The Italian High Level Route

Nick Powell and Sarah Hart joined Nick during the last week of June for 6 days on the Italian High Level route...aka the Spaghetti tour!

They enjoyed excellent weather for the week and summitted on 5 4000m peaks only being thwarted on the Dufourspitze due to the amount of snow on the higher elevations.

The following photos are kindly provided by Nick Powell.



From Breithorn West summit looking east



The summit ridge of Castor



Nick, Sarah and Nick (Mountain Tracks) on the summit of Castor.



The view from the summit of Castor looking towards Pollux and the Breithorn



The south ridge of Lyskamm taken from the summit of Castor



From the summit of Castor looking SE towards Quintina Sella



Summit of Zumsteinspitz looking towards Dufourspitze (L) and Nordend (R)

There's still time to join us in the Alps this summer - click on www.mountaintracks.co.uk/summer for trip details or call our office on 020 8123 2978

Swiss 4000m Peaks

Summit ridge on the Weissmies

Summit of the Weissmies

Rock Climbing in Almageller Alp

Cold and windy conditions on the Strahlhorn

Despite some mixed weather the team managed to bag all the peaks on the tick list. The Strahlhorn was our first objective completed in wild, windy and cold conditions. Drew managed to summit despite throwing up due to altitude...at least we could follow the sick trail on the way down! The next objective was a cruisy day on the Allalinhorn despite Tim's (the other Guide) terrible jokes. After a brief hotel night we headed off up to the Almageller hut and our next objective, the Weissmies. The next day began cloaked in mist. This cleared after an hour to reveal magnificent views of the Valais, Monterosa and the Matterhorn. The team now acclimatised were cruising up the south ridge making the summit in 5 hours. Then followed a short but steep snow descent down to the Weissmies hut and our greatest challenge of the week, getting the guardian to smile! Nigel managed to crowbar a smile from him - or was it the sight of Greg's red face that tipped the balance (lobster sunburn)? The last objective the Lagginhorn was in our grasp and done in just under guidebook time. A brilliant finish to a thoroughly entertaining week. Thanks guys for all your humour and sarcasm!
Here is the link to the pictures
Cheers Olly

A date for your diaries...

You may have read before on this blog about our good mate, Dom Gill. He spent 22 months cycling the length of the Americas from Prudhoe Bay Alaska to the southern tip of Patagonia on a tandem in search of company and raising lots of money for Hope and Homes for Children

Now after being back for a few months and getting used to life in the 'real world', Dom's documentary of his trip is about to be shown on ITV4. We urge you all to make your way to a TV set on July 22 at 8pm to watch Dom's remarkable story.
Click on Dom's website for more info.

Berghaus Kit Testing in Chamonix

At MTRX we feel very proud of our of association with Berghaus and our role in actively helping them develop the ‘Extrem’ range into world leading products for mountaineers.
Over the past six months our guiding team has been equipped with the current range testing it to the full on our winter and spring programmes and last week they have been out putting prototypes for the forthcoming winter through their paces.
Susie gladly abandoned her desk and PC for a modeling role and acccompanied by fellow male model Matt, climbed all over the Aiguille du Midi and the boulders at the Col du Montet whilst Nick 'bathe it daily' clicked away on his Olympus like it was going out of fashion.
At the end of the week they were joined by Julie Gretton and Owen Smith from Berghaus HQ for a comprehensive feedback session. This was done thoroughly but not before squeezing in a fine ascent of the Cosmiques Arete just ahead of a big storm.
A journey to Chamonix, no matter how short, would not be complete without an alpine ascent!



To get your summer alpine fix - whether for a day, a week or longer - get in touch...call us on +44 20 8123 2978 or email info@mountaintracks.co.uk

'Curry Powder' Skiing 2010

If you have spent any time recently around Nick or Olly you'll no doubt have heard their tales of epic powder skiing combined with the wonderful sights and sounds of India on our skiing trips to Gulmarg in Kashmir.

Well, now's the time to get on board for 2010. Until July 1 our Gulmarg trips next year are on sale for a whopping £125 off the standard price. That's £1,400 for flights from Delhi to Srinagar, all transfers, 7 days powder skiing with UIAGM Mountain Guides, lift passes, 7 nights half-board accommodation in the Hotel Highlands Park in Gulmarg (twin-room), 1 night on a floating houseboat in Srinagar (twin room).

With round trip flights from London to Delhi with BA currently on sale for about £440 through www.expedia.co.uk, you can get the holiday-of-a-lifetime for under £2,000 all in...what are you waiting for!?

Find out more by visiting our dedicated Gulmarg website at www.ski-gulmarg.co.uk or call our office on 020 8123 2978.

But hurry...this offer expires on 30th June!

The Final trip of the winter season finished with some excellent skiing on Mt Blanc and the Grand Paradiso! Despite poor weather the respective teams managed to summit on the Paradiso and the Dome de Gouter. Everyone had a great time and some lovely spring snow on descents. If you would like to see the trip pictures go to http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/ollyguide/SkiMtBlancMay2009

My skis are now packed away for the winter and rock boots are now ready for action.

Olly

Chamonix ski touring weekend, 2 & 3 May

We had perfect weather for Peter and Anna's weekend of ski touring!
On the Saturday we set off on the Aiguille du Midi accompanied by Julie Slaughter and skied the Vallee Blanche round the bottom of the Pyramide du Tacul. Here we put on our skins and skinned up to the Col des Flambeaux, while on route being treated to the sight of a party skiing the first tracks on the Tour Ronde North Face, a route a lot of ice climbers aspire to! (check out the photo)



After lunch we decended the Vallee Noire to Montenvers, on mostly very nice snow. The Noire is an excellent alternative to the Vallee Blanche for better snow and less people.



On the second day, just myself and peter went up to Grand Montets, and after skiing onto the Argentiere Glacier skinned up to the Col Tour Noir on the Amethystes Glacier. It was a very hot day and Peter was 'hard as nails' skinning up in his Mantra skis with Marker Duke bindings, a heavy set up. After lunch on the col with superb views into Switzerland we descended beautiful spring snow back down. A great way to finish the season!

Thanks to Jonny Baird IFMGA Mountain Guide for this report.

There's still time to enjoy one last ski touring hurrah this winter...contact us for details!