Making the best of Verbier ski conditions mid December 2014

Ski conditions in Verbier have been very mixed over the last two weeks.  Mont Fort opened last weekend, as did the La Chaux 'slow' chairlift and we've had everything from sun to rain and snow.

Lots of promising wintery clouds, but not much fresh snow

The mornings are normally quite good on the pistes, thanks to the incredible snow making that is going on each evening.  As we are one of the few resorts open it is quite busy with people coming from France and other resorts in Switzerland to ski here.

La Chaux earlier this week - it looks a tiny bit snowier now

By the time the afternoon arrives rocks start appearing across the slopes and most people seem to start heading down at 3pm ish.

Super pistes after some fresh snow in Verbier

So, what can you do to get the most out of the conditions?

Wake up for the first lift up the mountain, ski the best snow in the quietest conditions.

As 10am arrives head over to Siviez where two amazingly quiet slopes are open and in very good condition. It does take an extra 15mins to get there, but it's worth it.

The blue run at Siviez

The very man made red run at Siviez

Then, when you're fed up hit Chamonix for some gear shopping, and yes... cheaper food and coffee!

Gear shopping and being a tourist in Chamonix

Yesterday we had around 15cm of fresh snow and it was looking promising until today it began raining up to 2700m on the mountain.

Altitrail Mont-Blanc, a trail running guide book review

During the summer 2014 I spent a few weeks walking and running in the Alps.  It was the first time I had been to the alps during the summer months for around four years and more since I had visited with the sole purpose of not climbing or mountaineering.  The climbing box made it into the van but lack of partners and a regained love of fast light travel through the mountains meant that it stayed in there.

The Altitrail Mont-Blanc guidebook

Before I left I was handed a trail running guide book, Altitrail Mont-Blanc, a JMEditions book by Pascal Frerot, published in English and French.  Generally I prefer to invent my own routes, going where it looks exciting and to places I haven't been, so I was a bit sceptical.  However I now can't wait to 'tick off' more of the runs in there.

Route 16 by the Glacier du Trient

The book is light enough to carry in your rucksack (along with the relevant map I hasten to add), and is packed with photos of the routes and terrain.  It is split into four sections, three of increasing difficulty and length, and one of vertical kilometers - this might sound a bit odd to some runners, but is all the craze on the continent!  After the short but interesting introductory pages of the book, you soon get into the various routes.

The first page of a route from the guidebook

Each route in the book has an ascent, descent, length in km, timings, water fill up points, map required, terrain guide, time of year to run in etc... in addition to the description.  This is the place to start when deciding which run is for you, and the extra's such as the water and refreshment notes are really useful.  The timings are given as an estimate, e.g. 3-5hrs, the 3 hours being that expected of a 'world class trail runner... 1500m ascent per hour and 16km/h', and the 5 hours that of an average trail runner, '650m ascent per hour and 7km/h'.  This is accompanied by a rough map of the route and a profile chart.

The second page of the same route from the guidebook showing how the routes are described alongside the photos

After the short fact box the description begins, easy to follow (despite being in two languages) and packed with pictures of the route - complete with the route drawn on like a climbing guidebook.  The route is broken down into small timed sections, and always has an add on 'to do more' if you have enough energy at the end.  

Perfect trails and perfect views in the Chamonix valley

 With routes from 13.5km to 36km, ascents of 1100m to 2900m (excluding the vertical km's) there is something for everyone, beginner to seasoned pro.  I can thoroughly recommend route no. 15, Balcon de Varan et desert de Plate, it was incredible, exhilarating, and I would never have thought of visiting this area without the book.  I got my copy as a special from Cotswold Outdoor Royal Oak for £22.95, and although that's not cheap it's well worth it, think of it as 85pence per route!

Photo of the book's front cover and the photos of inside the book all come from JMEditions.

August alpine trekking in the Samoens area of the French Alps

In preparation for my IML summer assessment (International Mountain Leader's Award / Accompagnateur's qualification) I headed out to the Alps for some flower spotting, acclimatisation and a bit of a holiday.

Amazing alpine trekking near Chamonix

With my Samoens IGN 1:25 000 map in hand my first decision was what routes would be most interesting, allow me to cover lots of ground and explore as much of the assessment area as possible.  Not only is it useful to have some idea of where things are on the ground in the assessment region e.g. huts, cols; but it means you can get to grips with the different paths, flowers that are out, and get your eye adjusted to the local maps.

I was lucky enough to see lots of Chamois (as above) and Ibex on my weeks in the Alps this year.

20/08/14
Tete de Bostan Circuit, from Le Pied de Cret, past the Bostan refuge, to the col de Bostan, over the Tete des Verdets, Tete de Bostan and down the ridge to the Golese hut and back. 18km, 1560m ascent.

Views from the way up to the Tete de Bostan

21/08/14
Folly, Lac de Vogealle circuit.  From Le Cret, up the front face to the Folly Refuge - more exciting as it was damp. 20km, 2070m ascent.

More beautiful alpine paths above Samoens

That faint line across the shale is the path!

22/08/14
An easier rest day around the tourist signed route in the Sixt-Fer-a-Cheval valley.  This was a great day in the sun, learning about the nature reserve, the geology and I managed to pick up a local English guidebook of walks in the area.  9km, 170m ascent.

The famous Cirque de Fer a Cheval near Sixt

23/08/14
A long day exploring the Sales, Anternes area of the map.  From Le Lignon, to Lac d'Anterne, over the back and down to Moede Anterne hut, down les Argentieres to Chalets de Souay, over the Passage De Derrochoir - very exciting scrambling, and back via the Sales refuge.  22km, 1700m ascent.

This Chamois hopped off the path right in front of me on the way down from the Sales hut

Exciting 200m vertical stretch of fixed equipment on the Passage de Derochoir.

24/08/14
Another longish day, but with duller overall scenery around the Lac de Gers and Pelouse plateau above Flaine from the Sixt valley. 20km, 1630m ascent.

Looking across alpine meadows to the Lac des Gers

The view towards Chamonix between clouds from above Flaine

25/08/14
The best day so far, a super long trail running circuit from our new book around the Varan and Plates refuges.  From Bay (above Passy / Sallanches), up to the Aiguille de Varan - an airy little scramble, and down across the crazy limestone pavement to the Plates refuge.  Down the exhilarating descent and back across to the van.  18km, 1500m ascent.

The ascent is up the valley nearer the bottom right of the picture, across the limestone pavement on center left and down between the crag top center left.

The amazing descent path

26/08/14
A very rainy day off in Chamonix.  In the run up to the UTMB there were a few running pop up stores open, but due to the rain I only stopped at a few of the open ones.

Selfie!

27/08/14
Walking in Verbier for the first time since Spring. 32km, 1500m ascent.  From la Chaux, around the sentier de Chamois, over the cols to the base of the Rosablanche, down to Tortin, up col de Chassoure and back.

View from just above La Chaux, Verbier.

Ibex on the sentier des Chamois walking route

28/08/14
An admin and rest day in Verbier, final bits of research to do and sleep in preparation for the exam in a few days.

A Kerner's Lousewort

29/08/14
Trail running on a different route from the same book, from the Col de Forclaz, past the Trient glacier over the Fenetre d'Arpette and around via Champex.  Incredible but busier.  21km, 1800m ascent.

Green mountains above the Trient village

The path that takes you up to the Fenetre D'Arpette

30/08/14
Chilled day finishing off revision and catching up with mates and last week's candidates.

Views typical of the alpine trekking in the Samoens area

31/08/14
Last minute navigation and ropework practice around the Folly hut area before the new week starts tomorrow. 10km, 800m ascent.

1-4/09/2014
The IML summer assessment - read next blog post for more.

Trient Glacier

Totals:
Days: 12 days, 10 of which were out on the hill, 8 of which were long hill days
KMs: 170km
Ascent: 12 730m ascent
Flowers spotted: lost count, over 100 - most exciting were the Mount Cenis Bellflower and Kerner's Lousewort (how sad am I!!!)
Animals seen: Ibex, Chamois, Marmot, Squirrel, people!
Birds seen: lots, I still don't know what they all are!

Best route:
Has got to be the Varan Plates day - long, but incredible, technical, quiet and amazing. 

Dark clouds in the distance bring and end to the sun - this has been one of the worst alpine summers in years.

Route to go back there for:
I never managed to get to do the Mt. Buet circuit.  Having been there in winter, I would love to do a summer hit, next year...