 Poster: A snowHead
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Very nice, the Rectiligne looks amazing. Pretty jealous here.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Swirly, Col de Belvedere was better. Beautiful hike up (with Remy breaking trail  ). Scary steep (50 degrees) at the top and then a fabulous 1500m descent to Le Buet. Not another track in the valley.
We were hoping to do Aiguille du Tacul this morning (1000m skin up the other side from the salle a manger) but unfortunately there was too much snow/wind and he thought it was too risky.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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bobinch, Looks fantastic - majorly envious here right now. Wow!
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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bobinch, great stuff. I had the same problem heading for the Aiguille du Tacul in Jan 
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Good job!!
Are you using the rope at the entrance to the couloir by avalanche danger?? Or due to couloir stepness??
The snow looks really good
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| AlTom wrote: |
Good job!!
Are you using the rope at the entrance to the couloir by avalanche danger?? Or due to couloir stepness??
The snow looks really good |
Only steepness. It was 50 degrees at the top and we had never skied anything that steep before. It is quite intimidating when you go over the lip and I guess he didn't want to kill his clients on the first morning! There was also a bar of rocks below so falling would have entailed an uncomfortable ending....
It was a great experience and I think my skiing technique improved more than in the last 10 years skiing off piste. It has certainly given us more confidence to get out of difficult situations but has not made me any more eager to ski really steep stuff as he makes crystal clear that the implication of a mistake can be very serious.
He has skied the front side of the midi 8 times. His best time down including the rappel is 20 minutes 
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bobinch, Great pics again, thanks for sharing
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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bobinch, very nice indeed
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bobinch, Wow it looks like you had a fantastic time. v envious. I'm in Cham quite a bit in March/April - could you forward Remys contact details? I take it you recommend his services? I'd like to learn about lift-based touring (am a strong off-piste skier, but no experience of skinning) would he be the right man or do i have too much to learn about going up the hard way?
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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bobinch, Nicework, looks awesome.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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ww166no, IMHO if you're just getting into it I wouldn't start with Remy. I'd join a group like the sort of thing that mountain tracks does and build up your experience on touring equipment and fitness if necessary. Call Remy once you're confident, fit and want to really push yourself. His details are at www.remylecluse.com
Last edited by And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports. on Tue 23-02-10 10:39; edited 1 time in total
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RPF, got your Naxos yet? Spring is on it's way and there's some great touring to do!
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You know it makes sense.
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bobinch, superb, it would have been good to record your heart rate at the top of 50 degrees, I trust you celebrated the day in good style!?
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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norris, have you done the Aiguille du Tacul route before? He was pretty excited about doing it so I assume it is a bit special "Grandiose" was his description! Brenva glacier is next on the list. It also got the "grandiose" description
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Poster: A snowHead
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bobinch, No Think I'll pick up some Dukes at a good price this week and get em mounted.
There is snow forecast for this week if you are around. I'm sure Gorilla and Swirly will be up for a blast too if there are tracks to be made.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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bobinch, sweeeeeEEeeeeeet. Nice. I've skied with Remy a few times, awesome guy. "eeeeh, don't fall 'ere, OK?"
ww166no, try First Tracks, Nick Parks (he posts on here sometimes, someone will tell you his username) is the man. Remy works for Nick sometimes. Tell Nick what you need and he'll hook you up.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Of course you're right bobinch, what was i thinking! ability to decend far exceeds both fitness and obvious lack of upward skills/knowledge. . . Still, got to start somewhere, any more pointers on where/how/who to start with in the Cham valley?
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Great pictures. Looks like you had a good time. I skied the Belvedere about 15 years ago with Roland Steiger and he also roped us in.
I love skiing with Remy but don't go to Chamonix much now since it gets skied out so quickly. But when Cham is good it is still very very good.
ww166no, Nick is good, but you might also consider Roland if he is available. A big personality.
Last edited by You need to Login to know who's really who. on Tue 23-02-10 10:38; edited 3 times in total
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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ww166no, www.offpisteskiing.com he posts on here as offpisteskiing.
Great instructor and wonderful guy to ski with. He ran a weekend intro to touring course in December for a few Snowheads. It was my first time on touring kit, I got a lot out of it.
He based that course in Cham and Les Contamines.
perhaps if you can get a group together he might be able to do something similar.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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RPF, is offpisteskiing.com several guides? I assume by "he" you meant Nick rather than Roland?
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snowball, No its Simon Christy I'm referring too as offpisteskiing.
Sorry it look like I was answering parlor, about Nicks user name.
Simon runs the courses himself and sometimes works with other guides.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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ww166no, I can't give you a personal recommendation for another guide in Chamonix as I'd never used one there before. But Remy runs some courses for Mountain Tracks who offer options at all levels. http://www.mountaintracks.co.uk/winter I would suggest you give them a ring and see what they have going on when you are there. I believe it was started by Nick Parkes, the guy Parlor is referring to above. They could probably also hook you up with a private guide if that's what you are looking for. I'm sure the personal recommendations above from RPF and Snowball will also be good.
Note: don't underestimate fitness (including fitness at altitude). It is a big part of touring. Doing conversions on a steep slope at high altituide ater a long ascent is quite a challenge in itself. Then skiing down, usually starting in good conditions but often ending up in avalanche rubble, tight trees, heavy stuff or often a mixture of the above works your lungs and legs like lift served rarely does. If I were you I would be looking for someone patient who is not going to kill you on your first day and will take the time to teach you properly with a good sense of humour. There are guides out there who bug off ahead barking instructions and scream at you for minor indiscretions. When you book a guide don't overstate your level and don't be afraid to ask for what you want.
The option to stick some skins on and hike opens up a whole new set of possibilities. If you have a sense of adventure, enjoy skiing off piste and getting away from the crowds there are few things that rival it IMHO.
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I take your point regarding fitness and over-optimism bobinch,
Thank you all for the advice, just so I've got it straight:
parlor, and bobinch, are recommending Nick Parks (First Tracks/Mountain tracks), user name?
RPF, is recommending Simon Christy, 'offpisteskiing'
snowball, is recommending Roland Steiger
Sounds like what RPF, did with offpisteskiing is what i'm looking for, i'll get in touch. Off-piste and away from the crowds is exactly what i'm looking for more of!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Great pictures, the entrance does look a little on the steep side!
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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I also agree with Nick Parks (I don't know Simon). I'm not sure if he puts people together or just does private bookings. I'm fairly sure Roland just does private bookings and since he was the first guide to break away from the official organisation and go private he is quite famous and will probably be booked up. I'm assuming he still works - it is 10 years since I skied with him.
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