Just a quick reminder that my film from this June's descent of Tower Gully on Ben Nevis is showing at the Edinburgh Mountain Film Festival this Saturday. The session starts at 7pm and also features several other films + a lecture by legendary British alpinist Mick Fowler.
Tickets still available here.
Wednesday, 20 October 2010
Saturday, 2 October 2010
Cave-skiing video
And finally, after some delay...:
Mad? Probably... Fun? Definitely!
Cave-skiing from Simon Christy on Vimeo.
Mad? Probably... Fun? Definitely!
Thursday, 30 September 2010
Tower Gully film @ EMFF
An update on the Premiere of my Tower Gully film at this year's Edinburgh Mountain Film Festival - the film will be showing as part of the Saturday evening session - 7pm, October 23rd.
The session also features climbing & kayaking short films, as well as Dave Macleod & Andy Turner's recreation of Marshall & Smith's epic week of new routing on Ben Nevis; to top it al...l off the guest speaker is the one & only Mick Fowler - legendary taxman and "mountaineer's mountaineer"!
Should be a great evening - don't miss out - tickets are available online here.
The session also features climbing & kayaking short films, as well as Dave Macleod & Andy Turner's recreation of Marshall & Smith's epic week of new routing on Ben Nevis; to top it al...l off the guest speaker is the one & only Mick Fowler - legendary taxman and "mountaineer's mountaineer"!
Should be a great evening - don't miss out - tickets are available online here.
Monday, 27 September 2010
Winter on the horizon?
From one extreme to the other this week - drove back from 3 days climbing in shorts & t-shirt on sunny limestone in Orpierre to find snow down to 2100m in the Savoie!
Speaking of which, I finally found time to do a quick edit of footage from July's ski mission on the Mt Pourri:
Speaking of which, I finally found time to do a quick edit of footage from July's ski mission on the Mt Pourri:
July skiing - Mt Pourri from Simon Christy on Vimeo.
Thursday, 9 September 2010
Steep Vanoise 2011 dates
Dates for this coming winter's Steep Vanoise weeks are now confirmed:
Steep Vanoise - based in Bourg St Maurice (accommodation tbc): 27 Feb - 4 March
Steep Vanoise Tours - based in Brides-les-Bains (accommodation tbc): 27 Mar - 1 April
Please see the main offpisteskiing website for more details.
Steep Vanoise - based in Bourg St Maurice (accommodation tbc): 27 Feb - 4 March
Steep Vanoise Tours - based in Brides-les-Bains (accommodation tbc): 27 Mar - 1 April
Please see the main offpisteskiing website for more details.
Wednesday, 1 September 2010
Cave-skiing
The "12 Month Challenge" is alive and well!!!
Despite work getting in the way big style this month, a ski descent was pulled out of the bag on the 31st August...
I had heard rumours of a 'legendary' cave that existed with a snowfield in the bottom of it which kept its snow all year round... last year with further research I discovered its name: the Chourum de la Parza.
Sitting in the Devoluy massif, South of Grenoble, the Chourum sees very occasional ski descents, mainly due to the difficulties in getting into it - 75m of abseiling to access it, followed by a climb back up the ropes to get out again!
Will testing out his 4x4 sandals:
Entrance to the Vallon de Truchiere:
Thar she blows! - The entry to the Chourum:
Don't forget some bolt hangers! - The top belay is rigged with bolts and nuts but no hangers - presumably to avoid casual users getting in over their heads?
25m down the top slabs, just the small matter of a 50m free-hanging abseil from here:
Luckily we had taken a 100m rope along with the 75, as the top of the snow was pulling away from the rock leaving a big, dark bergschrund - with 75s one person would probably need to stand holding the rope-ends at all times to avoid them drifting out of reach above the void!!
On top of the snow, looking back up the ropes:
Will starting the free-hanging abseil:
Almost down:
Will enjoying his first subterranean turns:
The snow was great - firm névé with a soft surface - after the first couple of metres which were covered in debris from above the surface was smooth & debris-free and with a steady angle of 35-40º perfect for skiing! After 80m or so the snow ran out onto a gentle area of rocks & dust; further exploration below the snow-line took us another 80m or so deeper into the cave, past quite a few bones (previous skiers?) to the cave bottom...
Will climbing up for another lap:
After a few laps of the 'indoor ski slope' we decided we should really think about getting out of there again...time for some suffering...50m jumaring up free-hanging ropes, in ski boots, with backpacks & skis hanging off the harness... enough to make anyone sweat. Will did a sterling job for his baptism into 'proper' rope climbing - good effort mate!
Will near the end of the big climb:
Almost back on dry land!:
Jumar:
Great views - the scenery was absolutely stunning - from the rocky peaks of the Obiou, to the Verdon-esque rock walls in the valley - and best of all - not a soul in sight!
Despite work getting in the way big style this month, a ski descent was pulled out of the bag on the 31st August...
I had heard rumours of a 'legendary' cave that existed with a snowfield in the bottom of it which kept its snow all year round... last year with further research I discovered its name: the Chourum de la Parza.
Sitting in the Devoluy massif, South of Grenoble, the Chourum sees very occasional ski descents, mainly due to the difficulties in getting into it - 75m of abseiling to access it, followed by a climb back up the ropes to get out again!
Will testing out his 4x4 sandals:
Entrance to the Vallon de Truchiere:
Thar she blows! - The entry to the Chourum:
Don't forget some bolt hangers! - The top belay is rigged with bolts and nuts but no hangers - presumably to avoid casual users getting in over their heads?
25m down the top slabs, just the small matter of a 50m free-hanging abseil from here:
Luckily we had taken a 100m rope along with the 75, as the top of the snow was pulling away from the rock leaving a big, dark bergschrund - with 75s one person would probably need to stand holding the rope-ends at all times to avoid them drifting out of reach above the void!!
On top of the snow, looking back up the ropes:
Will starting the free-hanging abseil:
Almost down:
Will enjoying his first subterranean turns:
The snow was great - firm névé with a soft surface - after the first couple of metres which were covered in debris from above the surface was smooth & debris-free and with a steady angle of 35-40º perfect for skiing! After 80m or so the snow ran out onto a gentle area of rocks & dust; further exploration below the snow-line took us another 80m or so deeper into the cave, past quite a few bones (previous skiers?) to the cave bottom...
Will climbing up for another lap:
After a few laps of the 'indoor ski slope' we decided we should really think about getting out of there again...time for some suffering...50m jumaring up free-hanging ropes, in ski boots, with backpacks & skis hanging off the harness... enough to make anyone sweat. Will did a sterling job for his baptism into 'proper' rope climbing - good effort mate!
Will near the end of the big climb:
Almost back on dry land!:
Jumar:
Great views - the scenery was absolutely stunning - from the rocky peaks of the Obiou, to the Verdon-esque rock walls in the valley - and best of all - not a soul in sight!
Friday, 20 August 2010
Haute Maurienne
I have finally found some time to finish editing the footage from this Spring's trip to the Haute Maurienne with Will & Greg, where we spent 2 nights in the Evettes hut and made descents of the East Face of the Albaron and the North Face Direct of the Petite Ciamarella.
Enjoy!
Enjoy!
48 hours in the Haute Maurienne from Simon Christy on Vimeo.
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