Pictures from the Top
1) Do I look good in this boys?
2)Is this how you ski trees??
3) Total Domination Snake stylee
4) Where is that promised sun... and whats with the yellow 80's pants?
The ice axes were put away for a few days over the weekend, and the skis were dusted off again, well to be honest there wasn’t much dust after only 2 days of non use. Anyway we had a great couple of days bashing through the powder at the Grands Montets on the skis. The top bin was open and despite a very cold wind we had some great runs from the top. We were really lucky to be joined by a very special guest, Mr Alex Duckworth aka Snake, a long time friend of Jazz. Now it became clear pretty quickly to me that Snake was very handy on the planks, not only that he is also an all round super nice guy, so I thought I should perhaps sabotage him by suggesting a boozy lunch (not that I’m competive of course). Unfortunately I seemed to get more drunk than he did so the plan to upend the Snake failed.... badly.
After a day off due to an unforseen headache (clearly a dodgy glass of wine), we put together plan B to unhinge Snake.... a ski tour, he had never done one before (hee hee) and we also played our joker by giving him a set of ill fitting skins for his skis (double hee hee). We all met up in Cham and shot off to do the classic Crochues Berard. The weather wasn’t all that great, which of course was in our favour not his.
The initial climb to the Col Des Crochues was not good for Snake, his skins were slipping just as we planned, this combined with some duff tuition about kick turns had him way out of his comfort zone. However he dug deep and soldiered upwards. Finally he had to take his skis off and boot up, this was not expected and to be frank we were catching the team in front, this was not a good sign.
The ski round Point Alph Favre was pretty nasty but the Snake coped with it....bugger!!
The 2nd session of skinning was easier than the first and Snake was doing very well until a pole was dropped...at last a mistake but NO cunningly he clipped his heels down and carefully side slipped down and retrieved it with no one noticing, clever Snake. Again due to his poor fitting skins the chap had to ditch his skis early and boot to the Col De Berard which he did in fine style considering he was wearing downhill boots. The plan to unhinge the Snake was falling apart.
The ski down the Coombe de Berard was a little chopped up but the snow was really quite nice and the Snake back in his comfort zone destroyed it all. When we finally hit the trees he had returned to his element and was popping those horrid little neat turns like a pro again...oh how we hate him.
At the wee bar at Le Buet a huge smile was on the face of Snake, especially when his hot Chocolate avec Cognac arrived. Our plan had completely failed and Snake shone through without even having to try. We did get the last laugh by turning off the heating in the spare room at our house so Snake, being warm blooded, had a rather chilly night, ho ho ho.
A big thanks to the team of Alex ‘Snake’ Duckworth, Jazz Cool and Misha for a great day in the hills, and sorry to Alex for the poor fitting skins. Also a huge thanks to Jon Braceys two clients who shared their great Chocolate Cheesecake with us on the ski down.
Then today, well it was back to pulling on ice axes. Jon Bracey and I went up to the crag at Mont Saxonnex above my house. We had a great little session knocking off an M5 and M7. Both were rather tenuous and there were a few worrying moments on some narrow flat hooks and incredibly thin ice. The crag is not that steep so the climbing is all very technical and insecure, but both routes were very very good.
Now Snake...if your reading this perhaps we should venture up there on your next vist you all round hero you.....grrrrrr!!!
Pictures from the Top
1) Do I look good in this boys?
2)Is this how you ski trees??
3) Total Domination Snake stylee
4) Where is that promised sun... and whats with the yellow 80's pants?
The ice axes were put away for a few days over the weekend, and the skis were dusted off again, well to be honest there wasn’t much dust after only 2 days of non use. Anyway we had a great couple of days bashing through the powder at the Grands Montets on the skis. The top bin was open and despite a very cold wind we had some great runs from the top. We were really lucky to be joined by a very special guest, Mr Alex Duckworth aka Snake, a long time friend of Jazz. Now it became clear pretty quickly to me that Snake was very handy on the planks, not only that he is also an all round super nice guy, so I thought I should perhaps sabotage him by suggesting a boozy lunch (not that I’m competive of course). Unfortunately I seemed to get more drunk than he did so the plan to upend the Snake failed.... badly.
After a day off due to an unforseen headache (clearly a dodgy glass of wine), we put together plan B to unhinge Snake.... a ski tour, he had never done one before (hee hee) and we also played our joker by giving him a set of ill fitting skins for his skis (double hee hee). We all met up in Cham and shot off to do the classic Crochues Berard. The weather wasn’t all that great, which of course was in our favour not his.
The initial climb to the Col Des Crochues was not good for Snake, his skins were slipping just as we planned, this combined with some duff tuition about kick turns had him way out of his comfort zone. However he dug deep and soldiered upwards. Finally he had to take his skis off and boot up, this was not expected and to be frank we were catching the team in front, this was not a good sign.
The ski round Point Alph Favre was pretty nasty but the Snake coped with it....bugger!!
The 2nd session of skinning was easier than the first and Snake was doing very well until a pole was dropped...at last a mistake but NO cunningly he clipped his heels down and carefully side slipped down and retrieved it with no one noticing, clever Snake. Again due to his poor fitting skins the chap had to ditch his skis early and boot to the Col De Berard which he did in fine style considering he was wearing downhill boots. The plan to unhinge the Snake was falling apart.
The ski down the Coombe de Berard was a little chopped up but the snow was really quite nice and the Snake back in his comfort zone destroyed it all. When we finally hit the trees he had returned to his element and was popping those horrid little neat turns like a pro again...oh how we hate him.
At the wee bar at Le Buet a huge smile was on the face of Snake, especially when his hot Chocolate avec Cognac arrived. Our plan had completely failed and Snake shone through without even having to try. We did get the last laugh by turning off the heating in the spare room at our house so Snake, being warm blooded, had a rather chilly night, ho ho ho.
A big thanks to the team of Alex ‘Snake’ Duckworth, Jazz Cool and Misha for a great day in the hills, and sorry to Alex for the poor fitting skins. Also a huge thanks to Jon Braceys two clients who shared their great Chocolate Cheesecake with us on the ski down.
Then today, well it was back to pulling on ice axes. Jon Bracey and I went up to the crag at Mont Saxonnex above my house. We had a great little session knocking off an M5 and M7. Both were rather tenuous and there were a few worrying moments on some narrow flat hooks and incredibly thin ice. The crag is not that steep so the climbing is all very technical and insecure, but both routes were very very good.
Now Snake...if your reading this perhaps we should venture up there on your next vist you all round hero you.....grrrrrr!!!
