A reflection

I don't quite know where to start or better said I don't know wether I should start at all. As this year has been so turbulent, sad and stressful I can't get myself overly motivated to write about it. However despite all the bad moments there were also many good ones even though I didn't experience them as such at the time as I really couldn't care less where I was or what I was doing towards the end of last summer and during the past winter. Many people have said to me how lucky I have been to be away so much in different countries, on different adventures etc but the only place I wanted to be really deep in my heart was at home with my family or working so that I felt I did something useful. I didn't work at all last winter and I probably should have spend more time with my family instead of being so stupidly driven to do more training, more assessments etc. I couldn't get myself to think that all my trips away weren't a holiday but were part of training and experience towards my assessments etc. I only was thinking of guilt all the time and never really knew for sure whether I had made the right decision or not at that particular time. One of my assessments I didn't even pass after all the training and effort. I got very ill on the lead up to it and during the assessment I got worse. I was in hospital twice. Probably completely run down and washed out after my mums funeral. On top of that I experienced the worst assessor and subsequently assessment I have ever done. But never mind, it is just an assessment and not the end of the world, true but it is a big cut in the good old finances of which I didn't really gain any positive experience. I always thought I was so positive and strong but this year I broke big style. Any little disturbance in my life this year felt like the biggest wall I would ever climb in my life and every wall no matter big or small I felt I would never be able to climb. Now nowhere near the top of many of my walls I am climbing though and that is a good thing!!

The family 4 months before mum died

I will write some positiveness on this blog, don't let me worry you or drag you down in my own doom and gloom but I have also realized that there is no such thing as always positive and always happy and so there is not point in pretending I am currently in that frame of mind. Probably so far the worst year out of my life. Well you might say there are many people that are a lo worse of than you, True again but I am not all these other worst people, I am Me and I have so my own problems. I found it hugely sad that I have done such amazing things this year, been to so many nice places, met the nicest bloke in the world but I didn't experience many sensations of joy. No matter how hard I tried I just felt depressed and wanted to do nothing but nothing at all. My first time this year I started to feel some moments of enjoyment again has been when I came back to the UK and started working again, probably as I started to feel useful and was starting to earn some pennies again, being able to spend time in my own environment again, being in my own doss between my own things and seeing my own friends again. Also my recent trip to Turkey I lived some good, enjoyable moments although I am know where near the positive, happy, smiley girl I used to be. I have been trying so bad to get back that sensation of really living and experiencing everything I do but for some reason most things I do these days feel more like an yet another day away without serious meaning. There is, well how will I describe it, maybe it is like no fulfillment.

The references in my life

Many people would call me ungrateful but I am not ungrateful of the things I have done this year and the things others have done for me, in fact it is more a feeling of guild towards all the people that are trying so hard to make me feel better and yet I am still so far away from being better, it is more like an up and down all the time. I you will continue reading, you will read about all those amazing adventures and about the illness and last precious moments of my mum and how lucky we were as a family to be together when my mum died. Everything full of love and support and yet still I feel without energy and quite depressed. I look at photos of a year and a half back and I am seriously wondering wether that's really me I am looking at. That smiley girl with a glow on her face and an expression of excitement and energy. I constantly feel on edge, I snap at the people I love most over the minutest things, I shout at people in on the road whilst I am the one that is driving like a maniac and so on. I often wonder myself whether this is normal or not. The only thing for myself I can say is that this wasn't the me that was a year and ago. Maybe not necessarily abnormal but a different, more serious me. There is not much to do other than accept the current situation and go with it, hopefully more positive and returning to that happy, cheery, energetic person that once was.

Mother and daughter

The Trip of Powder and Pack: Cantabric Coast to Bareges/Mongie to Andorra to Tignes to La Grave back to Pyrenees Mont Agut!!

The crossing of the couloir below the summit slope of Castro Valnera

For anyone that looks for undiscovered and untouched mountains to ski in, the Cantabric coast is the sweet spot to be. I knew that these mountains are great for mountaineering, climbing and walking but to see these mountains under white fluff with views to the sea added another dimension!

Mountains like Gorbea, Zalama, Pico de la Miel, Castro Valnera, Anboto are all classics that offer something to every level of ski mountaineer. Whether you want to ski rounded wide slopes or technical couloirs you can have it!

Cantabric Coast -  The Basque country

On my first day in Pais Basque we went for a warm up tour to Gorbea (1475m) although there was little chance of heat as it was a bitter day especially on the summit which had a fierce wind blowing! Gorbea is the main mountain in the province of Bizkai. In a direct line from the summit there are less than 40km to the sea. So if you fancy a surf you climb the mountain first and than go for a plunge in afternoon! It very much has a Scottish feel to it due to exposure.

 The summit cross of Gorbea

 

Fixing my bindings

...

There are many routes to climb this mountain but the following route is the best for a ski tour and describes the north east ascent. We drove from Bilbao to Zeanuri and took the mountain road up to Lanbreabe. We parked the car near the dam in the forest at 800m. You follow the tarmac track until you see the huts on the meadows of Aldaminapa. This area is often occupied by shepherds that look after their goats, sheep, horses and cows. The refuges belong to different mountain clubs and unfortunately are only open to members but you can camp if you are keen!

From the meadows of Aldaminapa you ascent the col of Aldamin (1250m) and continue to the summit. You have to be careful in bad weather because there are many hollows typical in mountains formed by limestone and in bad visibility it is very easy to end up in one! Take particular care on the 2nd part of the ascent to the col and to the summit as there is a big hollow on your left that has got some serious drop offs, cornices and very steep walls...take much care on descent..stay left away from edge.  The descent follows the same way as ascent but there are other options. If you like info send me an email.

On my second day we drove over the pass of El Cabrio to the village of San Peleyo. About 1 hr south west from Bilbao and about an 1.5 hr east of the Picos.  We choose to climb a mountain named Zalama which lies on the border between the Provinces of Burgos and Bizkai. A rounded mountain, in a very wild area, covered in trees with beautiful views to the Sierra Salvada range.

The lower slopes of Zalama with the Sierra Salvada range in background

Views to the Sierra Salvada range

We started from the village of San Peleyo, a place that hasn't changed to 21st century life yet. The local shop functions as the local bar and is a gathering point for the locals. The village is very old and only has few habitants. Our ascent went onto the south flank through a forest of birch. Once on the open hillside we thought we saw a wolf which later was confirmed by the locals as they told us that over the last few months they had sighted 3 and 21 lambs were killed by wolf recently. The whole ascent is very gradual. The total ascent didn't take more then 2.5hrs and as the snow and skiing was so good that we descended into the forest, went back up again and descended back to the village. The descents on the south side are easy angled and open hillside plus forest. However you can descent on the north side which has some challenging couloirs. If you feel up for more continue touring to west over the whole range.

The summit of Zalama

Haitz ...our very own mascot and nose for the best snow!!!

Asier, Ekaitz, Jokin and me....half of the team

 

Unaitxu maitea

Patxi

 

Christeltxu

In the evening we drove to Espinosa the los Monteros, an ancient village that is the entrance to Lunada range where there is an old now unused ski station. Just before we got to Lunada we stopped the cars on the left at the entrance of a valley called Bernatxo. Under a starry sky we were clearing the entrance of the track to park the cars. Then we skinned for an hour or so under a clear starry sky to Andoni's hut, Valnera, which was covered under a good pack of fresh fluff.. I was here last year in October to climb some of the mountains in the region. This time it was even more beautiful.

Valnera

After a good catch up, log fire and food we headed off to bed to wake up to the most amazing day! Andoni had got up early to pick up Peli, another girl that joint us. Finally.. The first girl I have met that has come out on the hills with these guys! They keep telling me I need to bring over mountain girls from my part of the world! So girls you all have an invitation.

The team: Aitor, Andoni, Peli, Christel, Unai, Patxi

Our objective for the day was Castro Valnera (1718m) and Pico de la Miel but we only did Castro Valnera in the end enjoying absolutely amazing conditions and stunning views. The views from the sea to the north and the limestone cliffs are amazing!

We skinned up from the cabana to the summit and followed the ridge connecting to Pico de La Miel until we were above the descend couloir. A wicked descend of the couloir followed ..... a lot of smiling faces! Once back to the cabana we had lunch and skied back out to the cars! what a great start of winter for the Basque mountain community!

 

The sea and limestone cliffs in the background from the summit of Castro Valnera

   

The Pyrenees

The next day we had arranged to meet up with more friends to head over to the Pyrenees. We all met in Luz St Saveur in the evening and made plans for the next day. There were tons of snow and the forecast was to be for a clear morning followed by more snow later in the day.... We woke up to winter wonder powder land!!! Drove over to Bareges and once in the car park discovered another lot of Basque friends that had driven over in their camper vans to rip it up. We ended up with a bunch of 10 people in the end riding in an empty area of powder and fluff and more powder ..trailing fresh lines every run!!

The day after it snowed and it snowed until it cleared and we did just more and more sweet local secret off-piste in snow till our waste!!

   

     

Andorra

After our trip in the Pyrenees it was time to get serious and get training. We headed over to Andorra to ski the piste and get into fast, carvy and hardpack mode. a little strange after all the free ride. Andorra also was loaded with snow and after a snowy morning all cleared and we skied on empty pistes generating miles and miles!

 

Tignes

Matilda..the camper van was going fairly strong until we continued our journey to Tignes to do a weeks GS training with R21. We arrived with temperatures of minus 17 and Matilda froze...the water, the gas, the battery, the calification, she just wasn't happy. Despite all we managed to stay warm and kept our selves coffeed up and fed with a mini camping gas.

We had snow to die for in Tignes.... 3 days of blue sky followed by 2 days of snow to finish of with sunshine and powder on the last day. By this time I was pretty washed out..my knees were done in, my body craved for a normal bed and a warm house and just a bit of sleep! At the end of the week Unai and I watched our performance on video and I was terribly embarrassed...I have got a very long way to go before I will ever look like a professional on the front of racing.

All in all it was good as ever with Dougie and Giles of R21. Highly recommended if you are looking for GS, slalom or bumps.

 

    

 

La Grave

After Tignes we thought it would be a shame to drive back to the Basque country whit the conditions we had in the Alps so we drove to La Grave instead...and which amazing day we had!! We had heard that there was a lot of snow that way and as we arrived in the middle of the night we already got the feel...Trees covered with a thick blanket of white..cars completely buried along side the road and a night view of The Meije under a starry sky! We woke up in the morning with blue sky and cream! The avalanche risk was at red alert and the telepherique wasn't open yet...La Grave and surrounding villages were like goast towns but for us it was perfect. We spend the morning driving around buying maps and taking pictures. In the afternoon we went up to the village of Ventelon parked the car with views to the Meije and skinned up pas the petit village of les Clots to a little peak called la Cote Rouge. This area on the other side of the valley of la Meije is absolutely brilliant for ski touring and we definitely will be back here. The views from the summit were indescribable!

We hoped to do a tour to Pic Blanc du Galbier the next day but the wind started picking up fiercely during the night and the next day it was virtually impossible to even leave the van! We decided to drive back to Bareges to see what conditions we would encounter there and hope for a good last day on the skis!

 

                

 

Our last day the ascent of Mont Agut near Bareges in the Pyrenees

We were told there was bad weather on the way to the Pyres. However we checked the forecast and it said it would be clearing the next day so in good faith we drove down.. We arrived about 3 am at the village of Betpouey near Bareges and woke up at 10am with the perfect picture!!! Blue sky and fresh snow!! Unai was super excited and we were going for a skin up Mont Agut (2157m). I was super tired and despite the absolute great conditions wasn't very motivated but just being out there was a privilege. We just made it to below the summit and then the weather started closing in so we turned round and skied according to Unai the best slope of the mountain.

In the evening we met up with friends of Unai that live in Luz and are pistieres in Bareges, Didi and Benji. We had an evening of guitar and travel tales. They were going to ski the Pic de Midi the next day and how we envied them as it was another day in paradise but we had to get home. And to be honest I was ready for rest.... Especially after living for 2.5 weeks in a VW camper van..great in many ways but a girl is a girl after all.

 

   

 

If you like any information on the areas, routes etc of the above please don't hesitate to contact me.

Keep checking the site for updates on future adventures!

This winter more Alps plus Ski touring in Turkey and Morocco to follow.

Remember people....Carpe Diem , 

Cherio Chris

3 Times lucky!

 

Another cracking day on the skis, Dez and I couldn't believe our luck! Today we did a shorter tour ascend up to the right of Ciste gully on to Cairngorm summit  in blazing alpine sunshine with no wind and nobody around. We met only a few cheeky Snow buntings, a pair of Ptarmigans, a dog, two other tourers and a group of walkers descending of Cairngorm that was it!

So peaceful and energizing it was and with another dream descend for this time of the year we couldn't beat our luck. Despite the temperature rising throughout the afternoon and the snow definitely transforming it was still surprisingly good on the N side of the summit and so was the snow on the whole of the descent really right until the Ciste car park.  

The temperature is still rising and the weather changing ever so slightly but hopefully we don't loose to much of the good stuff. Well I am away to Holland early tomorrow morning. See use when back.

XX Chris

There is no better place then Scotland when you get days like this!

Today Desiree, Mark and myself went for a little ski tour behind the Lecht ski centre. What a day!! The Lecht itself was busy, with a full car park but as soon as you left the ski area there was no soul to be seen..other then us.

 

Mark and I started of with a little warm up on the slopes over the East side of the road before meeting up with Dez. With the sun beaming in the sky and clean tracks on the descent it was like being in the Alps!

 

 

Once Dez arrived we skinned up to Beinn a' Chruinnich and skied down its SW ridge.

 

 

Then we skinned up to Carn Ealasaid.....

 

 

 

and skied down its SW shoulder to the bothy!!

 

The skiing was just wicked!! Totally SWEET for this time of the year.

 

 

The sun and the pristine snow and 360 degrees views made it one of the best days of Scottish skiing for the three of us! 

 

             

 

I hope this beautiful spell of winter continues for all of you out there next week. I am off to Holland to spend some time with the family. Whatever you get up to don't forget to ski a few lines or climb a few climbs for me!

Enjoy! XX Chrissie

 

Winter ....Winter....more Winter

Wow, wow, wow... There were a lot of people on the hill with huge smiles today!!! Winter has truly arrived in the Cairngorms and I am loving it (besides that my house has turned into a fridge freezer!!!). The snow cover is not to be neglected! Much better than expected. It was so nice to be out and blow out the cog webs. The beauty of Scotland amazes me time and time again. I needed a day like this to remember how much I need it and how it gives me new energy. Beautiful runs were to be had at the back and front of Cairngorm, the Eastwall, a slim line at the headwall of Coire Cas and anywhere else really. Also the climbers were full of enthusiasm so for anybody out there get yourself on the hills this weekend.

Cheerio for now,

Christel

Spring and summer have just flown!!!!!!!

It has been strange not being able to update the site regularly. Thinking I would have plenty of time and access to the net in between trips, work etc was a bit ambitious. However it can only be a good thing that I have been spending my time out there having adventures instead of writing about it.

A quick update:

SPANISH PYRENEES

My trip to mainland Europe in spring started with a ski mountaineering adventure in the Spanish Pyrenees with my wonderful amigos from the Basque country.

The Team:

 

The original plan was to do a crossing of the Spanish Haute route but the weather was pretty bad for the first few days and therefore we decided to do day trips starting in the Aneto/Maledeta region. Our first day we climbed Posets in wild conditions but what a wonderful mountaineering outing! It has this superb wee ridge that leads to the summit and if only the weather would have been better the descent would have been a dream!

 

At the end of our first day we found our wee dos for the next 3 nights in a little cabana pretty much the equivalent of a Scottish bothy with a wonderful open fire. The second half of the party arrived later that night and wee all celebrated our reunion with gathering huge tree trunks and some good drams in front of the fire place! Indeed I brought some good old Whiskey over from the bonny Highlands which went down a treat!

 

Day two the weather was pretty wild, snow blizzards and plenty of wind. We managed to climb one of the smaller peaks opposite Posets, Pico de la Maidera which we ascended twice as the descend was so sweet! Not just the descend..the climb up was beautiful through the forest. Free 'rice' all the way on our descend!!!

Day three saw us going in a simular direction as the day before but it had stopped snowing and the weather was stunning! Still a good battle through the wind. We climbed the peak next to Pico de la Maidera. Nice ascend and a good lower descend but the top section fairly tough to ski due to wind affected snow.

The winds was a struggle but gave us some amazing scenes!

 

The descend......a decent bit of slab! not pleasant for skiing.

   

Day 4 we decided to have a real mellow one and just go for scenery. We went up on the other side of the valley. The lower part was a big steep boot up with skis on the packs through wild boar country! Higher up it changed in this amazing boulder field, one great maze!

We stopped on the ridge for a bit of sunbathing and a descent pick-nic! Before descending down to the valley.

On day five some of the team had to get back to work and so four of us remained. We traveled further west to give Garma Negro a try. Absolute wonderful peak and a fantastic area but unfortunately we started to late and we only made it to the top of the main access gully. It is an area with huge slopes above you and a lot of rock. Due to the warm weather the avalanche risk was big and we turned round after topping out of the couloir. Initially we tried to ski out right on the terrace but the big cliffs below us got steeper and steeper and the avalanche hazardous slopes above us bigger and bigger. There is no easy way off this part. We ended up descending the access couloir with it's avalanche rubble...neck braking/ leg braking material!!

On day six we went for Bissourin. The weather was stunning and so was snow. This peak is an absolute gem with just a great descend. There are many options for ascending this peak. Despite the good weather we got disorientated and made it an extra long and somewhat hairy ascend. The snow on ascend was hard and the slopes steep. But worth it all the way!!

Unfortunately that was my last day in the Pyrenees and we traveled to Durango for a bit of food and beer before saying agur to my friends in Bilbao.

WILDSTRUBEL

My 2nd part of my Alpine adventures was with clients in the Wildstrubel. I was working for Pyrenean Mountain Tours with guides David Maret and Richard Dupont. It is one of my favorite ski touring areas.

 

We had pretty bad weather which made it an eventful and full on trip. I did the same tour last year under totally different conditions and the huge amounts of snow this year and the iffy weather made all the ascents and descents differ from last year. A lot more technical but also a lot more sweet powder!!!! Because the weather was bad we were the only visitors in every single hut with exception of the last one.

We started from les Diablerets. I love this place for it's off piste eldorado although we didn't venture off piste this very day as the visibility was nil, the snow heavy and the wind furious.

All week we were challenged by the weather. Plans had to be constantly adapted with high avalanche risks and bad visibility the majority of the week. Eventually we finished in Kandersteg.

 

 

VANOISE

Back in Geneva I met up with friends and we made our way to Chamonix. Here picked up Mark Ryle and continued on the next day to Pralongnan de La Vanoise. It was a warm day and we were late in starting. The plan was to do the Grande Casse but when we got to the foot of it we changed our mind as it was late and there were avalanches going off everywhere. We headed for the Col de la Grande Casse and descended down to Champeny. It was by far one of the nicest descends I have ever had... Stunning scenery, beautiful weather and powder virtually from top to valley!! It was amazing. The next day the weather turned nasty on us again and we didn't do a great deal. On our 3rd day we skinned up to the refuge de la Vanoise again in bad weather. Richard Mansfield was there with clients and we had good banter. We hoped to do the Grande Casse the next day but the weather was just too bad so we went for a long skin to Pointe de la Rechasse ... and descended down into the valley and all the way down to Pralongnan. Another adventure finished. I was pretty knackered after 3 weeks especially since I didn't really recover from the chest infection at the start of the trip. 

ZANDVOORT - AOSTA - ZARAUTZ - BILBAO

Back in bonny Scotland saw me to work again until the beginning of May. Then I was off to Holland for a Basque-Dutch wedding on the beach of Zandvoort in my home country together with Unai.We went on a road/ski touring trip to the Gran Paradiso to finish of the touring season. Followed by sunshine, sea and beaches in the Basque country. Beach, snow, sea and sunshine..what a contrasts..couldn't get any bigger but what a great combination!! It was amazing!!! Gran Paradiso was so quiet and what a beautiful place. I was still struggeling with my health but was determined to make the best of the time we had out there. We did the Gran Paradiso, La Tresenta, Pica Galicia... Next spring we would like to go back there and do a crossing from the Vanoise into the Gran Paradiso. It is an wonderful area with tons and tons of possibilities. On the last day I couldn't talk anymore as I was so ill. But what an experience. The refugio Benevolo and Vitorio Emanuelle are fabulous. Lovely guardians and lovely food. If you would like any info on the above trips please don't hesitate to send me a mail. We drove to the Basque coast to finish of with sunshine, rest and catch up with the rest of my Basque friends...

 

 

     

  

   

 

THE SUMMER

When back in Scotland it was fabulous to come back to still beautiful snow conditions and the night after I came back I skied Aladin's couloir with George. Wicked!!

The weather remained very good for a few weeks and the remainder of May I had a good combination between work and play. June was jammed with work and so was August. July I worked only two weeks and the rest I spend adventuring with Unai. The weather was sheit but the rest wonderful!!! September saw me going back to the Basque country for a few weeks and Unai and I surfed and mountainbiked and mountaineered our way across from Biaritz to the Picos de Europa and back. It was brilliant. The Basque country has got so much undiscovered goodness, it is just amazing.

Since I have been back in home I have steadily been working until now and it has been wonderful to see the change of season. Winter has arrived in Aviemore. It has been cold over the past week and the first snow has hit the 'Gorms. Hopefully it continues and we will be in for a great winter again.

Wednesday I will be going out to Holland to spend time with my family and will be back in the country on the 19th October. Get in touch folks if you want to go out climbing, skiing, biking anything...an opportunity in the fresh air won't be missed!!

A selection of the summer play photos

         

     

 

 

 

 

 

On Alpine Adventures

Well folks that is me off to the Spanish Pyrenees tonight followed by two weeks in the Suisse alps. I will try and keep you posted on my adventures out there...in the mean time have fun out there whatever use get up to lads and lassies!!

Hasta Pronto,

 

And remember ...Go daft and do some crazy stuff. get some air and jump into the unknown now and again....it feels so good...after all...you only live once!!