Ski Touring From Grand St Bernard Monastery

Ski Touring From Grand St Bernard Monastery

Nora Anderson, Chamonix Private Ski Touring Guiding - Hut Trip, April 2023

What a fantastic 2-days of touring & skiing w Gareth:
He was such a patient & positive guide – I had such a great time! Our second day: touring + Verbier! Amazing ⭐️ The monastery was spectacular, so special.

Ski touring from Grand St Bernard with the famous Monastery centre upper right.

Thank you so much for organizing!  Nora

Ski Mountaineering In The Bernese Oberland

Ski Mountaineering In The Bernese Oberland

Simon Everett, Ski 4000m Peaks, May 2023

Thanks again Rob. Been an awesome time. I always trust your chosen options as safe yet inspiring. You ticked that box yet again. All the best to you for the summer.

Good snow conditions for a rapid and enjoyable boot up to the Fieschersattel at 3923m.

Great skimo, great pics and great company!!

Many thanks!

Simon

Ski Gran Paradiso April 2023

Ski Gran Paradiso April 2023

Rowan Gundry, 3 day ski Gran Paradiso group course

I wanted to drop you a line to say thank you for your impeccable organisation. We’ve had a brilliant 3 days with Dave and a very special summit day yesterday which was as exhilarating as this beautiful peak should be. Dave was unfailingly brilliant.

Rowan and Rasmus high on Gran Paradiso.

Thank you so much. I’m sure I’ll be in touch in the future for more adventures!
Rowan

Matterhorn Training & Climbing In The Lake District

Matterhorn Training & Climbing In The Lake District

Chris Cura, Corvus & Sheperds Crag, Borrowdale

Just returned from an immensely beneficial weekend’s rock climbing in the Lake District arranged by High Mountain Guides, with highly experienced guide Robin Beadle. Starting with a soaking ascent of Corvus on Raven Crag on Saturday; we completed Brown slabs in a single pitch, and Little Chamonix, both at Shepherds’ Crag on Sunday.

Chris on Corvus…in typical Borrowdale weather! Photo Robin Beadle

This has increased my skill and confidence immeasurably and now I’ve climbed a V Diff for the first time! I’m sure this has moved me closer to my goal of the MatterhornChris

Vallée Blanche Ski Touring Open Day, April 2023

Vallée Blanche Ski Touring Open Day, April 2023

Anita & David Phillips, Group Touring Day in the Vallee Blanche

A brilliant day out on the Italian side of the Vallée Blanche combining a ski tour with a technical descent.

Rob was safe, knowledgeable and fun.

Our early April Ski Vallee Blanche guided team descent enjoying the wonderful spring ambiance in the upper Vallee Blanche.

He pitched the day perfectly for the group’s capabilities.

Thanks for a great day Rob, we absolutely loved it.  Anita & David

Chamonix Rock Climbing Intro April 2023

Chamonix Rock Climbing Intro April 2023

Chiara & Adam Sutton, Private Guiding Chamonix Rock Climbing

My wife & I just finished 2 amazing days of rock climbing training in Chamonix. Our objective was to become safe & proficient at the basics to be able to go out with our kids & enjoy a days climbing in the mountains safely. Given the stakes involved we decided to get some proper instruction, and Rob delivered in the best possible way. There was great communication leading up to the dates. Rob really made sure he knew what we were trying to achieve, tailoring the training perfectly. He answered all our questions, advised on kit & watched the weather until the last minute! First day we woke up to snow in Chamonix. Rob’s great knowledge of the valley  meant that wasn’t a problem as he knew of an overhanging face where we started our training under the protection of the rock, warm & dry. We were both novices with a few indoor climbs and knot-tying YouTube videos under our belts, and Rob pitched things just right. We were soon climbing together, building confidence and skills on 3s and 4s. Rob’s lovely style of teaching was to give us a bit of rope (pun intended), but always be there to safeguard, encourage, challenge our decisions and reinforce key messages, mixing the practical techniques of climbing with the rope theory in just the right proportions.

Adam lead climbing training at Les Gaillands in Chamonix

The second day was a perfect blue sky day at the incredible Les Gaillands crag. Sunny warm rock, the unmatched back drop of the Mont Blanc range and even an impressively horned Ibex balancing expertly on the rock nearby. Rob started where we left off, helping us consolidate our skills with some lead climbing and top-roping. Then we moved on to some brilliant multi-pitch climbs and long abseils, learning new skills and techniques all the time, but above all, having lots of fun. We tried & failed proudly on an overhang (6a I like to think), learned how to use a GriGri, rested tired feet while Rob taught us about anchors & slings, before finishing with a long climb to reinforce everything we had learned. After two full days on the rock we were mentally and physically exhausted, but feeling elated and fully prepared to go it alone. Thanks Rob for two wonderful and unforgettable days climbing. It was a joy to be coached by you.  Adam and Chiara

Chamonix Based Ski Touring Weekend In Val d’Aosta

Chamonix Based Ski Touring Weekend In Val d’Aosta

Jenny Halse & Colin Doig, Pila Ski Touring & Courmayeur Off Piste Weekend, March 23

Awesome weekend. Thanks Rob for your fab guiding and being so responsive to the conditions to make it such a success.

Thanks team for the banter and laughter. Great fun.  Jenny

Ski Touring In Pila, Val d’Aosta

Yes thanks all for a fantastic weekend. Yesterday was an all time great. Enorme indeed.
Enjoyed skiing with you all, and Rob thanks for helping us make the most of conditions.
Colin

Grand St. Bernard Ski Touring Weekend…Plan B!

Grand St. Bernard Ski Touring Weekend…Plan B!

Rachel Lawrence, Val d'Aosta Ski Touring & Off Piste Weekend, March 2023

Had a fantastic ski weekend with Rob. The weather forecast prevented plan A for tour to the monastery but Rob was great in suggesting great options for 2 days making most of weather forecast in other places…so 2 days in Italy. We had a great group with lots of laughs and got some touring, fresh ski lines and fab fresh powder tree skiing.

Rob’s excellent knowledge meant we got lots of fresh powder lines and had awesome day out enjoying the winter mountains.

Rachel 

Ski Vallee Blanche Descent

Ski Vallee Blanche Descent

Jesse & Kirk, Vallee Blanche guiding, Mid March 2023

Hey Rob,
We definitely were challenged. Thank you for setting us up with John. His professionalism, instruction and encouragement enabled us to experience the Vallee Blanche from the Midi descent.

Much improved snow conditions in the Vallee Blanche, mid March 2023

Ski run of a lifetime for us.

Jesse & Kirk

Chamonix Ski Touring Weekend, March 2023

Chamonix Ski Touring Weekend, March 2023

Grand St Bernard Monastery - Evasion Ski Touring Weekend (Plan B)

Thank you Rob for a great weekend, organising in difficult conditions and passing on your insights. Duncan

Yes thanks again Rob, great instruction, great ski weekend. Nice to meet you all! Stay dry out there!  Chris 

Plan B ski touring options with poor weather and high avalanche risk.  Touring and training on mellow terrain in the Portes du Mont Blanc ski area.

A great weekend.Thanks Rob for everything In challenging conditions and really enjoyed skiing with you guys. Julian

Ski Vallée Blanche – Guided Group Day

Ski Vallée Blanche – Guided Group Day

Laura Smith, Feb 2023
We had a fantastic day. The weather was amazing and the decent so picturesque.
Gavin was a brilliant guide I felt safe and in good hands for the entire day.
Vallee Blanche team enjoying the amazing scenery and a little fresh snow on the last day of Feb 2023
Thanks again.  I’ll be back next year for some more ski touring.
Laura
Val Feret – Rifugio Bonatti Ski Touring Weekend

Val Feret – Rifugio Bonatti Ski Touring Weekend

James Shawdon, Feb 2023, Intro+ Ski Touring Course

Heya Rob,

Thanks very much for an awesome weekend.  Already looking forward to Grand St Bernard.
Ski Touring Above Rifugio Bonatti. Photo Thanks To James Shawdon
See you in a few weeks!
JOS
Chamonix Off Piste & Touring Skills

Chamonix Off Piste & Touring Skills

Colin Doig, Jan 2023 Progression Course

Rob, Alison 

Thanks for a great week, had a fabulous time exploring somewhere I’d heard about, but never actually been. The combination of rob and derek was excellent.
Colin Ski Touring In The Magnificent Argentiere Basin, Chamonix
Thanks again and best wishes to everyone, we were a good group and I enjoyed our adventures together.
Colin 
Chamonix Intro Ski Touring Weekend Jan 2023

Chamonix Intro Ski Touring Weekend Jan 2023

Simon Tempest, Intro Ski Touring In Chamonix & Megeve
When doing the Vallee Blanche with Rob’s team last year, I was inspired to try ski touring and booked on an introductory weekend. As before Rob’s organisation and communication was excellent and he teamed me up with Gav who was my guide and mentor for the trip.
It was everything I’d hoped it would be. Out of sight of lifts, pistes and for the most part people, day 1 was a real trip but also a skill learning day. Day 2 was a day of heavy snow and a trip from Megeve to Petit Croisse Baulet was planned. What an enjoyable day as the snow fell. A mix of pleasant touring, then an ascent to the col, followed by a fantastic ski back down in fluffy powder. We even had a mock avalanche exercise thrown in.
Simon skiing the storm powder at Megeve on our intro ski touring weekend.
Always safe, constantly challenged, learning every minute. I finished up a tired but very happy bunny!  Simon
Chamonix Winter Mountaineering Intro & Glacier Snow Shoe Journey

Chamonix Winter Mountaineering Intro & Glacier Snow Shoe Journey

Ben & Emily, New York, December 2022

We had such a lovely time mountaineering with Rob off the Skyway Monte Bianco. Rob is an amazing guide in all respects— knowledgeable, fun to be with, and a great teacher. Couldn’t recommend him enough

Emily & Ben coming up to the Col de Toule on our winter mountaineering intro and snow shoe glacier journey from Skyway Monte Bianco.

We both had a such a great day and appreciate the photos!

Ben & Emily

Autumn Monte Rosa Ascent

Autumn Monte Rosa Ascent

Eren & Alex, Mountaineering Training & Monte Rosa Ascent, Oct 2022
Thank you both for superb week. Gav was a brilliant guide, who pushed us and help us improve our own skills throughout the trip. Safety was always paramount, which is exactly why it’s worth getting a professional guide, no matter your own experience.
Alex & Eren on the 4563m summit of the Zumsteinspitze in the Monte Rosa Massif. A lovely chilly pristine feel to the mountains in early autumn.
The weather didn’t play ball, which meant we didn’t have a shot at the gran paradiso summit or MB. However, between Rob and Gav, other plans were made quickly, which led to some of the best climbing we have experienced. The Monte Rosa was outstanding, and we will be back for some more of that, plus get ourselves up MB.  Looking forward to our next trip with yourselves already…
Eren & Alex.
Autumn Mont Blanc Course – Oct 2022

Autumn Mont Blanc Course – Oct 2022

Matt Saunders, Climb Monte Rosa & Mont Blanc courses

Given today is now our rest day, I’d just thought I’d take a moment to say thank you. I have had a brilliant week. I think we had some tricky conditions to deal with but for me, this just added to the experience. I was of course disappointed not to summit but given the conditions, Gav absolutely made the right decision. Further to that, please pass on my thanks and forward him this email, he was exceptional. I learnt so much from him and always felt very safe.

Jerome & Matt on an adventurous autumn attempt on Mont Blanc, reaching 4550m on the Bosses Ridge, Oct 2022

I will certainly come back and probably arrange some private guiding to tailor the days to suit me and the conditions at that time.
Thanks again and I hope to be in touch soon to arrange my next trip with you (and Gav). I just need to broach it carefully with my wife first!
Best wishes to you both,
Matt.

Sept 2022, Moiry Hut & Mountaineering Training

Sept 2022, Moiry Hut & Mountaineering Training

Simon Withey, Chamonix & Swiss Alpine Mountaineering, Training & Guiding

Hi Rob, yes really good few days thanks, especially considering I couldn’t walk very well 6 weeks ago! Thanks to you and Hamish for rearranging the dates at short notice. Hamish was really good.

On the Pointe de Mourti (PD) above the Moiry Glacier and Hut.

Simon

Gran Paradiso & Monte Rosa Ascents, Sept 2022

Gran Paradiso & Monte Rosa Ascents, Sept 2022

Simon & Toby, Alpine Mountaineering & Mont Blanc Course
We had a great trip thanks and really enjoyed climbing with Neil. The disappointment at not having a crack at MB was more than made up by the great days on Monte Rosa and the fine hospitality in the Rifugio Gnifetti. Thank you both for the swift and seamless change of plans.
High summer bridging conditions on the glacier route from Chabod Hut
All the best, Simon 
Gran Paradiso Group Course September 2022

Gran Paradiso Group Course September 2022

Chen Avinadav, Gran Paradiso Summit Climb & Mountaineering Intro
Thanks for organizing this course, I really enjoyed all parts of the program.  The Gran Paradiso course was well designed and well executed, and overall provided an excellent introduction to alpine mountaineering. Our guide, Kev, was instrumental in the program success. On the mountain, he guided and pushed us hard just the right amount to literally reach new highs, while always keeping us safe and well informed. He was happy to share from his vast knowledge and taught us the basics of moving on the glacier and preparing for the climb. Chapeau! Chen. 
Atmospheric late summer glacier conditions on the Gran Paradiso in Sept 2022