Alpine Climbing & Skiing: Frost Guiding Blog

A short tour today to the excitingly named Pt 2959. This is a short ski and a 20 minute climb from the top cafe of Arolla lift system, and gives 1100m vertical descent on north facing slopes to la Gouille. Still good powder today, although the last 5 minutes to the road had been in the sun and was deep slush!

Ski tour up to the Col des Vignettes today. The work at the hut is still going on, with the opening date rapidly approaching...

Great snow on the descent, even a few powder turns. The rest has turned into perfect firm piste snow.

Just back from a week in Cogne - perfect weather and good ice climbing conditions.

A change of scene today on the via ferrata at Nax. This was warm and sunny, and a welcome rest for tired frontpointing calves!

The fantastic weather continues, stable high pressure for the next week...

Climbing this week at la Gouille, Arolla (Usine Électrique) and the Tunnel routes. La Gouille left hand is thin now, but the others are all good.

Great conditions today on Cascade des Ignes. This is ice climbing in a brilliant mountain setting, and no-one else in sight - well worth the approach walk. Noticeably more ice than last time, but it was hard work on the calves. Snow shoes or skis help for the approach.

The hot sunny weather continues! Today, a trip up the Mont Rouges above Arolla ski area. This is a great intro day tour, and also gives access to some steep skiing in couloirs on the NE face - the stuff you look at from the ski area café.

Warm and sunny touring today, on Pic d'Artsinol above the Evolene ski area. This is a great intro to touring, using the lifts then skinning for 1.5 hours to a great summit with superb views - Mont Blanc to the Matterhorn. The ski down back in to the Evolene area is 1600m vertical drop!

Beautiful weather, snowfall all day yesterday, perfect ski conditions today! The view from the front door this morning, north face of the Pigne D'Arolla...

Although, by mid afternoon there was a southerly gale blowing, 100mph gusts at 3000m, and the Pigne disappeared in a cloud of spindrift..