Great conditions across the Alps!

Great reports are coming in from all across the Alps, with most areas getting a good share of the early snowfalls. Here in the Savoie the sun is out and the slopes are still quiet. the last few days have been very cold which has kept the snow in perfect condition with nice 'squeaky' snow on piste and soft and fluffy powder off piste. Over in Chamonix conditions sound awesome, Jonny, Kenton and Guy all reporting great snow in the Marbrees couloir on the Italian side of the range.

In Courchevel all the Saulire couloirs have been skied despite the cable car being temporarily out of action, and the Suisses bowl is very well filled in for so early in the Season. Long may it continue...

Gigi takes to the air:




Al cruising some easy-angle powder:


Al warming up with a small drop off the edge of 'Big Bertha' in the Suisses area:


Gigi in the Rocher de L'Ombre bowl:

Best start to the season since 1996!

Thats how the Savoie avalanche bulletin is describing the current conditions. Certainly the best start to the winter that I've seen in the 9 years I've been working in the 3 Valleys. Still a few spaces left on January's off-piste weeks so head on over to the offpisteskiing.com website for details...

A few photos from the Loze area of Courchevel this morning:






And beware the killer mice of Courchevel!!..

Winter is here...

Winter is a coming... in fact it's here! This is the view from my house in Bozel at 845m altitude. A good couple of inches on the ground and still coming down. Not a bad start to the winter...let's hope it keeps going!

Bridge swinging

Last weekend I put my Ridestyle Productions hat back on, loaded up the video gear and headed East to meet up with the 'crackninja' team from Edinburgh for some bridge-swinging madness...The resultant film 'Three' is below (low-res) and should be showing at various mountain film festivals this winter. Details to follow.
Thanks to Scott, Gav and the rest of the gang!

Fontainebleau

A few weeks ago, on the way from France back to the UK, I finally made a stop in the mythical climbers destination of Fontainebleau. A happy couple of sessions were had getting a good kicking on the boulders at Bas Cuvier, with some good problems ticked, and lots more to go back for.
Words can't begin to describe the place, inumerable 15 to 20 foot boulders of perfect 'Gres' stretching away as far as you can see...I'll be back for sure!

Hintertux

Tux Tux Hintertux...
or so the local song goes.
Just got back from 6 days in Hintertux. Nice village, great hotel (sauna, pool, jacuzzi etc). And snow down to the valley floor as of Thursday, giving chilly but good skiing in nice soft fluffy stuff up on the Glacier.

Grde Motte / Grde Casse pics

A couple of pics from up above Champagny-le-haut looking up at the Grande Motte (Left) and Grande Casse, taken 8 days ago approx.