Crans Montana, Jan 16th 2010

A lovely sunny spot for a morning break at Aminona, part of the Crans Montana field.

The magnificent run down from the Glacier de-la-Plaine-Morte

Looking east, up the Rhone valley.

Back at Staldenried, the view from beside our apartment.

Aletsch Arena, 15th Jan 2010

Sally skiing above Riederalp, at the west end of the Aletsch arena ski area

A beautiful run above Bettmeralp.......

Lunch stop above Fiesch.

A glass of that good ol' weissbier!!

Fabulous views out over the Aletcher Glacier, largest in the Alps.

Lovely situations as we make our way west back to Riederalp.

Zermatt, 14th Jan 2010

A fine day, and we took the car up to Tasch and caught the train into Zermatt. It was our first visit and first view of the Matterhorn, a mountain that compels you to take photos of it!!


The runs above Zermatt are superb and most are at very high elevations, making for excellent snow conditions. It was -10C when we arrived in the town and colder on the slopes, but things began to warm up as the sun came onto the slopes. It was uncannily quiet for such a world famous resort.

The backdrop of mountains is also extraordinary in all directions. This view is of the Obergabelhorn and Weisskuppe.

Stepping off the Gornergrat train.

Out on the upper glacier runs, some of the highest ski runs in the Alps.

Sally showing good style!

Binntal, 13th Jan 2010

Day rather overcast and so we decided to take a walk into Binntal and rest from skiing.

Took a picnic with us.

A lovely wee town in a hidden valley off the upper Rhone.

Authentic wooden buildings and snow everywhere......

Local residents eyeing us up!

Binn was very quiet, agricultural, and very scenic

A local coming to speak to us!

Whilst others hang out in the "local".

Saas Fee, 12th Jan 2010

Spent the day at Saas Fee, a beautiful resort bowl full of glaciers and high peaks...

The field weaves ingeniously through the spectacular glaciers......

whilst the Dom and its glaciers tower overhead......

We enjoyed superb weather and excellent packed powder snow.

A memorable ski day.

Saas Grund, 11th Jan 2010

Saas Grund, opposite Saas Fee, was a fine ski area with some great runs on perfect snow with wonderful views west to the Dom.

One of the upper runs takes the glacier under the Weissmisse

The field was quiet, high and perfectly groomed, and 5000 feet vertical from top to bottom!

A quiet snowy village perches on an Alp opposite the mid station of the gondola

Gspon, Valais, Switzerland 10th Jan 2010

Sally and I drove from Geneva into the Valais and found a nice appartment in a house about a thousand or so feet up the valley side above Stalden, at the junction of the Saas and Zermatt valleys.
Here are some of the cute residents of Staldenried! We'd meet them each morning!

First day we simply climbed aboard the cable car that climbs through the village to Gspon and enjoyed a nice ski on this quiet little Alp on great snow, Sally enjoying her new Ladies Bandits for the first time.
Cloud fills the Upper Rhone Valley, looking down from Gspon Alp.

Lillaz Cascade, WI3 Cogne, 8th Jan 2010

Heavy snowfall sent us up to Lillaz Cascade to steer clear of avalanches. This is a nice route in the bed of a river amidst lovely scenery. Here James leads the first and longest pitch.

James leads one of the variations possible on pitch 3 and Chris (below) leads another.

Lillaz Gully WI4, Cogne, Italy 7th Jan 2010

Right above the quaint village of Lillaz, lies this classic gully route. Settled snow made the approach and climb pretty safe and 7 pitches, 5 of ice lead to the top. Justifiably a classic climb, with wonderful views out to Mont Blanc and a nice feeling of commitment inside the huge gully.

The climbs saves its best for the last two pitches. James led a nice two step ice pitch and I finished with the tricky but very enjoyable mixed 4+ pitch. Some fine moves up into a rock chimney finished with bomber placements to top out. We rapelled the route, stunned at the antics of a casual chamois on the cliffs to our right. Humbling!

Tuborg WI5, Lillaz, Italy, 6th Jan 2010

Set out from Lillaz, above Cogne, in Gran Paradiso area, to climb Tuborg. Routes were in lean conditions and slightly hard for grade. In spite of seeing someone take a leader fall on the first pitch as we approached, James was keen to have a crack. (Pic above - Italians taking right side) It was brittle, steep and hard and we both struggled, using copious quanities of aid! A stiff start for an ice trip. Second pitch was steadier at WI4 and I had just enough strength left in weak forearms to climb it safely. :-)
James completing the first pitch.

Argentiere, France skiing, 5th Jan 2010

Kicking off 2010 after being sick through Christmas and New Year with a great day on powder at Argentiere near Chamonix with James Kinnaird and friends


Great skiing en route to the village which lies in background of this pic!!