:04:00.002-06:00

Here is a picture from this week whilst out guiding Dave near Megève. It was the first time the waterproof jacket had been needed all season! Still, after only a couple of days of varied weather, the blue skies have returned. Over last weekend the rain / snow limit rose to over 2300m, and the weight and lubrication of the water in the snowpack caused many avalanches, though now things have stabalised a lot with good re-freezes overnight. Today when I descended to Chamonix the temperature had risen to +19°C, so without a doubt Spring has arrived. There are still some great snowshoe conditions out there, but with snow conditions and heat, you really need to explore higher into the mountains! The next week and a half are insanely busy, so fingers crossed that the good weather holds out.

Italian job snowshoeing

2010-03-17T08:50:00.002-06:00

Just got back from some excellent days over in Italy with a group of five in the north Aosta valley region. We found some absolutely amazing snow conditions, and used the mountains to find pockets of good weather and to avoid the wind. The sunburnt faces on the way back stood testament to having found the best weather. We stayed in good huts and enjoyed some excellent food and wine. Many thanks to the hut guardians Maria and Sara for cooking so well (and so much) for us! Here is a photo of Tascha in her amazing pink snowshoes - there was absolutely no losing that girl! The conditions are forming classic spring snow, and the snowshoeing season is looking good for at least another month, which is great news.

Plan d'Aiguille snowshoe

2010-03-14T13:39:00.002-06:00

This photo is from yesterday, snowshoeing on the Plan d'Aiguille with Chris and Steph. Behind them is the stunning backdrop of the Aiguilles de Chamonix (the Chamonix Needles), with the Blatière, Dent du Crocodile and Peigne being visible in this shot. The conditions there yesterday were amazing, and we made fresh tracks everywhere! Today I went towards the Col du Terrase above the Loriaz refuge, and then to the Tête de Chevrette, and the next two days are due to be spent snowshoeing in Italy in the Val Ferret. The weather forecast is looking good, so will update the blog when I get back. The diary is still looking very busy until the end of March, but there are some dates free in April, so if you plan on taking advantage of this years amazing conditions, please get in touch soon.

Aiguillette des Houches

2010-03-13T11:50:00.002-07:00

All last week I have been leading a Chamonix Snowshoe Summits course, and this photo was taken yesterday on the summit ridge of the Aiguillette des Houches which was the finale to the week. It also was the 3rd birthday celebrations for Maximus, and you can see him here with the group. This season he has already accompanied groups on about 100 days of snowshoe treks so far, which is the best present he could wish for. During the week we ascended Mont de l'Arpille, Tête de Chevrette (via Refuge de Loriaz), the Plan d'Aiguille (for a day of avalanche awareness training), Mont Truc and the Tête d'Armancette, and the Aiguillette des Houches. Not a bad week of summit bagging! The conditions above 1800m are good, though lower down is becoming increasingly icy. This isn't a problem as so many of the great snowshoe summits are in the Alpages over 2000m, and there is great cable car access in the Chamonix region too.

Moonlight snowshoe & fondue

2010-03-07T02:08:00.002-07:00

If you fancy a really different evening out in Chamonix, this couldn't get much better - an evening snowshoe trek as the sun sets over the mountains, to reach a remote mountain gite, where you eat a traditional savoyarde meal before snowshoeing in the dark to reach a 4x4 in which you are driven back to Chamonix. Here is a photo of the fondue from the group I took out this week. The normal evening meal includes a salad, cold meats, cheese fondue, wine, dessert, and coffee. Numbers are limited to 4 people in a group, and the prices including the evening meal, guiding, snowshoes, headtorches and evening transport are as follows;

4 people = £50 per person
3 people = £65 per person

2 people = £80 per person

1 person = £140 in total

Get in contact to organise one of these poplar evenings out. I generally limit the number of evenings I work to 2 per week.

Tête de Chevrette Summit

2010-03-04T07:01:00.003-07:00

Over the last few weeks it has been manic with loads of people coming snowshoeing with me. Lots of groups have wanted to reach an Alpine summit on snowshoes, and here is a photo of a recent ascent of Tête de Chevrette where we topped out at sunset, and snowshoed down in the dark in the with headtorches. This is a great snowshoe summit, as there are many possible ascent routes to cater for the current rapidly changing avalanche risks. Other noticable recent outings have included overnight trips in Switerland and Italy, where we have ascended to a hut on the first day, then taken in a summit on the second day. Tomorrow evening is another night time sortie, with an evening snowshoe up to a mountain restaurant for a feast of fondue, charcuterie, wine and local specialities, before we stagger down the hill to return to Chamonix in the late evening.

Snowshoeing comedy

2010-02-27T05:50:00.003-07:00

This photo sums up what the sport is all about; fun, snow and big smiles. Here is Clare after a fall into a soft deep snow bank, and it's my favourite photo of the season so far. Snowshoeing is a great sport for people to learn quickly, and despite what Clare demonstrates, it's easy to get the hang of. This was yesterday in the forests near the Chalets de Chailloux in soft fresh snow. Clare was brought along by Camilla, who is a repeat client who has been out snowshoeing with us at least four times before. The avalanche risk was 4/5, so very high, but it shows that with a good local knowledge you can find somewhere safe on any day during the winter.

Fresh snow in the Alps

2010-02-20T15:43:00.002-07:00

After a few days of foehn winds in the Alps, the snowfalls of yesterday and today were welcome to top up the snow levels a little. Here is a photo of Lucy and Hannah who I guided today, on their first time on snowshoes. They did really well and soon were coping with all sorts of terrain and steeper snow slopes. We did a snowshoe trek into the Tré Les Eaux region and around the snowy forests of Les Granges. We saw tracks of Chamois and Ibex, as well as the fox and hare. The next few days of snowshoeing look busy, so it's no rest for me and Maximus. The plans are for a few days over in Italy snowshoeing next week, so here hoping for good weather.

Stunning snowshoeing

2010-02-19T01:18:00.002-07:00

Yesterday in Chamonix in the morning it was raining, so who would have believed that we could have found weather like this in the photo? A careful check of the weather forecasts found a good weather pocket in the Swiss Valais, and here are Jon and Jen on a snowshoe summit above the Roman town of Martigny. The last two weeks have been hectic and I've worked 13 days in the last 12 - don't ask how that's possible, but it does explain how far behind I am in the blog. I've tried to keep up to date with Twitter though! Anyway, got to pack my bag to set off for Mont Truc today.

Les Contamines snowshoeing

2010-02-05T05:20:00.002-07:00

The last couple of days have been leading groups snowshoeing in the Les Contamines region. Here you can see two people descending past the Chalets du Truc, after reaching the top of Mont Truc itself. Most people would be excused for thinking that "truc" means a "thing" in French, but in patois (local-lingo) it means a rounded dome. This makes a lot more sense of the name. As well as snowshoeing to the Truc, we also visited Col de la Fenetre on the second day, and the snow was great throughout.

Groupe français de raquette

2010-02-03T04:31:00.002-07:00

Here is Sandra and her friends from Paris. It was their first time on snowshoes, and here they are in epic snow above Le Buet in the Berard valley. Français parlant toute la journée - a very un-Chamoniard tradition! Snow conditions continue to be brilliant, and recent outings over the weekend in the Les Contamines valley have uncovered some great powder stashes. Allied with daily overnight top ups, this season is shaping up to be the best early season for years. Let's hope it continues in the same way for the rest of February and onwards. The next few weeks are very busy with the February holidays, but it hopefully gets a bit quieter in March.

Mont Arpille snowshoeing

2010-01-31T00:34:00.002-07:00

The conditions for snowshoeing (and skiing) on Mont Arpille have been exceptional for the last couple of weeks, which explains why I've been up it three times! Here's Sarah and Maximus on the top last weekend in perfect sunshine. The orange and blue thing on Max is his dog avalanche beacon attached to his harness. If only it were a battery pack, then we'd discover if Max had any other modes apart from sleep and hyperactive! You can see the photos from Mont Arpille in the photo gallery at; http://picasaweb.google.com/FatMarmotSnowshoeing/ChamonixSnowshoeingJanuary2010.

Summits, summits, summits

2010-01-25T01:26:00.002-07:00

Well that should explain why I haven't updated the blog for a while. It's the first day off for over three weeks, and the legs are getting a well deserved rest. The snow has been amazing in the Alps, and so it has been a summit-fest over the last weeks. Here is one of my groups on Mont Lachat last week, with the Aiguille du Gouter and Mont Blanc du Tacul behind. Other summits ascended recently include Le Prarion, Aiguilette des Houches, Mont Arpille, Six Jeurs, Monts Jovets, Croise Baulet, and classics such as Refuge de Loriaz, Pas Entre Deux Sauts, and Col de Fenetre. Today it is snowing quite heavily at the moment, so it's an admin day. I do miss my office. Back out in it tomorrow ;-)

Perfect snowshoe conditions

2010-01-15T07:08:00.002-07:00

It's been a few days since I updated the blog, and here's the reason why! The snow conditions in Chamonix are amazing for this time of year. Soft, light powder snow, which is easy to snowshoe in, and a delight to fall over in. Well, that was a good job, as Heather here enjoys falling flat on her face in the powder snow ;-) No harm in that when it is as light as this. This photo is from above Les Granges, and you can see how laden with snow the tree branches are. Obviously Maximus came along, proudly wearing his new dog avalanche beacon which is fixed to his harness. As you can see the weather was perfect with sun and blue skies. The forecast for tomorrow also looks set for the same, with some fresh snow on Sunday. Here's hoping...

Inversion at Refuge de Loriaz

2010-01-09T08:34:00.002-07:00

Down in Chamonix it has been cloudy and snowy all day, and my client Pete wanted to escape the grey and see the views. We had a cheeky look at the webcams and weather reports and could see that there was a good chance of a temperature inversion, that would create a sea of clouds below us. We set off from Le Couteray up to the Montagne de Loriaz, and at 1800m the clouds thinned, and as we passed the Croix de Loriaz, we emerged above the sea of clouds we had been hoping for. Smug? Oh yes! It was perfect, with amazing views across to the Le Tour and Argentiere glacier basins, and down to Mont Blanc that was swathed in storm clouds and foehn winds. We sat on the snowy roof of the refuge and took the views in, drinking hot tea from the flask. It was an absolutely magical experience and view. I have been there over 100 times before, but today was the best ever. Oh, and the snow? Champagne powder...

Amazing Alpine Snow

2010-01-07T08:50:00.002-07:00

Yes I know the UK has ground to a halt at the sight of a snowflake, but when we say we have had a serious dump of snow in Chamonix, we really mean it. Here is a photo of Max and me in the snow buried forests near Tre-le-Champ. Breaking trail through sometimes thigh deep snow sounds tiring, but this is light powder that the snowshoes just glide through. These are absolutely epic snowshoeing conditions at the moment, so if you are planning a trip out to the Alps soon, then get in touch.

A look back on 2009!

2010-01-01T09:48:00.002-07:00

It's New Years Day, and in Chamonix today I started off the year with a snowshoe trek around the Lavancher alpages. 2009 was a good year with lots of snowshoeing work, which was great, but there are three highlights of the year for me. Firstly was Maximus reaching his 2nd birthday which marked the start of his coming on snowshoe treks with groups. Secondly was Sarah qualifiying as a MLTUK Mountain Leader, and now she is working towards her International Mountain Leader qualification. Thirdly was my discovery of trail running! I only started running in May this year, ran the Chamonix mountain marathon in June (2500m vertical), the 53km Trail des Aiguilles Rouges in September (3300m vertical), and a half marathon on the flat in November. Let's see what 2010 brings, but it will have to be a brilliant year to beat 2009. Best wishes to you all for the New Year, and hope to see you in the mountains soon! K

Last snowshoeing of decade

2009-12-31T09:27:00.002-07:00

Today I was out guiding Mark (seen pictured here near Sur le Rocher), who was doing his first day ever on snowshoes on the same day that I was doing my last day on them this decade! Wierd thought but as the noughties comes to an end tonight, it's true. Anyway, we crossed a snowed in Col de Montets where the road was under a metre of snow, and went around the forests of Les Granges and Le Buet. There was lots of fresh snow and hardly any tracks. The snow was quite heavy but it was a great day out. Finished off with a cheeky beer at the Hotel du Buet before catching the train back to Chamonix.

Erik & Christy snowshoeing

2009-12-29T03:36:00.002-07:00

Thanks to Erik and Christy for posting photos of their day out with me and Maximus on our Fat Marmot Facebook page; http://www.facebook.com/pages/Chamonix-Mont-Blanc-France/Fat-Marmot-Snowshoeing-Chamonix-Mont-Blanc/143142412512. As you can see from this photo the snow conditions are amazing at the moment in the Chamonix region, but you have to know where to go to get untracked powder like this. Obviously I'm not going to tell you all where it is! That's my secret. The next few days are quite busy with people out for a half day or full day over the New Year week holidays, so it's looking like a great way to usher in 2010.

Snowshoeing with Molly

2009-12-28T02:21:00.003-07:00

For those of you who have been snowshoeing with me before, not it's not Maximus! He hasn't been on a crash diet and lost over 20kg... This was Molly who came along with us for a day. She is a labradoodle who comes to visit Chamonix a few times each year, and whose owner Ingrid likes her to go snowshoeing too. This photo was taken near Sur le Rocher, and shows just how good the snow was. In fact it was so good that when these two had finished their snowshoe trek, and been dropped off in Chamonix, I headed back up there with Sarah and Maximus to repeat it. This time we headed for some steeper sections to really put the snowshoes through their paces. Needless to say it ended up with the three of us in snowdrifts!

Boxing Day snowshoeing

2009-12-26T09:04:00.002-07:00

Christy and Erik came for a snowshoe trek today with me and Maximus, and we took them exploring the forests above Le Buet and Les Granges. The snow was perfect and we hardly saw anyone all day. The snowfalls of Christmas Day had topped up the conditions lower down and we were passed by one skier who had descended the Crochues - Berard ski tour. Today the weather was much improved on the last few days, and we got good views. Tomorrow looks set to be the same weather, before more snow arrives next week. You can check out photos of the day (the last 9 in the set) at http://picasaweb.google.fr/FatMarmotSnowshoeing/ChamonixSnowshoeingDecember2009

Fat Marmot Christmas

2009-12-26T03:26:00.002-07:00

I'm not too sure what that look on his face means, but this was Maximus celebrating Christmas day! We did a snowshoe trek in the forests below Plateau d'Assy, as it started to snow, so out here it was a white Christmas. Looking at the news in the evening, it looked like UK had got some snow, so was a white Christmas too. Today it's Boxing Day, and we are just getting ready to head out to lead a snowshoe trek above Vallorcine. Tomorrow we are out again, probably heading up to the Plan d'Aiguille. The weather forecast is looking good for the weekend, so it's a great start to New Year week. In Chamonix today it is chaos with the Christmas guests leaving and New Year week arrivals. Time to escape on snowshoes!

Jimmy Snow Choo's!

2009-12-22T09:47:00.003-07:00

This morning I led Alison and her family on a snowshoe trek around Le Bois and Lavancher. They regularly come to Chamonix for snowshoeing, so it was great to see them again. Geordies aren't famed for a bad sense of humour, but I always thought snowshoeing jokes were thin on the ground, until one of them announced that going uphill using the snowshoe heel raisers (to take strain off the calf muscles) was "like wearing my Jimmy Snow Choo's". Brilliant! It's bad luck for anyone coming snowchoo'ing with me for the next few weeks, 'cos you're going to hear that one again. Maximus came along to keep us all entertained, and to round up the stragglers. No one managed to keep count of how many times Katie fell over, but the best fall in the biggest hole prize went to Alison.

Chalets de Loriaz

2009-12-22T09:41:00.003-07:00

Many thanks to Camilla for sending through this photo of Max and I at the Chalets de Loriaz, where we went on Sunday. It was a perfect weather day, and the snow condition was very good up high. We went at a good speed up to the Refuge, taking just over an hour! Needless to say we overtook all those on the mountain. We descended back to the Hotel du Buet for a quick drink and warm Savoyard soup, before getting back to Chamonix just in time for the airport transfer. You can see photos of the day at; http://picasaweb.google.com/FatMarmotSnowshoeing/ChamonixSnowshoeingDecember2009

Berard snowshoeing

2009-12-21T09:43:00.003-07:00

It has been very snowy for the last 24 hours in Chamonix, and the last few days have seen some great days out on snowshoes. This photo is of Melissa and her mother in the Berard Valley, with amazing ice features on the rocks in the foreground. On this day there was still a thin cover of snow on the ground lower down, but with last nights huge snowfall there is great snow conditions at all altitudes. Yesterday I guided Camilla up to the Chalets de Loriaz and the snow was great above the treeline, and we enjoyed amazing views over to Mont Blanc, before heading down to the Buet Hotel for a quick beer and soup. A great day out. The next few days are looking very busy, so will post an update when I have a minute.

Chamonix snowshoeing

2009-12-16T02:23:00.002-07:00

Yesterday I led a group snowshoeing on the Plan d'Aiguille above Chamonix, and here you can see them setting off from the hut where we stopped for lunch. The weather was good, as you can see from the photo, but it was very cold. The high pressure system that is sitting on the Alps is creating temperature inversions, with frost hollows in the valley (it was -12°C at 08:00am this morning), and even colder in the high mountains. We went for the sneaky option of heading to the mid-mountains, where the temperatures creeped up to a balmy -5°C! A little bit chilly, but it's not as bad as it sounds, when you get snowshoeing, as you warm up quickly.

Winter season starts!

2009-12-16T02:15:00.002-07:00

This was a picture from the first day of snowshoe guiding this winter season, a few days ago in the Italian Val Ferret. It is at the Pas Entre Deux Sauts above the Malatra valley. On the way to the Bonatti refuge there were good tracks, but above the ruined village of Malatra I had to break trail all the way up to the high pass. It was well worth the effort as we enjoyed a day completely to ourselves, and didn't spot another person until we arrived back at Planpincieux. It was a great start to the winter season, and shows that the snow is good and also stable in terms of avalanche risk. Well done to Gary and Kevin for their efforts on this day, as to ascend to the pass from the valley, without a night in the refuge, is a good height gain!

English Lake District

2009-11-20T02:16:00.002-07:00

This was what the English Lake District looked like last week. I know it's all flooded now, but last week was perfect Autumn days, and you can see the sheet of ice covering this tarn near Green Gable. It was one of the best days out in the Lakes I've had for years, and the visibility was perfect. We saw hardly anyone else, and walked from Honnister up over Brandreth and over windy gap and up to Great Gable. We did it on Rememberance Day and reached the top at 11:00 to find all the poppies and messages on the summit block. It was a perfect place for rememberance. We set of down and around and found someone who was cragfast, and aided two other people getting them back to flatter ground. Good deed for the day done, we looped around down to Pillar, and then back. I'm still Lakes based for the next week if anyone is looking for any guided days out, before returning to the Alps. Get in touch!

Very wet half marathon

2009-11-12T12:35:00.002-07:00

Not the most glamorous photo I know, but it was snapped when I'd just finished running a half marathon on Sunday. I am back in the UK for a month between the Alpine seasons and thought that I'd test how the training was going. I'd never run a half marathon road race, and this one was local. It had been very very very rainy on the week leading up to the race, which wasn't the greatest surprise oop north! Anyway on the day there were several hundred meters of lanes that were flooded over ankle deep, which meant running with very heavy soggy trainers - nice! Enough of the excuses. I finished in 1 hour 43 minutes, which was fine and to recover I went walking in the Lake District for the next three days. The legs hurt properly now.

End of the summer season

2009-10-23T09:18:00.005-06:00

Thanks to Pete who just e-mailed me from one of my final days of guiding this summer season. It shows me in the Massif du Fiz above the Moede Anterne refuge, and as Pete said "I quite like this [photo] of you, not in a gay way or anything!!! Obviously it would be even better if I was stood next to you, but we can't have everything in life now can we!!! I reckon it's a beauty all the same!!" - what more can I say - genius.

Italian Lakes Trekking

2009-10-13T02:27:00.003-06:00

This is a photo of me with Maximus on the top of Mont Giove above Cannobio on Lago Maggiore. As you can see the weather is a lot warmer in Italy than Chamonix! It was even warm enough to swim in the lake, and Maximus swam too. Each night we camped by the lake.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Autumn in Chamonix

2009-10-12T11:34:00.002-06:00

Here's a photo from yesterday on the Aiguillette de Posettes above Vallorcine, with a very snowy Mont Blanc in the background. Now it's out of the guiding season, you won't see me carrying a map or compass, so I cunningly delegated that one to Sarah. We grabbed a weather window to set off in the afternoon, and do a speedy traverse of the ridge, then descended via the ruins of the Chalets d'Ardoise to La Tour. The forecast for tomorrow in the Alps is for the snowline to drop a fair bit over night, then for the weather to clear up gradually for the next few days, but with cold, clear, frosty nights. The valley is practically empty of tourists, and on the hike yesterday only saw a couple of people. A little different from the mid July to mid August peak summer season. Off on another good hike tomorrow, but better check in the morning whether to take snow shoes or not!

Trail des Aiguilles Rouges

2009-09-28T02:56:00.002-06:00

Yesterday to finish off the summer season, I ran the Trail des Aiguilles Rouges race. This is a 51km trail run, with 3300m of height gain and 3500m of descents, and was my first ever ultra-marathon. In this photo I am traversing the Col de Salenton, which is the watershed between the Bérard and Anterne valleys. The race started at 05:00 in Vallorcine, then went through the woods to Barberine (Swiss border), before looping up to Les Granges and the Pierre à Bérard hut. All this first section was running in the dark with a head torch, which was a great experience. First light arrived at the Bérard hut, where I got a good cheer from the guardians, before the long climb to the Col de Salenton (2526m), then the descent to the Moede Anterne hut, and Pont Arlévé, before the next big height gain to the Col de Brevent and Le Brevent itself. Next was the traverse to the Aiguillette des Houches, followed by the painful 1500m descent to Servoz village, close to where I live. Then uphill again to Vaudagne, Charousse, and Les Houches le Lac. The finish time was 11hrs 25mins, which I was very happy with. Same again next year? Not sure at the moment!

Autumn trail running

2009-09-24T07:24:00.002-06:00

Here I am running on the Plan d'Aiguille a few days ago, as some of the final training for the Trail des Aiguilles Rouges race that I am in on Sunday. This will be the first ultra-marathon (over 30 miles) that I have attempted, and this one has 3300m of ascent in it, just to make things a bit more interesting! The winners are expected to take about 7 hours and I'm aiming for just completing it before the cut off at 13 hours. The last day of the summer season is on Saturday, so the cumulative effects of four months work will have taken their toll, but enough excuses, this should be a great way to finish off the season. The race starts at 5am in Vallorcine, then threads its way to the Swiss border at Barberine, before returning to Vallorcine. Here it is a long ascent to the Berard hut and the Col du Salenton, before a descent to the Chalets de Villy. Then its up to the Refuge Moede Anterne, then down to Pont d'Arleve, and the huge reascent to Brevent, before losing it all again (and more) on the descent to Servoz, followed by the last hills on the climb to Vaudagne and the finish in Les Houches. I feel tired thinking about it! Will let you know how it goes. Off to eat some more pasta...

Mont Blanc des Dames

2009-09-09T03:00:00.002-06:00

Here's a photo I took yesterday close to the top of Mont Buet 3099m, when leading Jen and Simone. As you can see, the weather was absolutely perfect, and in this photo there is Mont Blanc in the background and the chain of the Aiguilles Rouges. Mont Buet is often nicknamed "Mont Blanc des Dames" (the Ladies Mont Blanc) on account of the Victorian custom of Mont Buet being ascended by women, whilst the men attempted Mont Blanc. Sexual equality may have addressed the balance between these peaks, but Mont Buet remains a brilliant high altitude trek for acclimatisation, and the views of the whole Mont Blanc massif are unparalleled. The peak can be climbed in one very long day, but it is best split into two days, spending the night in the Pierre à Bérard refuge where you are always assured of a warm welcome.

Tour du Fiz

2009-08-31T01:40:00.003-06:00

Here is the best photo from the Tour du Fiz that I finished yesterday. It is of the silhouette of the Moede-Anterne refuge and the amazing towers of the Rochers du Fiz behind the hut. This circuit is a hidden gem, where you escape the crowds of Chamonix. The trek starts and ends in Plateau d'Assy, a village above Servoz. During the trek you loop over the Col Anterne and then above the Sixt Fer à Cheval valley, and finally up over the Desert du Plate, a massive limestone pavement, before descending the Dérochoir back to Plaine Joux and Plateau d'Assy. We were luck to have perfect weather for the three day trip.

Keeping cool in the summer

2009-08-23T07:23:00.003-06:00

With the high temperatures in the Alps, people are struggling to stay cool while trekking, so here are some top tips of how to beat the heat. You don't need to take as drastic action as my Bernese mountain dog Maximus, seen here last week bathing in the reedy lake on Aiguillette du Brevent with the Mont Blanc massif behind. Dressing in light colored clothing is essential, so cast aside those ninja outfits and dress sensibly. The next aspect is to keep well hydrated, and the key to this is to drink little and often. A two litre hydration pack (eg Camelback / Platypus) is plenty enough for a day trek, as long as you start well hydrated, and drink plenty of fluids after the trek has finished. The last thing to consider is how to avoid heatstroke, and this is the easiest to beat. Just wear a sunhat and, as the Baz Luhrmann song is titled "Don't forget to wear sunscreen"! Following these simple steps should avoid you having to follow Maximus into every stream and lake you find...

Chamonix trekking

2009-08-23T07:18:00.002-06:00

The weather over the last few weeks has been very hot and settled in the Alps, which is perfect for trekking. This photo was taken a few days ago of a group crossing the Col de la Gliere in the Aiguilles Rouges above Chamonix using the fixed equipment (chains, handrails etc) to cross the smooth slabs. Peak temperatures have reached +36°C in the Chamonix valley, and so the key has been to set off early to avoid the heat.

Flying over the Alps

2009-08-13T10:31:00.002-06:00

I had to pop back to the UK for a day earlier this week, and took this photo as I flew back in to Zurich on Tuesday evening. You can see the lines of mountains disrupting the clouds far below. Currently the weather is very settled in the Alps, with sunny hot days followed by a slight build up of fair weather cumulus cloud in the evening, which quickly disapates with the fall in temperatures over the night. The forecasts for the next few days seem exactly the same, with a slight depression crossing the Alps on Sunday, then the return of good weather for the next week. This is great news as I am out most days leading groups, as it is the key holiday season, and so far the summer weather has been amazing. If you are heading out to the Alps in the next few days, don't forget to pack the suncream!

Zero risk does not exist

2009-08-06T09:34:00.003-06:00

This is the local newspaper front page headline today. It reads 'Already 60 deaths in the mountains', and catalogues what has been a black year for accidents. The article lamented the move towards a consumerist approach to the mountains, and also that of the false ideal of zero risk. As one of the articles says, the beloved phrase of the media is that "zero risk does not exist". A key point was made by the head of the Peloton de Gendarmerie de Haute Montagne (PGHM) in Chamonix, Blaise Agresti, who said that he regretted the decline since the start of the decade, in the use of simple safety practices, such as walking roped up on glaciers. Whilst regrettably there are genuine accidents, where no one is at fault, such as that of my friend Benoit in an ice climbing accident this year, why are so many other injuries and deaths occuring that are totally avoidable? Maybe I'm becoming a greater cynic with my old age, but standards are dropping, training is less, and preparation is virtually non existant for many. As another guide friend said the other day "people are treating the mountains like picking up a bag of crisps up in the supermarket", no forethought, no afterthought, just taking. As the stats show, this approach isn't working for anyone. The only one doing the taking is the mountain.

Hot weather in the Alps

2009-08-05T09:27:00.002-06:00

As you may have noted on the weather reports, there is a heatwave in the Alps at the moment, and the freezing level is around 4700m for most of this week. That's nearly at the top of Mont Blanc. A consequence of the hot weather is that there is more snow and glacier meltwater in the streams at the moment, and trekkers should take care when crossing them. Here is a photo of me guiding a group across a meltwater torrent in the Italian Val Veni. The good weather coincides with the key French holiday season, and it is very busy in Chamonix, with queues on the main cable cars (unless you get an early start) and traffic chaos around town. Still, not all bad news. It's sun, sun, sun out here.

Croix de Fer

2009-07-22T14:08:00.004-06:00

Here's a photo from Monday on the summit of the Croix de Fer in Switzerland. This rocky peak is far above the Rhone Valley, and the ancient Roman town of Martigny. This summit is one of the three trekking peaks in the Col de Balme region, and provides the most spectacular summit views down its steep slopes. The weather was great throughout the day, but there was strong wind coming from the SSW, which has generated a foehn wind system in the Mont Blanc massif.

Alpine summer?

2009-07-14T01:58:00.002-06:00

You could easily be forgiven for thinking that this photo was taken at the top of a Himalayan peak, but no - it was taken at 3000m in the Alps this weekend! There was very strong winds at altitude, and even here on Mont Buet, gusts of wind reached 60km/h, which is about as strong as you can walk in, hence the soft shell / duvet jacket combo. Anyway, the weather has now improved and yesterday I led a group the length of the Aiguilles Rouges from Montroc to Planpraz, crossing the Col de la Gliere and Col Cornu.

Early summer conditions

2009-07-06T03:08:00.002-06:00

Here's a summit photo from Mont Buet the other day, with the Aiguilles Rouges and the Mont Blanc massif in the background. As you can see, there is still a fair bit of snow around above 3000m, and trekking groups need to be careful. Last week I crossed the Col des Fours on the Tour Mont Blanc, and there was still a big snow slope behind the pass. The weather recently has been a succession of sunny hot days and then spectacular evening storms, which are especially impressive from within the shelter of a mountain hut! Anyway, stay safe and avoid those electric storms at all costs.

Mont Blanc Marathon!

2009-06-29T03:26:00.003-06:00

I think the picture says it all. That's me at the finish of the Mont Blanc marathon, which I ran yesterday. It also explains the lack of blog posts in the last weeks, as I have been training loads for this race. It is a full marathon in length (42 km), but ascends over 2500m in height, and loses 1500m too, so yes quite a tough one. As you can see Maximus (my Bernese Mountain dog) came to see me at the finish (he was wise and took the cable car up to meet me). Anyway, happy enough with the time (7hrs 50mins), and haven't ruled out doing it again next year - we will see. Today is a rest day, then back to guiding from tomorrow. Thanks to all who sent messages of support!

Great trekking conditions

2009-06-07T03:27:00.002-06:00

As you can see from this photo taken on Wednesday, the trekking conditions are amazing in the Alps at present. May saw hot weather melting back the Spring snows, and the snowline is now about 2600m. This means that on some of the high passes on classic treks such as the Tour du Mont Blanc, there is still a lot of snow, but if temperatures stay as they are, this will soon disappear. Yesterday I led a group on a trek around the Montenvers region, and we descended to Chamonix without seeing one snowpatch. This was quite a contrast to one month ago, when I used snowshoes for the majority of the descent! Here the weather is a bit mixed for a couple of days, then the sun returns.

Early summer trekking

2009-06-04T04:19:00.003-06:00

Just a quick update before I set off trekking again, but here is a photo taken yesterday morning of a great group I have been trekking with over the last three days. The setting is the Refuge du Miages, nestled under the crest of the Domes du Miages far above the Les Contamines valley. As those who have completed the Tour Mont Blanc will know, this hut is famed for its Blueberry Cake, and we weren't let down! Many thanks to Diana, Helen, Julian and Ivan for your company and efforts over the last few days. Have a safe return trip to the UK today, and see you again in the winter for some snowshoeing.

Return to Chamonix

2009-06-04T04:13:00.003-06:00

The interseason is over in the Alps, and the summer is starting. I took this photo last week as I drove back to the Alps, after a short visit to the UK. The next few days are looking busy, and the summer season is getting earlier and earlier. Fortunately the weather forecasts are looking good, and it seems that the heatwave of the last few weeks is set to continue. This will be very good news for all trekking groups, as it will melt back the remaining snow patches, to expose the trails around the Chamonix valley.

Late spring snowshoeing

2009-04-22T03:22:00.004-06:00

Yes it's nearly the end of April, and I'm still snowshoeing. It looks like it is going to be a long season this year, as thinking back the first day was at the very end of October, so that makes it six months and counting! This picture of Maximus and me in front of the Aiguilles de Drus was taken yesterday. As you can see there's still plenty of snow around, and after this photo was taken, we descended down a steep series of slopes and gullies to pick up the track down from Le Mottets to Chamonix. Down in the valley it's properly Spring weather now, and the evenings are seeing the first BBQ's of the year.

Zinal Swiss Snowshoeing

2009-04-14T14:09:00.002-06:00

Here's a photo from the snowshoe trek I led today over in the Val d'Anniviers valley above Zinal. As you can see the snow conditions are still amazing over there, and there is a lot more snow at all altitudes than in the Chamonix region. At this point the snowshoe trek was along the Planetary footpath, and here you can see breaking trail towards Pluto. It's not as silly as it sounds... the walk starts at the observatory above St Luc, and in scale to their relative distances from the sun, and their sizes, all the planets in the solar system are dotted around the mountain. After this section the walk curved around past the Hotel Weisshorn and round and down towards the village again.

Montagne de Loriaz

2009-04-07T12:25:00.002-06:00

Here is a photo taken last week as I took a group up to the Montagne de Loriaz region. I know it's been a few days since the last blog update, but it has been very busy and I'm just back from a series of nights in huts with snowshoe groups. During the last week I have spent a couple of days snowshoeing in the Zinal region of Switzerland, four days snowshoeing in Aosta region of Italy, and two days in France. I know that adds up to eight days work in seven days! One of the days started as the normal day had ended, and went on into the night. Tomorrow is finally a day off, and my legs will be glad. The plans for the end of the week include a couple of avalanche awareness days, and a moonlight snowshoe trek.

Spring time snowshoeing

2009-03-31T05:40:00.002-06:00

There's no denying that Spring has arrived in the Alps, and yet the snowshoeing conditions are still exceptional due to all the snowfalls we have had this winter. This photo shows Fatima and Greg snowshoeing a couple of days ago in glorious weather. There has been quite a lot of melt on the south facing slopes, but the north side still has snow down to the valley, and the region around Vallorcine is still good. The next week is looking quite busy, with a couple of days snowshoeing in the Zinal region of the Swiss Valais, then a day back in Chamonix, before four days snowshoeing in Italy in the Val d'Aoste. The weather forecasts look great. Will update the blog when I get a chance!

Col de Malatra, Val Ferret

2009-03-19T08:06:00.002-06:00

This is the photo of the season so far! I took it on Tuesday whilst leading a group for Icicle Guides up to the Col de Malatra far above the Val Ferret. We stayed the night in the comfy Bonatti hut, then set out early to reach the pass on snowshoes. In the far background is the summit of Mont Blanc, with the Tête Entre Deux Sauts in between. The snowshoe group is silhouetted as they near the col. As you can see the weather was perfect. After the Malatra Col we descended a few hundred metres then traversed and ascended to the Pas Entre Deux Sauts. The snow was in great condition. A really great trek!

Very very busy weeks!

2009-03-19T08:00:00.002-06:00

This last week has been manic, hence the lack of posts for a week or so, but finally an afternoon off! The photo is of Max at the Croix de Loriaz, when we ascended to the Refuge de Loriaz with Alison on the 13th. The next day saw us up there again, with some of the Paris womens hockey team! Then it was off to Italy for a couple of days, but more about that later. As you might have spotted from the weather forecasts, Chamonix has really decided that it is Spring now, and the temperatures are hitting the mid to high teens in the valley in the afternooons. Up high there is still loads of snow, but the avalanche risk has been elevated recently with the increased chance of full depth, wet snow Spring avalanches. For sure there is still plenty of snowshoeing to be had this season, but be careful!

Fresh tracks all day

2009-03-10T03:31:00.002-06:00

Here are Deborah and Alison in the Loriaz forests in a photo taken yesterday. All day we made fresh tracks, and hardly saw anyone else all day. It was snowing heavily, and we only just made it back over the Col de Montets before it was closed due to increasing avalanche risk. The snow was light powder, some of the best we have seen all season. To snowshoe in this region without any tracks is a very very rare treat. The plan for these two is to head over to the Contamines valley to ascend Mont Truc on Thursday, and I'm off out later today for some full moon night time snowshoeing. Not a bad life!

Snowshoeing on the Plan

2009-03-06T04:45:00.002-07:00

As the snow keeps falling, today it was off to the Plan d'Aiguille for a snowshoe trek to the Lac Bleu and the Refuge overlooking Chamonix. We had some good gaps in the cloud, and the conditions up there were good, now that the temperatures have dropped. There was about 20cm of fresh powder snow, which was great to walk through, and which had obliterated all the previous tracks. It felt like we were the first people to have ever been there. Over the weekend the plan is another trip to Italy, as the weather looks good over there.

Vallorcine Avalanche

2009-03-06T04:40:00.002-07:00

I took this photo a couple of days ago, as this avalanche thundered down the right hand Aiguille du Possettes couloir above the village of Buet / La Poya. The debris fan came very close to the train line that links Chamonix to Martigny. This avalanche occurs most years, but the fact that it has just come now is an indication of the effect of the warm temperatures on the snow pack, and it is a clear warning that the mild days are increasing the melt rate with the effect that the snow increases in weight with catastrophic effects. As long as care is taken, and the safety precautions are followed, the current weather pattern is not of immediate concern.

Break in the weather

2009-03-03T04:11:00.002-07:00

In the midst of what seemed like a week of snow and more snow, the weather forecasts got it right, and we got a great (but tiny) weather window this morning. As soon as the forecasts were confirmed at 06:00, it was action stations and off to the Contamines valley for an early morning ascent of Mont Truc. No sooner had we summited, than the clouds started to close in again, but not until we had enjoyed great views up high. On the way down it became thicker and thicker cloud and some light snowfall. This was a great day, made even better by the fact that we had beaten the weather and got the views. Looking at the forecasts for tomorrow it looks like we might have another window of opportunity, so those of you out with me tomorrow, beware! You might get that early morning wake up call again.

New descent technique?

2009-02-28T08:49:00.004-07:00

Time to name and shame you both; Emma P and Sarah W! Congratulations on inventing a new snowshoeing technique for descending. Not sure it will catch on though.

Brilliant days = smiles

2009-02-28T07:30:00.002-07:00

The picture says it all. Here is Maximus in the Buet Hotel bar the other day after completing the Les Granges snowshoe trek. That's quite a smile! It's been very busy for the last few days, which you've probably guessed by the lack of recent posts. Recent snowshoeing treks have visited the Chalets de Loriaz, Mont de l'Arpille, and Pas Entre deux Sauts to name but a few. The week ahead looks just as busy, and the forecasts suggest a new dump of snow on Wednesday afternoon / night. Good news, as in the last couple of days the temperature has risen about 8°C, and the snow is melting around town. Tomorrow it's up to the Plan de l'Aiguille for an Avalanche Awareness course, then probably back to Switzerland for another snowshoe summit. Will keep you posted.

Deepest snow in decade

2009-02-19T04:25:00.002-07:00

This photo was taken yesterday, whilst snowshoeing in the forests above Argentiere, and you get an impression of how much snow has fallen recently. I've never seen this much snow on the lower slopes for a decade. Here Sarah and Max are breaking trail in completely untracked powder, whilst I followed on behind, leading a beginner group of snowshoers. We had a great day out, and the weather was picture perfect with blue skies and snowy trees. Today is an easier day, with just a half day out, then the next week is hectic, with groups out every day, and a night in a hut over the weekend.

Avalanche awareness day

2009-02-14T04:55:00.004-07:00

Today I was out leading an Avalanche Awareness course on the Plan d'Aiguille above Chamonix. You can just about make out the three people in the midst of the photo, as they are traversing across the slope. In the background, the Aiguille de Peigne is showing through the cloud, plastered with fresh snow. The avalanche risk on the forecast was 3 / 5 this morning, and we dug several inspection pits and performed a rutschblock (sliding isolation block) test on the snowpack. We found a weak layer of sugar snow at 15cm, and a unstable layer at about 70cm that had been created by depth hoar. There is localised windslab present too. Many of the gullies leading down to the Chamonix valley have already avalanched, but several are still loaded with snow, and extra care must be taken, even in the valley floor. It was an amazing day for views as the mountains slid in and out of the clouds, revealing themselves one at a time, and for the first time in nearly a week, Mont Blanc is out of the clouds this afternoon.

Blue sky, light powder!

2009-02-13T07:57:00.002-07:00

What more could you ask for? A brilliant blue sky day, and loads of light powder snow. Yes it was cold, very cold in fact, but you couldn't get away from the fact that this was the best snow day so far this year. This photo was taken this afternoon as we descended from La Flatière towards Coupeau, through the snow laden forests and alpages. What made it even better, was that we saw no one all day long. It's not that I don't like seeing people, but to spend such a perfect day in solitude, in a place that is often put down in the press for being crowded, is magical. It confirms my belief that the vast majority visit the vast minority of places. Chamonix still is a vast untracked winter wonderland after fresh snow, and it is easy to escape the crowds, and to get the sense that you are exploring this amazing landscape for the first time. Snowshoeing is a sport for nature lovers, who revel in the peace and tranquility of these stunning mountains, not for the consumers who slide down its slopes.

Calm after the storm

2009-02-11T03:47:00.003-07:00

After the heavy snowfalls of yesterday, there has been a small break in the weather, and I used it this morning to lead a group to the Refuge de Loriaz. As you can see from the photo, the mountains behind (in the Tête de Balme) region are completely plastered with fresh snow. The avalanche risk is still 4 / 5, so great care needs to be taken with route choice. Today I used my Polar Trail snowshoes, which are the tubular framed style, made by GV Snowshoes of Canada (http://www.gvsnowshoes.com), who sponsor me. With all the fresh powder around, that was over waist deep without snowshoes, these really came into their own, and provided great flotation. This was great news as I had to break trail all the way, as no one had been up their today. The weather forecast is for some more snow tonight, then getting colder and clearer over the weekend.

Fresh snow in Chamonix!

2009-02-10T06:42:00.002-07:00

I think this picture says it all - there has been a big big big dump of snow in the Alps. Here you can see a group breaking trail on snowshoes up to the top of Mont Truc. The weather forecast for the whole of this week seems set for more of the same. Yesterday the avalanche risk was raised to 4 out of 5, when I was leading a group snowshoeing in the Berard valley region, and we saw several powder avalanches caused by snow sloughing off Mont Oreb. One of the avalanche aerosols almost reached the valley floor. With the avalanche risk like this, and more snow forecast, stay safe. That doesn't mean stay indoors - just get advice, know about avalanche awareness, and if in doubt, don't hesitate to hire a snowshoeing guide.

Tre Les Eaux snowshoeing

2009-02-05T04:54:00.002-07:00

It has been a very busy past few days snowshoeing, and so today is a rest day before the February half term silly season starts. This photo was taken a couple of days ago whilst leading a group in the Tre Les Eaux valley. You can just make out some ski tracks in the bottom right of the photo, and the skiers must have descended from the Fer a Cheval / Emmoson region. This was probably not the wisest idea, as the snowpack in this area is not very stable at the moment, with a very dangerous depth hoar layer at about 60cm. We tested the snow in the region where this photo was taken, and had to alter our route to keep to safer slopes.

Snowshoeing Technique?

2009-02-01T02:36:00.002-07:00

No names will be given for the two people in this video clip - you know who you are! Clearly these two thought it would be easier to descend using the 'sur leurs derrieres' French snowshoe technique, rather than running down the slope.

Chalets de Loriaz

2009-02-01T02:30:00.004-07:00

Here is a photo from a couple of days ago, taking a snowshoeing group to the Chalets de Loriaz and the alpages beneath the Col de Terrace. The picture says it all really - perfect weather, fresh tracks, no one else! Currently the snow conditions are quite variable, with powder in some areas, and harder crusts in others. We ascended from Le Couteray via the Nant de Loriaz bridge to the Croix de Loriaz, and from there to the hut. In some conditions this route can be avalanche prone, but on this day there was very low risk. From the hut at just over 2000m, we descended by the zig-zag track to Les Granges.

Vallorcine Snowshoeing

2009-01-28T02:29:00.003-07:00

Yesterday the weather was a bit cloudy in the Chamonix valley, so we headed up over the Col de Montets to Le Buet. There the weather was clearer, and we got good views across to the peaks of the Chardonnet and the Aiguille Verte. There were six of us in total in our group, and we headed up the Berard Valley then into the Tré les Eaux valley to reach Les Granges, before descending back to Vallorcine. The snowfalls of last week had produced deeper snow in this region than it has seen all year so far, and so the conditions were great. The deep powder was an absolute joy to walk through, and with the trees loaded with snow it seemed more like snowshoeing in Lapland, than in the Alps, as you can see from the photo. The group had asked for Maximus, my Bernese mountain dog, to accompany them, and he enjoyed the day too needless to say!