Webtogs Chamonix weekend...

In August our friends at Webtogs - leading UK online outdoor gear experts - joined us in Chamonix for a weekend of alpine adventure.







To read their story click on http://blog.webtogs.co.uk/2009/10/04/chmonix-trip-the-lowdown/

To watch the video click on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OXM4w67wjtE

To find out more about what we can offer you, your friends, family or colleagues - contact contact Chris

Fantastic Autumn Weather and Golden Granite. Liz Jones returns to the Mont Blanc Massif.

Autumn can be a great season for Alpine climbing, the weather can be stable and storm-free and further more it is out of the main tourist season.

True to form the autumn of 2009 has been sunny and warm which means there is a vast choice of fantastic routes to choose from.

Liz Jones enjoyed 2 weeks of high level Alpine Rock Climbing in the Chamonix area at the start of September.

In all we climbed 8 routes:

1: Emperon du Cosmiques
2: North spur of the Papillon Arete
3: 'Punk not dead', Balme
4: 'Amazonia', Envers
5: 'Guy Anne', Envers
6: 'Venus', Dalmaze
7: Rebuffat, South Face of Midi
8: 'Crakoukass', Aiguille Rouge

Liz trains hard for her alpine climbing and this level of dedication allows her to climb on very steep rock (illustrated in the pictures).



Picture 1: Guy Anne



Picture 2: Punk not Dead



Picture 3: Liz leading on Crakoukass






Picture 4: South face of the Midi

I also thoroughly enjoyed these climbs so thanks Liz and see you next year!

Matt

Aussie Docs On Tour

Evening sunset on the Aiguille du Chardonne

A snowy col below the Grand Combin

Crossing the Ruinette glacier towards the Dix hut

Cabane des Dix after fresh snow
Click the link to see the pictures from the week.
Picasa Photos
Olly

Team Manchester Matterhorn

Team 'Madchester' on the summit of Pollux

Tricky rock sections on Pollux

Exposed snow arete on the summit ridge of Cator

Ministry of silly grins on the Riffelhorn

Despite some changeable weather team Manchester managed to bag some classic 4000m peaks. for the first two nights we stayed in the Eyas hut in Italy and summited the Brighthorn, Pollux and Caster. The team then decended down to Zermatt and a much welcome night in the Hotel. Over beers the last three days of adventures were discussed and bigged up! The narrow summit ridge and ice slope on Castor became steeper and narrower as the evening progressed. Even James's fixed rope incident got air time. On day four we climbed a seven pitch route on the Riffelhorn just before the storms arrived. Due to the bad weather the Matterhorn was off the radar so we had an exciting day descending the Zermatt gorge on airial runways and via ferrata's. In the evening we walked up to the beautiful new Tasch hut and attempted the Alphubel but poor weather faught us back. If you want to see more pictures from the week follow the link. Picasa Photos

Charlie, Greg and I on the summit of Mont Blanc

The narrow summit ridge

Leaving the Gouter hut

Greg on the summit of the Dome des Miage

A great week was had by all with perfect summit conditions on Mont Blanc with Charlie and Greg. Here are more pictures from the trip.
Picasa Link

Be a Winner in our Autumn Competition!

Win up to £800 worth of BERGHAUS kit for your next adventure in our Autumn Competition!

Plus 3 runners-up prizes of £100 Mountain Tracks vouchers.

To enter, all you need to do is answer the following 5 questions and email your answers to Email us or send a postcard to Mountain Tracks, 250 York Road, London SW11 3SJ. Please include your email address and a contact telephone number.

Question 1: Gulmarg is a ski resort in which Indian State?
Question 2: Which of these 3 mountains in the Alps is not a 4000m peak – Mont Blanc, Eiger or Matterhorn?
Question 3: From which French resort would you access the famous Vallee Blanche ski run?
Question 4: What is the English translation of 'Via Ferrata'?
Question 5: On what frequency do all (post-1996) Avalanche Transceivers operate?

Closing date is Sunday 25th October 2009 and the winners will be drawn on Friday 30th October 2009.

Good luck!

Atop the Matterhorn

Keeping up the success rate, Tjalling Halbertsma, summited the Matterhorn 2 weeks ago with Tomaz Jakofcic as his guide. Congratulations Tjalling. Here are a few photos he sent us of his trip.

Tjalling and Tomaz on the top

One happy climber

Summit of the Riffelhorn