Blog

Winter in the Alps

13/01/2012 8:32 pm

Tim Blakemore

Winter has well and truly arrived in the Alps! Already we have experienced more snow than last season and we have had a few 'category 5' days. I've been out and about, mostly skiing with friends and family enjoying the great conditions. Around Christmas and New Year I mainly skied in the local area around Les Houches exploring the fantastic off piste within walking distance from my appartment. I think the highlight was a run from the summit of the Prarion with Rob Jarvis in waist deep (I know everyone claims this!) powder after only a 20 minute skin. Michael also spent Christmas out here and had a good week. The culmination was a full day's off piste at Le Tour where he skied Le Posettes, two runs off the back and one of the Vormaines Coulouirs again with Rob and Stuart Macdonald. Lastly, Rob and I managed a half day out together to ski the famous 'pas de chevre' from Grands Montets. This is a great run with complex routefinding low down and you end up skiing all the way to Chamonix!

In terms of work I've been mostly plumbing! A disaster on Christmas eve involving French plumbing, my shower and my neighbours ceiling has meant I've been labouring a fair amount of this winter period. As I write this I am still without douche but the end is in sight.

I have of course been working. Recently I've worked in the Grands Montets resort which was pleasantly quiet (Chamonix is at the moment) running an avalanche course. We had interesting conditions for the morning at least with windslab present on many aspects. I've also been over to Italy to climb in the sun! Cogne is shaping up well this year (not as good as last but pretty good). I climbed Cascade de Lillaz and Valmiana (both III) with John.

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