The glorious Gebroulaz glacier

Last week, myself, Ian and his son (pictured jumping above) embarked on our annual end of winter celebration together, ski touring on the amazing Gebroulaz glacier. This glacier is located at the head of the Méribel valley bordering with Val Thorens, Europe's highest ski resort. That's the thing, it's high altitude.... very high.

So when we attached our skins onto the bottom of our skis to enable us to start walking uphill, we all knew that our lungs would soon start heaving, along with our hearts pumping away like crazy up at 11,500 feet above sea level. I don't remember my organs working this hard on the Altiport beginners' green piste during the winter !?!


However, what a reward. The views of the peaks skimming across the top of the Alps, and more importantly the local crevasses, just blow me away. No photo could ever do justice and replicate the experience.

The last pitch up is the steepest, which means that the first section skiing down the glacier the other side is also very steep. Unfortunately again photos often 'flatten' gradients, trust me it's really steep.


We had timed our ski tour to perfection, there had been precipitation the previous day which gifted us with fresh cold powder at the top. But also the sun was beating down on us all day long.


The glacier is vast, but constantly moving. It changes character every year, in other words, we couldn't rely on memory of where the dangerous deep crevasses were. Ian and I noticed several interesting changes since our previous tour last spring. However, we were still able to select pitch after pitch of clean virgin snow.


Canon came along for the tour as well, and was kept busy capturing these images. Ian kindly took Canon off my hands and recorded me skiing down leaving some 'old school' squiggles behind.


Eventually we all made it safely off the glacier and aimed for our picnic spot at the Refuge du Saut. We took our time with our picnic, enjoying the weather, watching a distant group of chamois, discussing how to teach skiing technique when off-piste. When suddenly, BOOOOOOM, all hell let loose noisely above us. At first I thought it was a rock fall, when in fact it was an avalanche high above us coming our way.


I felt a 'little' uneasy, but Ian soon snapped me out of it by shouting 'Take a photo, quick'. Sure I thought, where's Canon, but it's getting a bit close. In fact it settled about thirty metres away from us. What caused it? A bumbling Marmot on the cliff above us disturbing the snow, or the high temperatures causing a natural slide, or even the 'Good Lord Above' kindly reminding us where we were? Who knows? But what an awesome day yet again in the mountains.

In about a week's time I shall be leaving Méribel to return back to England, this time Leamington Spa. I've already spoken to my boss at the driving school BSM, about re-joining as an instructor. She seemed delighted, and can't wait to hear all about my winter. Blimey where do I start? But in two weeks' time I shall be back on the dual controls again, patiently guiding learner drivers around the Midlands. Please make extra allowances on the road when you see an 'L' plate sign on a driving school car. You never know, I maybe inside !?!?!

Martin

P.S. Meanwhile, just below the snow line down in the valley.... Following up on my previous post titled Deer stalk. I've still occasionally been trying to get that elusive 'stunning' photograph of mountain deer. But time to own up and give the latest scores on the doors; Martin/Canon 'nil', Deer '53,553'. Ooops, those mountain deer are good. In fact I swear I hear them laugh louder each time at me as I'm spotted and then dart away. Oh well. Where's that Highway Code?

UPDATE: Wednesday April 28th

P.P.S. Have totally given up on deer stalking now, they are stunning creatures, but such a tease. However, would you like to hear about the latest photographic score with our furry friends called 'Marmot' ? It's Martin/Canon '5', Marmot 'nil'. Here goes with the photos from todays short walk up at Lac de Tueda;

And finally, my favourite of these little fluffy creatures from this morning, enjoy......

Operation Stalk

Over the last few days I've muddied my walking boots every day. Why? Because I'm on holiday and I love to continue enjoying the fabulous French Alps and all that it has to offer.


The lower half of the Méribel valley has snow melting as fast as hair disappears from my forehead, it's that fast!?! This time of year Canon and I pretend to be wildlife photographers, with a mixture of success. Late evening and early morning excursions can sometimes result in mountain deer sightings. It often involves me crawling around on my belly 'commando' style, trying to avoid squashing noisy twigs, leaves and anything else that gives away my stealth like position.


Deer have amazing power of sight and smell. I'm no real match for these finely evolved creatures. If there's more than one of them together then I'm normally stuffed, no chance, forget it. I will have about two seconds to take a photo before they shoot off and away at lightning speed.


This morning I had the bright idea of getting up at 6am to launch into my next 'Operation Deer Stalk', after last Sundays success which produced these deer photos. Through sleepy eyes I could see that the sky was clear of clouds after crawling out of bed, game on. The coffee pot was switched on hastily, and then muesli poured all over the floor instead of in my cereal bowl. Not a great start. Anyway, how did it go during todays Operation? Well, there were plenty of fresh deer tracks, and heaps of fresh poo everywhere. But, nothing, not a jot, didn't see a thing. Hemsley/Canon 'nil', Deer 'one' yet again. Today just wasn't the day to build on my current portfolio. However, a beautiful morning was had drinking strong coffee from my flask looking across at the distant peaks, without deer for company. But what a great way to start the day.


But I did have some luck the other day though, in spotting a fox from a distance. We were both next to a very noisy stream, swollen from snow melt, which meant that he couldn't hear my approach.


Come on Foxy, look this way please towards Canon.


No not that way, this way, damn!?! And off he sped as I was cursing his lack of cooperation. Hemsley/Canon 'nil', Foxy 'one'. Oh well, another great experience was enjoyed yet again.

I recently went ski touring up and down the amazing Gebroulaz glacier. I'm still buzzing from the epic trip. An awesome sunny day, with recent fresh snow, solitude, incredible views, where Canon and I had much more luck with taking better photos. I'll post about it in a few days time. Aren't holidays the best, especially in Méribel?

Martin

P.S. Is it me, or do mountains often smile at us?

Jobless

At this late stage of the winter, I experience many emotions. My lessons have finished for another year, which means I'm now jobless again !?! Suddenly from being on a high when teaching, to having no work is a shock to the system. As soon as the body realises it doesn't have to crawl out of bed first thing in the morning and rush down to work, it decides to shut down on you.


I love my job with a passion. Many times before on this blog I've stated that it is the best job in the world for me. But holy cow, it's exhausting at times. That's why over the last few days I've imitated being a marmot in winter, ie in hibernation. However at the end of last week I finished skiing with the Joneses and extended family, it was brilliant fun. Here are further photos from last week.


Each day the pistes became more and more quiet. Lift queues completely disappeared. The mountain restaurants were empty and the days sunny and long.


Many of my colleagues left the resort last weekend to go back to their homes around France. Some locals asked if I was going to have a holiday before going back to the UK. I replied "Yep, I'm having my holiday here in Méribel". They looked delighted for me and nodded with respect.


Surely there's no better place than Méribel to be on holiday? There is still plenty of skiing to be had, especially ski touring up at high altitude. I'll be dusting off Canon again before heading up and down the mountains to see if we can find any wildlife and jaw dropping views.


Fine French wine and cheese will be bought and consumed (oh and fruit and veg of course if Harriet is reading this). In between all of this, I'll be planning weekends away with Harriet to various places that we both love around the UK. For example the Lake District, Yorkshire, Derbyshire, Cornwall and Snowdonia.


I hope you have all enjoyed following the blog again this winter, I've certainly enjoyed sharing my passion for skiing and the mountains. Do keep reading in the next couple of weeks though before I head back. Right, where's my glass of wine, I am holiday now after all.

Martin

Powder, picnics and couloirs

Since the weekend I've been skiing with the Joneses and their extended family from Scotland and Seattle, USA. Yet again we received further amazing fresh powder, but this time with bright sunshine as soon as the lifts opened. Our first run together was off-piste in deep powder. This is Andrew literally making his tenth turn since arriving from Seattle.


Baptism of fire, but hey, it had to be done. Everybody skied really well in the deep stuff, especially when you consider how rare it is to be able to practise in these conditions. We all had massive smiles on our faces for hours afterwards; one of those days that we will never forget. Here is Chris, a dedicated Méribel skier, who couldn't believe his luck with the April powder.


Not only have we had deep, fresh, light, untracked powder this week; but the sun has been out as well. What excellent conditions for picnics on the piste!

There's something about 'roughing it' whilst having lunch enjoying the views and weather, away from other people.


As we all know, children don't like to sit still for long. Here are Iona and Olivia showing us how to perform forward somersaults.


Very entertaining but I'm not sure any of the adults were inspired to try these antics ourselves.


Anyway, back to the skiing. Rob was very keen to learn what else Méribel had to offer in terms of challenging expert skiing. The Joneses had kindly invited Harriet along as well, so Rob, Harriet and I went off to ski several couloirs. A couloir is beyond a black piste in difficulty. Basically, they are off-piste, very steep and often very narrow. Here is Harriet negotiating the nasty knife-egded ridge on the way to a couloir, between Courchevel and Méribel at the top of Saulire. No room for errors here or else............


We skied down several couloirs including the Grand Couloir, the Méribel Couloir, the Gasex Couloir and various other steep gullies. What a week we are all having! April often gives us these treats before strong spring temperatures start affecting our beloved pistes.

Martin

P.S. It's no good, I just can't resist showing other photos from this week. Sorry if it's been overkill on the powder skiing images recently, but it's what us skiers dream about isn't it? Here are Harriet and Rob from Monday. Enjoy.

Boys will be boys

This week Arthur and I have been skiing together with various members of his family and friends. The other day I skied with Arthur and his Uncle Jonathan. It was lovely being part of their bonding experience on skis. When being on chairlifts together, they often pretended that they were on a wonky, scary, tilting roller-coaster, as pictured above.


But little did I realise that they would constantly be challenging each other to be the best skier, and also to be the silliest at the same time. I really regret showing Arthur how to flick snow accurately from one's skis towards someone else !?!


Thankfully the skiing conditions this week have been sublime, cold temperatures and fresh snow most days. Arthur's father Rory enjoyed demonstrating how to ski in the April powder.


"What do you think to that, Uncle Jonathan...... Jonathan, stop bullying Arthur and pick on someone your own size please."


At least Auntie Sparkie is able to ignore the silly boys, and enjoy her own powder skiing.


"Arthur, it's your turn again to ski off and show your family how good a powder skier you are, Arthur, Arthur...."


"Arthur, for goodness sake please stop flicking snow and show some respect to your elders. Actually, fair do's, it's only Uncle Jonathan. Anyway, time to go powder skiing again."


What a wonderful week in these wintery skiing conditions. The weather forecast is indicating that the low temperatures are due to continue with even further snowfalls tomorrow evening. Brilliant. What a great winter, sorry, Easter period.

Martin

P.S. Did Arthur and Jonathan ever stop flicking snow at each other? Hmm, eventually.