Spring is in the air!

Over the last few weeks Mountain Tracks have been out and about enjoying the sunny weather across the Alps. It felt like spring had arrived for the last couple of weeks with endless day of sunny weather, not a cloud in the sky and rising temperatures. The snow was faring ok in the higher areas and the guides have been working hard to find good snow off piste to keep everyone happy.

Last week saw a return to winter weather and a really cold blast of air from the North East and a small fall of snow across most of the northern Alps. Some welcome powder snow was enjoyed by all, in Chamonix in the early part of last week. Nick moved his Gressoney Off Piste Advanced course to Chamonix so they could enjoy the better conditions around the Mont Blanc region. They had a great final few days skiing on the Vallee Blanche, Grands Montets and doing some ski touring.

On Thursday our Ski Touring Skills course guests arrive at the Hotel Regina in St. Gervais, ready to learn and brush up on all you need to know to become an avid ski tourer. Friday saw them, under the guidance of mountain guide Christian Tromsdorff, ski the Vallee Blanche via the Grands Envers route practising some crampon and ice axe techniques. Saturday was an early start to the Grands Montets for a big ski tour up towards the Col Tour Noir. Rising above the cloud layer we were greeted to beautiful sunshine and we set off towards the Argentiere Glacier. It was skins on and the start of a 3 hr tour up the Glacier des Amethystes towards the col. The group had plenty of time to master the kick turn on the way up, as well as taking in the stunning views of the surrounding peaks.

The ski down was excellent with soft creamy snow and fresh tracks most of the way down. The hard slog of the climb had been worth it for the descent! On the lower slopes we all stopped to discuss and practise some crevasse rescue techniques, Christian showed the group a number of useful knots and methods of travelling safely in glaciated terrain. We did a few simulations of someone falling down a crevasse and how you would get them out, which everyone found useful and informative. We then skied back to the bottom of the Grands Montets after a long day for a well deserved beer in the bar.

As Britain prepares to be hit by yet another winter storm, we too are looking forward to a week of abundant snow fall according to the French weather man. Hopeful this will bring an over due dump of snow to us and our guests who have arrived in different resorts this weekend will be able to enjoy perfect conditions. We have the last of out Off Piste Performance courses in Ste. Foy, Nick will be guiding a group in Chamonix and we have an
advanced course in Andermatt in Switzerland.

Next week sees the start of the ski touring season with the first of our Haute Route tours getting underway. Annie Donovan and Bryan Hogg are leading our Portes du Soleil Tour and Julie-Ann Clyma will be off round the Western Oberland High Level Route with a group.
We still have spaces on some of our later season ski tours such as the Berner Oberland Tour in April, Silveretta Alps and late season Haute Route in May. If it’s downhill only you want then come and join us in Zermatt for a week of intermediate off piste skiing, get those last turns of the season in before it really does become spring!!!