Autumn slideshows

I am currently having a quiet weekend at home recovering from a hectic work trip - 4 countries in 8 days, and a hefty road trip around the UK to test out the Baffin slideshow/presentation - this was my first attempt at this kind of thing and the response has been amazing! - Thanks to everyone who came out to the Ski Mountaineering Symposium and the Hawkshead Brewery/Alpine Club event- it was interesting to meet some Baffin 'veterans' including one who made a trip there in 1961!

If you would like to catch the Baffin presentation then the next opportunity will be at the Fort William Mountain Festival on Sat 18th Feb 2017...

Baffin Island - skiing the ancient hallways - part 1

Baffin Island has been high on my 'bucket list' ever since I read an article by Andrew McLean on a trip he made in 2002 when he and Brad Barlage made over a dozen first descents in the Sam Ford Fjord and Walker Arm area, including now uber-classics like Polar Star couloir. Ross Hewitt and I had batted about the idea of a trip here for some time and it all came together for a trip in spring 2014. Unfortunately this also coincided with the arrival of my second child the previous autumn, and the timing simply was not good so I had to pass on that trip. I had resigned myself to having missed the chance as there are so many factors that go in to putting together a team for this kind of trip: a) partners capable of skiing the terrain, b) partners with a) and also capable of surviving on sea ice in -25/-30C temperatures, c) partners with a) and b) also with sufficient funds (this is an eye-wateringly expensive trip...), d) partners with a), b) and c) who have enough free time in April/May, e) partners with a), b), c) and d) who I would want to spend 3,5 weeks in a small tent on the sea ice with... etc etc

Fortunately Ross came back from the 2014 trip massively enthused to return, so 2016 was blocked in the diary and we started planning. The team was completed by Evan Cameron an NZ-based Scot and long-time climbing/skiing buddy of Ross's, and my buddy Stephen 'Chipie' Windross a Tarentaise-based roving skier and adventurer.


4 men and a whole lot of bags...

Iqaluit - probably the brightest airport in the world?

An omen...:

Clyde River airport 10 minutes after the plane has gone - best do lots of networking on the flight in otherwise it is a long walk into town...:

Big rabbits round here...:

The man the myth the legend - 75-year old Ilkoo still hunts and fishes and despite putting on a Yoda-like 'front' with a walking stick around town is still sprightly and hard as nails...

Chipie checking out our wildlife protection:

Skidoo and qumatik loaded and ready to go - possibly the most uncomfortable 14 hours I have ever spent - bumping across pressure ridges in the sea ice with very little padding...:

'I'm a livin' in a box' - Chipie & I in our 'kennel' on qumatik #2:

Polar bear gloves - warmer than a warm thing...:

Polar bear tracks - mother and cubs:

14 interminable hours later:

The views are 'alright' at 2 am:

Day 1: a late start after a long day, but blue skies were too good to waste - time to get busy!:

Today's target - the line to the right of the big cliffs - 1200m up to 50º:

Goin' up:

And coming down...
Ross:

Chipie:

Perfect cold snow for steep skiing:

Ross:

Heading for the exit door:

1000m rock walls above:

Back down into the freezer - cold air pools on the fjord so most days we climbed into warmer air and then skied back down into coldness again...:

Powder down to the fjord:

More to follow at some point...

An early Christmas!

I am currently back home recovering from a busy 5 days working at the Kendal Mountain Festival. Once again it surpassed expectations and I had a fantastic time with some great speakers and films to introduce: Bjarne Salén and Ptor Spricenieks' Dream Line, photographer and alpinist Jon Griffith, Kilian Jornet's Déjame Vivir, and of course the main Snowsports night, featuring Ross Hewitt, Kenny Biggin, Ben Briggs, Bjarne Salén and Sam Anthamatten!

Christmas has started arriving early - courtesy first of Kenny Biggin and SkiMountain with a shiny copyof their brand new Glencoe guidebook which looks fantastic and not only details some great descents but also has some interesting history as well a visitor's guide to the peculiarities of Scottish ski area queue-ing systems (anyone who hasn't been will nto understand until they go...).

Also arriving i France shortly after I did was a pair of shiny new Whitedot Director Carbonlite skis - thanks Whitedot!

I look forward to getting these mounted up and a full review will follow shortly thereafter.

Meanwhile we are playing a waiting game here in the Vanoise - after the early November snowfalls it has been quite dry and some major precipitation is now needed to get things up and running for the winter - fingers are firmly corssed!

Kendal Mountain Festival 2014 - Julbo Snowsports Session

Here it comes!

In just over 2 weeks time the 2014 Kendal Mountain Festival will be kicking off for 4 days jammed full of films, books, activities, art, speakers, socialising and partying!

I will be back on the main presenting team again, and am particularly excited to be hosting the Julbo Snowsports Session on the Saturday night.

With Swiss legend Samuel Anthamatten, film-maker Bjarne Salèn, and the UK's own steep-skiing heroes Ben Briggs and Ross Hewitt on the roster this looks set to be an awesome night! Thanks to headline sponsors Julbo, and also Whitedot and Ultimate Outdoors for making this possible...

If you haven't got your tickets yet there is still time, in fact, you can win a weekend for 2 at the Festival including tickets for the Snowsports Session thanks to those nice people at Lyon Equipment.