Chamonix off piste and ski mountaineering

 A wonderful few days in the mountains. 

The Midi Arete 

Christophe and I discussing when we were younger with dark hair...

Descending the arete

Outstandingly fine conditions

Happy days indeed

Spiral Gully variation - winter climbing in the Cairngorms National Park

There was lots of fresh snow last week with high winds and low temperatures. The granite rocks were plastered with rime ice.

Me topping out, thanks for the photo Keith

Keith in the gully section

Crafty product placement, thanks Gore-tex Eu

 

From Beallach na Ba to Applecross to Torridon

Some fresh snow.

The buttresses are looking a bit more wintry

View to the sea

Beinn Alligin, at 986m, one of the classic mountains of the Torridon Region. Translates from Gaelic to "Mountain of Beauty" or "Jeweled Mountain'

This is Liathach shrouded in mist and snow showers, its 957 m or 6461 feet.  the gaelic translates to 'the hoary place'.  Freezing frost and coldness

 

A brief ski around Chamonix, Mont Blanc.

Thin but nice skiing conditions at Le Tour, Chamonix, Mont Blanc

Alma 

Chamonix

 Glaciers and aretes!

 

Some Scottish winter days , January and February 2023

Alma in Torridon

Creag Dhubh, Beinn Eighe, Torridon

Our dog Kirrie loves the snow.

First steps at winter climbing

Cairngorms

Sara and Oliver, Cairngorms.

 

Blast from the past- time to catch up.

 My apologies, Ive been so lazy with my blog updates.. so I'm refreshed, still busy guiding and mountaineering, enjoying the life and well I guess I needed to take a break from the life of media.  Some close friend passed, some in the mountains some in bed after serious illness!

Even although its so good to share and communicate, with all the wars and earthquakes, us mountaineers seem to live an amazing life with abundant freedom, and sometime I just feel guilty or truly blessed that I have such luck, and a wonderful family and the freedom for much of the time just to go about my wonderful daily life with good health and an open attitude.

So here are some photos from the past little while:

Rick Allen in Chamonix

Andy Nisbet and Steve Perry

Andy Nisbet on one of our last new climbs together, Ben Hope, Scotland

Rick Allan, on our return back to high camp after our first summit attempt on the Mazino Ridge

Me -guiding on the Monch, Switzerland

The Mazino ridge

Doug Scott, our inspiration!

It's been a wonderful Alpine season

I have been busy working out form Chamonix, France  guiding many mountains and climbs. For now my Alpine summer alpine season is over and while we are in Scotland right now we are heading away to Spain for a well deserved holiday.  Its been a blast working in Chamonix, although conditions have been very dry and many of out plans had to change due to the lack of snow, unusually warm weather and dry conditions. Our clients have all been great in accepting these changes and of course realising that the decisions we make as a Team are based on the idea of trying to meet our clients objectives and keep us all safe. Here are some photos from our summer: Over the next weeks we will be reviewing our web site and preparing for our Scottish based rock climbing, navigation, munro and ridges, and our winter climbing  activities. Our email may change to sandyallan315@gmail.com or you can contact Sandy on his mobile on +447760320069.