Tim Blakemore Mountain Guide & Dan climbing in Cogne
Winter 2023/24
The following is a rolling lst of routes and courses I have worked this season.
January
Avalanche course for Chamex. Sadly witnessed a tragic avalanche at Le Tour, Chamonix
3 Day introduction to ski touring including Prarion and Mont Lachat, Col Ouest de Barrasson and the Punta Croce
2 days in Cogne including L’Acheronte WI3 and Monday Money WI4
February
5 days climbing in Spain’s Costa Blanca:
Direcha del Espelon 5, Orihuela
Epselon Central 5, Puig Campagna, an outstanding adventure.
Sierra de Toix, Tropical Dreams cragging to 6A
North Ridge of the Serra Ferrer
Magical Mystery Tour 5, Toix sea cliffs
2 day’s ski touring around the Cabane Brunet, Switzerland
Testa Crevacol and North face ski tour, vallee d’Aoste
Vallee Blanche, Petit Envers
Off piste Grands Montets
Croise Baulet, Aravis
3 day ski tour based from the Refuge du Pres, val montjoie and the Beaufortain. Rochers des Enclaves, Col de la Fenetre, Col du Bonhomme, Rocher du Bonhomme West face, Tete Nord des Fours and Mont Jovet.
2 x Vallee Blanche
March
6 day traverse of the Western Bernes Alps from Col de Pillon (Glacier 3000) to the Gemmi Pass (Leukerbad) in Switzerland. Very challenging conditions for the first few days including an 8 hour whiteout day on compass bearing. We stayed at the Gelten hut, Wildhorn hut, Wildstrubel hut and the Lammeren hut. We climbed the Arpelistock, Wildstrubel and the Daubenhorn along the way.
2 day’s glacial ski touring in the Mont Blanc massif: the Glacier d’Argentiere (and refuge) and Cirque Maudit and the Vallee Blanche
6 day’s ski touring in the Slovakian High Tatras. We enjoyed the varied terrain and culture of this relatively little known area – a hidden gem.
April
7 day’s ski mountaineering on part of the Ecrins Ski Haute Route. We skied the Col de Clot de Cavales, Pic de Chamoissière, Brèche de Plate des Agneaux, Col Emile Pic, Roche Faurio and the Col de Monetier. A wild and serious journey for confirmed ski mountaineers.
SW Face of the Aigulle du Plan on a British Mountain Guide’s Ski Assessment
1 week’s ski touring in Arctic Norway (Malangen Peninsula)
May
A 7 day Ski and Sail expedition to the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard.
A varied season but with mixed weather and conditions as a trend.