Ross Berg Blog

Heli Skiing at CMH Adaments

2012-01-03T07:30:00.000-08:00

Heli Ski season has began!! Started the winter off with a week at CMH Galena befor heading to CMH Adaments for the rest of the season. Despite a couple tricky layers in the snowpack we have been able to find some excellent/safe skiing.

Flying into Unicorn right below the Adament Spires

Skier on Buenos Dias

Perfect snow in the sun on Ninja Turtle

Blackcomb Backcountry Couloir Action

2011-12-15T19:28:00.000-08:00

Finally the snow returns!!! It may have still only been 5cm's but we will take it!!
Headed up the Blackcomb ski hill and out to check out some couloir around the Spearhead and Decker. The sweet 5cm's really helped out, the skiing was great!

Sean popping out the East Col, Just outside of the Blackcomb ski area.

Spearhead Peak and the Spearman glacier

A little unnamed couloir onto the Spearman Glacier

Vista Bowl

The Chisel Couloir off Mount Decker

The Cham Chutes

Dropping into the Y couloir off of Mount Decker

Y couloir

Birthday Chute - Duffy Lake Road

2011-12-12T23:14:00.000-08:00

Despite the prolonged dryspell on the Coast there still is good skiing to be found!! This week a good friend from Revelstoke came out for some backcountry snowboarding around Whistler.
We took it up to the Duffy Lake Road, North of Pemberton. Was a bit of a roll of the dice to decide just what we wanted to ride this day. We opted for the line i have always looked at but never skiied, the Birthday Chute off of the Vantage Shoulder. The line is a nice narrow chute about 40 - 45 degrees in to a large fan. Despite lacking snow on the upper pitch so it required some carefull down climbing the run was great!

Mount Joffre North face lines looking quite filled in for this time of the year.

Mount Matier, The Anniversary Glacier and Mount Joffree

Angus down climbing in to the Birthday Chute

Angus dropping in

Ice Season

2011-11-08T19:43:00.000-08:00

In case you are one of the people not fortunate to be sitting on beach sipping pinacolada's its ice climbing season in the Rockies! A few routes are officially in: Ranger creek, Shades of beauty, Murchison falls, Nemisis, and the trophy wall. Climbed T2 up on the Trophy wall with local bad asses John freeman and Josh Lavign this week.

The Urpine

2011-09-22T12:35:00.000-07:00

Its been 2 weeks so far in Canada. Its great to be back!!!! I really missed Canada and all the friends here. After a quick stay in Canmore AB i headed out to Squamish to do some rock guiding for a local outdoor leadership school. We were lucky to have an amazing weather spell with 30 degree temps and not a cloud in the sky for 10 days!!! Pretty rare for this part of the world this time of year.

Flight back to Canada. Mont Blanc in the distance

la Plan du Chef

Meg and Paul excited to ship off to the Quartz Pillar

Taking the sea bus to the thievery corporation concert

Thievery Corporation

A little urban bouldering after the concert

Ferry to Nanaimo

Crushing the Squamish Buttress

Angels Crest

Frison Roche - Aiguille Rouge

2011-08-21T01:42:00.000-07:00

I figure I have guided 50 out of the past 60 days at this point. After arriving back home from the Matterhorn at 10pm the idea of getting up for some more climbing was a little tough... So we opted for a 1030 breakfast. 3 coffees later we managed to make our way to the top of the Brevent lift on the Aiguille Rouge side of the Chamonix Valley to climb the classic Frison Roche (5.10). Great climb with steep juggy climbing on nice rock. And my favorite part: you walk down hill to approach and top out at the gondola. Perfect!

Frison Roche goes up on the right side of the smooth face

James on pitch 2

Pitch 3

Pitch 4

Pitch 5

Matterhorn

2011-08-21T01:29:00.000-07:00

Back up to the Matterhorn for one last trip of the season. This time we finally had perfect weather and perfect conditions! Nice work James on the super quick ascent!

Sunrise above the Solvay

James on the Shoulder

Climbing the last fixed rope section

Our friend Linus and Douglas approaching the summit

James on the summit

Now we go home...

Looking back up from the Solvay hut

Taking a break to sit in the sun be for down climbing the pitch below the solvay

Rebuffat - Aiguille du Midi

2011-08-19T08:21:00.000-07:00

After a long week of climbing the idea of getting up early for the 7th day in row was a little tough but Vivek and I rallied one last time and made the first lift up the Aiguille du Midi cable car to climb the Rebuffat route on the south face of the Aiguille du Midi. This is one of the most famous rock routes in the valley on absolutely perfect granite. 11 pitches to 5.10 in the alpine with a 5 minute decent to the cable car. Hard to beat!!!

the south face

Vivek on one of the lower pitches

The last 5.10 pitch

The 20m rappel back to the lift

Dent du Geant

2011-08-19T08:18:00.000-07:00

Next on the list for Vivek and I was the Dent du Geant on the Italian side of the Mont Blanc massive. This route is a major classic and one of the most fun 4000m peaks i have climbed in the Alps.

snowy climbing on pitch 1

Vivek on the first summit

The real summit and the lady Madonna

Marchand de Sable - Envers

2011-08-16T23:42:00.000-07:00

Back to Chamonix with the weather improving rapidly Vivek and I took a quick trip up to the Envers Hut to climb the Marchand de Sable. A 12 pitch 5.10+ in the alpine. Fantastic route and an amazing place!! Cant wait to go back

Hiking on to the Mer De Glace

The Dent du Geant on the right

Morning start up the glacier

First pitch at 5.10

Mont Aiguille

2011-08-14T11:01:00.000-07:00

After Presles we traveled a little further south the Mont Aiguille. This peak i had not heard of until this week. Apparently this peak was climbed over 500 years ago under order of the king and is maybe the first event of alpinism. Seemed like we better climb it.

Mont Aiguille

Wild view from the summit

The 500 year memorial from the first ascent of the peak!!

Descending

Presles France

2011-08-14T10:49:00.000-07:00

Again with another terrible weather forecast in Chamonix my client Vivek myself and my good friend from Canada Jen Olson headed down south to the classic limestone multipitch area called Presles near Grenoble. Lucky to hit some good weather down south we climbed a "Pillier de Nugues" and "Les Buis" at Presles befor we moved another hour south to the wild limestone town "Mont Aiguille" Was fantastic to get out of the Chamonix valley and see some more of France. Really any amazing country and limitless supply of stellar limestone cliffs!!

The ford fiesta.. whattss up!

Jen and Vivek on the pitch 1 of Pillier de Nugues

Fog rolling in on Pillier de Nugues

Vivek on Les Buis

Les Buis

Matterhorn

2011-08-05T10:13:00.000-07:00

Climbed the Matterhorn Aug 3rd. After our little visit from winter the Matterhorn has been "out of shape" and quite the topic of discussion between guides so it was interesting to go up on the mountain to see the conditions for ourselves. There is still quite a bit of snow on the mountain but it was possible to climb with out crampons until the shoulder just below the fixed ropes. From there to the summit travel was quite quick with crampons and ice axe. On the decent we kept our crampons on for a ways below the Solvay hut somewhere around the first red tower. Overall was a great day!!!

The Matterhorn

Traffic Jam

Lower part of the route below the Solvay Hut

Taking a break at the Solvay Hut

Wild summit!! being above the clouds

Mont Blanc, Goute route - Round 7

2011-08-05T10:12:00.000-07:00

Another lap of the Mont Blanc! this time from the Tete rousse hut and via the Goute route. The conditon in the grand couloir has been a big question on my mind lately as there has been some major rock fall in july. With the new snow the route across the couloir and up the ridge was in fairly good condition with a good track across the couloir. We where back down through the couloir around 11 and rocks where just starting to fall, mainly small ones though. This of course has probably all changed by now! Another beautiful day on the summit!!! Perfect weather!

Reaching the summit

Beautiful day!! Matterhorn in the distance

The Grand couloir and route to the Goute Hut

Entreves Traverse

2011-07-30T23:43:00.000-07:00

Finally winter has left the alps again! With the new snow the mountaineering routes are in amazing shape. Yesterday we took the 6:30 bin up the Aiguille du Midi and marched arcross the Valley Blance to the Aiguille d'entreves. We traversed the route right to left. Really nice conditions all day.

Climbers on the Arete off the Aiguille du Midi. Grandes Jorrase in the back

Looking at the Midi-Plan Traverse. Aigulle Vert int he distane

The gang on the Arete

The first technical section of the Entreves Traverse

The summit of the Aiguille d'entreves

Climbing the knife edge rock arete

Starting to work our way down off the summit

Looking down on a section of the Valley Blanche from the Hellbroner lift back to France

Pointe Lachenalle/Cosmiques Arete

2011-07-28T15:04:00.000-07:00

The famous ice cave

Climbers on the Arete from the Aiguille du Midi station

The rock pitch up to the main Lachenalle summit

Cool view of the Grandes Jorrasse and the Dent du Geant

Summit of the Lachenalle

About half way up the Cosmiques Arete

Getting ready for the crux pitches on the Cosmiques

Mixed climbing on the last pitch of the route

Monch - SE Ridge

2011-07-27T02:17:00.000-07:00

Well it seems as though the Alps didnt quite get the message that its only the end of July and not November... The past week it has been freezing and snowing down to about 2000m. I have started getting excited to go skiing already. Our plan for last week was to first climb the Eiger via the Mittellegi rigde then off to the Matterhorn. With up to a meter of new snow our best bet at the time was to head up to the Monchsjochutte and climb the SE ride of the Monch. Not quite as bad ass as the Eiger but in a full on white out and with new snow was a pretty exciting day out!

On the Junghfraujoch train about to head right through the Eiger

A view point along the way to the Junghfraujoch station

The Jungfraujoch (jungfrau col) station. Hard to believe this train travels through the Eiger and pops out at 3571m in the col between the Jungfrau and the Monch. Really an amazing work of construction particully since it was built almost 100 years ago in 1912.

Up in the station your not sure if you have just been tele-ported to India as suddenly the population is probably 90% from India. There even is a "Bollywood" Indian restaurant. This here is the "ice cave" one of the many authentic points of interest in the station.

Crossing the glacier to the Monchsjochhutte (monch col hut) you would be expecting to encounter such obsticals as crevasses, route finding, ect But on this trip you mearly follow the cat track around the crevasses but you still do have to look out for small japanese girls wanting to take pictures with you.

Starting the Monch

Snowy climbing low down on the Monch

Roma

2011-07-26T15:09:00.000-07:00

Had a 3 day trip cancelled and with the weather forecast looking horrible i bee lined to it straight for nicer weather. Rome seemed like a nice option.

Pillar in the Roman Forum

Trevi Fountain

The Pantheon

Statue in the Basilica di San Pietro

Creepy looking fellow in the Basilica

The Colosseum

Mont Blanc - Grand Couloir

2011-07-26T09:16:00.000-07:00

Ahhh the grand couloir on Mont Blanc!! Doesn't that look like fun??

Mont Blanc - Round 6

2011-07-23T23:31:00.000-07:00

Another quick lap up the Mighty Mont Blanc. This time working for Canadian company OnTop. Super condition this week!

2am - feels like your about the start an adventure race or something. Except the people here are more pushy

Dome de Goute

Nice light on the Blanc

The Grandes Jorrasses. With the Grand Combin, Matterhorn, Monte Rosa in the distance

La summit!

Lets not stop here! Seracs..

Mont Blanc du Tacul, Cosmiques Arete

2011-07-17T12:40:00.000-07:00

This week George and Rebecca from London joined me in Chamonix for a few days of climbing. First day we spent the morning getting thoroughly caffeinated waiting for the weather to smarten up. Once it cleared around noon we made a bee line to the Point Lachenal Traverse to warm up the legs for tomorrow before marching over to the Cosmiques Refuge for the evening. 3am wake up call we headed up the Mont Blanc du Tacul and lovely 4000m peak on the Mont Blanc massive. Normally this summit is just passed by on people way to the Mont Blanc summit. This also was our plan but condition where not right for a summit attempt so we opted for a slighly lower summit. But still very worthy. With the shorter day we found ourselves back at the Cosmiques Refuge by 11am!! After a few more coffees we where ready for round two of the day, the Cosmiques Arete back to the gondola.

Dent du Geant

Warm up climb - Point Lachenale

Reaching the summit of Mont Blanc du Tacul

A climber on the top of the south face of the midi.

George and Rebecca with Mont Maudit behind

Cosmiques Arete. Photo is a month old. But a good one! Thought i should share

Finishing the Cosmiques Arete

George struggeling with the last pitch of the Cosmiques!

Cosmiques Arete

2011-07-08T05:52:00.000-07:00

Despite being thoroughly worked after a 9 hour round trip up the Blanc yesterday we headed up the Aiguille du Midi for a very leisure lap up the Cosmiques arete. I have probably climbed this route 10 times and still think its amazing!! gotta be one of the best easy mixed routes out there!

Sam came prepared for the inevitable cue on the crux pitch!

The last crux pitch to the summit. trying not to accidentally kick the tourists jumping to fence!!!

Mont Blanc - Round 3

2011-07-08T05:46:00.000-07:00

Got lucky with the weather this time and snuck in a Mont Blanc summit via the Trois Monts routes. Good condition despite having to descent the Maudit face in a whiteout... a little tense.

Atmospheric morning on the tacul

Sunrise

No views from the summit today

Italy - Entreves/Rocheforte

2011-07-06T10:39:00.000-07:00

Sam Lodge from the Uk came over to Chamonix this week to join me for a week of Mountaineering. We started the week heading over the Italian side of the Mont Blanc Massive to climb the Entreves Traverse and the Arete de Rocheforte.

Walking over to the Entreves. Dent du Geant in the background

Rock climbing on the Entreves

Early morning light on Mont Blanc

Scrambling up to the Arete de Rocheforte

Classic knife snow arete. Italy on the right, france on the left

Climbers on the Arete de Rocheforte

The final summit rock face

Looking back on the arete and the Dent du Geant

Heading back for cappuccinos

Gran Paradiso

2011-07-05T02:19:00.000-07:00

With the weather forecast looking straight awefull my guests and I just in the car and headed through the Mont Blanc tunnel for the highest peak in itatly, the Gran Paradiso.

Gran Paradiso on the right

Approaching the hut

The Chabot Hut - Nicest hut i have been in yet

Was a little busy today

the Lady Madonna

Rest Day Pics

2011-06-16T10:35:00.000-07:00

A few pics from a little rest day walk around the Aiguille du Mid. In case you haven't figured it out already.. Chamonix is sick!!!!!!!!

People on the Midi-Plan Traverse

Some wild ridge walking on the Midi-Plan traverse

The Tour Ronde North Face and the Petit Cap on the right

Climber topping out the South Face of the Aiguille du Midi

The Bossons Glacier

The bridge off the midi... and a bird

Mont Blanc - On Top June 13 - 14

2011-06-16T10:00:00.000-07:00

First Mont Blanc summit of the season!! Working for On Top Mountaineering from Canada we managed to sneak a summit in the best weather we have all month!! Perfect condition right now!!

Perroux Gully

2011-06-09T09:39:00.000-07:00

Back up the Aiguille du Midi and over to the Tacul. This time with Chamonix virgin Andrew Wexler from Canada. It was his first time, so we started out slow with a nice romp up the mixed route "Perroux Gully" which is located not more than 30feet away from the Chere couloir. This was my second time on the route. The last time i remember absolutely no ice on the route and therefore some desperado mixting. This time not so much, amazing neve with splitter granite cracks for pro. Go do it!

Wexler is a Mountain guide... says so on his jacket. Isnt that cool?!?!?

Wex cant find the mountains....

Boulangerie, check... still cant find the mountain...

Cant believe all these people found the mountain befor we did!!!

Some French army people getting in the way of my photo of the righteous Grande Jorrasse.

Le Grande Vert and the Aiguille du Plan in the foreground

Wex

4th pitch

Some vrais alpinists descending the Tacul

Chere couloir - Vid

2011-06-09T08:11:00.000-07:00

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Chere Couloir, Cosmiques... Again

2011-06-07T12:37:00.000-07:00

Steve H leading a little mixed pitch on the Chere

Aaron B on the last pitch of the Chere

Aaron B cruising on the Cosmiques

Cosmiques Arete

2011-06-06T05:05:00.000-07:00

Stoked to finally get up in to the high mountains for a quick solo lap on the Cosmiques Arete. This is a pretty damn special route. 300m of easy scrambling in a spectacular setting topped off with 2 pitches of easy mixed climbing and to finish it all, a latter right to the gondola. Too easy!

Return to Chamonix

2011-06-01T23:45:00.000-07:00

Canmore Alberta has some interesting weather... to say the least. Every May long weekend, which is also the closeing weekend for most of the ski areas around here Canmore will recieve almost a 1 meter of snow!! This year I strategically placed my self in Squamish for the the may long weekend hoping i could avoid shoveling my car off one last time. Sure enough Squamish was great, rock climbing, good friends and we actually even made it out skiing one day (Husume Coloir off Blackcomb - Was horrible!!!) Thinking I dodged the annual spring storm i headed back to Canmore to pack and start making my way to Chamonix France for the summer. Sure enough first night back i awoke to 10cm of new snow on the ground!! WTF! Thats it! i book my ticket for that monday the soonest departure possible thinking there is now way it will be snowing in Chamonix its only snowed 3 times into the valley in 2011. First morning in Cham its puking!! Snowflakes the size of loonies. I just cant seem to escape winter. And the real problem now is that i dont have skiis with my to at least squeeze one more day in. Going to Ceuse........

These the some of the sights you can normally see from town.... not now

Aigulles du Chamonix

Petit Dru

Mont Blanc

Squamish

2011-05-26T09:02:00.000-07:00

Just back from a short trip of rock climbing in Squamish BC. Somehow managed to sneak in a couple classic routes between rain storms! Climbed the Grand Wall, Angles Crest and a few hot laps on the apron. No pics this time but check out a few from past trips.

Paul McSorley following pitch 7 on the University Wall (5.12)

Climbing a new route (5.11ish) near the Squaw

The Spit Pillar pitch of the Grand Wall (5.11)

Angels Crest

Climbing in the Smoke Bluffs

Ross following pitch 2 of the University Wall

Mount Victoria NE face

2011-05-22T11:26:00.001-07:00

Ok... one last ski trip. This time joined by Canmore locals Andrew W and Gery U we ventured up the mighty mount victoria at the head of Lake Louise. A 2:15 am departure landed us on the summit enjoying some of the most spectacular views of any mountain at 9am.

Sunrise of Lake Louise

Gery approaching the ski line

Gery kicking up the face

The line (straight off the summit mid picture)

Did we just ski that??

Keiths Hut/Mount Matier

2011-05-05T14:43:00.000-07:00

Last ski trip of the year!! Simon and David came up from Vancouver to do the spearhead traverse from Blackcomb to Whistler but with a poor forecast we headed out to the Duffy lake road to spend a night at the Keiths Hut.
With what looked like the last blue bird day for a while we headed up the Matier Glacier from the Joffre lakes. A wild ascent line underneath the North face of Mnt Slalok and up through the Matier glacier icefall took us to the summit Mnt Matier befor heading down to the hut for the night

Looking at our ski ascent following the ramps in the center of the photo

Boot packing through the Matier icefall

Weaving through crevasses below Mnt Joffre

Heading up Mnt Matier with Slalock in the background

Simon on the summit of Matier!

Looking up at Matier and the Anniversary glacier from the hut

Wapta Traverse

2011-05-05T14:39:00.000-07:00

April 26 - 29 Guided a 4 day trip of the Wapta Traverse from Bow Lake to Sherbrooke. Spring was no where to be seen with nice cool temps and dry powder snow making for great skiing.

approaching the Bow Hut, our first hut of the trip

Day 2 and our second nights accommodation, the Balfour Hut

Looking back at the Vulture Col and Mount Olive from the Balfour high col

Our descent from day 2 in the distance

Seracs on our way up to the Balfour high col

Ski Guide Exam

2011-04-20T00:29:00.000-07:00

Just finished the ACMG full ski guide exam. This year the holiday was based out of the Rockies and the Bugaboos. Our time in the Rockies was basically a unpleasant beating by high winds in a white out... not so fun. On the other hand our time in the Bugaboos was amazing!! What a place to ski tour!!!!! See photos

Flying In

Touring up from Cobalt Lake

Heli Tracks on the Vowell Glacier

Skinning below the Cresent Towers

Bugaboo Spire

Technial ridge walking on the Cresent traverse

Skiing the Bugaboo/Snowpatch Col

Tantalus

2011-03-11T20:30:00.000-08:00

Quick hit to the Tantalus Range just outside of Squamish. We flew into try our luck at the East face of Mnt. Tantalus but after feeling the snowpack our trip turned into a mission to just make it home. Cant wait to go back!!!

Tony Richardson Photo

Tony Richardson Photo

Tony Richardson Photo

Tony Richardson Photo

Tony Richardson Photo

Tony Richardson Photo

Tony Richardson Photo

Tony Richardson Photo

Tony Richardson Photo

Whistler Backcountry Vid

2011-01-14T00:55:00.000-08:00

Little vid from a couple days ski touring off Whistler/Blackcomb

Whistler Backcountry from Ross Berg on Vimeo.

Whistler

2011-01-09T20:22:00.000-08:00

Been skiing the slack off Blackcomb the past couple days and im still always blown away by how much good skiing there is around here. Here are a couple pics from the past 2 days.

Paul kicking up to Husume Couloir, Blackcomb Backcountry

Skiing the Cham Chute

Paul dropping in to the Chisel Chute

Decker Lake

Whistler - Mt. Fissile

2011-01-04T12:24:00.000-08:00

Early December session with the boys on Mt Fissile skiing one of the north face couloirs.

McGee looking euro

McGee looking in on the Fissile N Face

Lars A about to drop into Fissile north face

Brad bubba white dropping in

2011-01-01T16:06:00.000-08:00

Well i seem to have fallen off the blogging train here. Probably for the best.. But since i currently find myself with a bit of free time on my hands i thought i would post a few pics from the end of the summer.

T Gruber approaching Mt. Victoria

Mr. A Wex sending on Mt. Rogers in Rogers pass

Stand back ladies.. hes a pro

Rogers Pass

T Gruber high on the Mt. Lefroy Traverse

Guiding the mighty Mt Sir Donald in Rogers Pass

Jeff Honig leading the way to the summit of Mt. Sir D

Leisure days on Super Brewers on Castle Mountain

Walker Vid

2010-07-22T02:38:00.001-07:00

Here is a little video from the Walker Spur

The Walker Spur from Ross Berg on Vimeo.

Walker Spur

2010-07-20T06:08:00.001-07:00

Crosby Johnston and I climbed the Walker Spur on the Grande Jorasse this week. This route is quite the uber classic here in the Chamonix valley, you can even get a t-shit with the topo printed on it at the local gear store.

I must say though, for a route with such a reputation it is really not that good, really not alot fun climbing on it. Mainly loose face climbing with old pins for pro. But i might just be getting soft from climbing splitters all summer and well we were probly off route for the majority of the climb.... but still a pretty cool adventure!

Checking out the route from the Leschaux hut

Crosby hiking up the mer de glace

Climbing the latters and metal rungs up to the Leschaux hut

The Leschaux hut

Ross climbing a very loose pitch somewhere on the lower part of the mountain

Choss!!

Crosby on a the highest ice patch about 200m from the top

Climbing more choss in the Red Tower

The Red Tower

The last hard pitch in the Red Tower

Finaly got the see someone fall in a cravasse - Sketchy Italians

Chamonix does not suck!

Weissmies Vid

2010-07-19T02:26:00.000-07:00

Here is a little video from the Weissmies

Weissmies 4023m from Ross Berg on Vimeo.

Swiss SS and the Weissmies

2010-07-18T01:54:00.000-07:00

Last week working on a skills and summits course based out of Switzerland we managed to climb the Weissmies near Saas-Fee. A fantastic peak and one of my favorite 4000m peaks so far.

Heading up the lower snow slopes of the SW ridge of the Weissmies

Traffic jam at the start of the rock

The lads leading across to the summit ridge

Summit 4023m

Starting down the wild NE face of the Weissmies

The coffee shop only 20 mins away from the toe of glacier!!!

Matterhorn

2010-07-10T11:55:00.000-07:00

Had the pleasure of guiding the Matterhorn over the past 2 days. Amazing trip! and a fantastic mountain. Cant wait to do it again.

photo: Klemen Gricar

The Hornli Hut

Climbing the lower section of the mountain

Sunrise at the Solvay hut

The fixed ropes on the upper section of the mountain.

Ross and Andy climbing the fixed ropes photo: Klemen Gricar

Walking from the Swiss summit to the Italian summit photo: Klemen Gricar

Down climbing steep terrain with a bunch of people above = Sketchy
photo: Klemen Gricar

On the Italian summit

Traverse d'entreves

2010-07-10T02:45:00.001-07:00

Traverse d'Entreves from Ross Berg on Vimeo.

MB #2

2010-07-10T02:32:00.001-07:00

Hiking up from the train

Many people on the Goute ridge.

Many people on the summit ridge

Summit sunrise

Dent du Geant and the Grandes Jorasses

Time to head down for lunch in the valley

The Frendo Spur

2010-06-30T13:44:00.000-07:00

Climbed the moderate classic "The Frendo Spur" on the north face of the Aiguille du Midi last week with british climber Tom Grant
- Warning this video is a bit long

The Frendo Spur from Ross Berg on Vimeo.

Arete de Papillons

2010-06-30T06:17:00.000-07:00

With a day off befor heading up Mont Blanc again, Crosby Johnston and I headed up the classic moderate rock climbing off the Plan de l'aiguille the Arete de Papillons on the Aiguille de Peigne

The Mighty Mont Blanc

2010-06-30T03:32:00.000-07:00

Took my first lap on the big hill here this past weekend. Big props to Team Scotland for representing up there!!

Approaching in style. Aiguille de Bionnassay in the background

The Tete-Rousse refuge

View from the bed room

The start of the ascent of MB; The Grand couloir and the Goute ridge

The Goute refuge

Slogging up the Dome du Goute 5 am-ish

The summit ridge

The tranquil summit of Mont Blanc

Team Scotland!

2010-06-25T06:27:00.000-07:00

A little video I made of a day skiing in Chamonix last week. - Dont judge it too hard this is my first attempt of making a short vid

June 20th Chamonix Powder from Ross Berg on Vimeo.

Swiss Summits and Skills

2010-06-17T12:51:00.000-07:00

You got to love the Approaches around here

Hiking up to the Hornli Hut

Hornli Hut

Approaching the Aiguille du Tour

Climbing up the Aiguille du Tour

The Trient Hut (beer on tap-YEA!!)

Swizz Land

2010-06-12T00:56:00.000-07:00

Off to swizzterland to do a week of guiding but on the way out Canadian brethren and I went out Grindelwald with hopes of going sport climbing on the Eiger North face. The weather was as you could have guessed, not soo good so we retreaed to sporting climbing in the valley.
If you have never been, the swiss alps are definitly one of the most amazingly beautufuil places I have ever been. Full alpine vistas.
- Also along the way found what might be my new prefered rest day activity. Euro rally driving- I have rented a little black "sports" car and I think driving in Europe might be more fun that the climbing.

Eiger North Face

Route Marker at a crag near Grimmewald

Josh plotting his way to Zermatt under the cliff that the Town of Grimmenwald sits on top of

Grimmenwald

Cows on the 600m single track road up to the sport cragging cliff Hildisberg down valley from Grindelwald

Josh climbing at Hildisberg

They named a town after me, how nice

Alpine Rock Climbing

2010-06-06T07:39:00.000-07:00

Contemplating what to climb next.

Climbers on the Cosmiques Arrete

Liz slogging up the Cosmiques Arrete

Liz waiting in line behind 20 french military in training

Rock climbing at the top of the Arrete

The South face of the Aiguille du Midi.

Climbers on the Rebufatt route on the south face of Aiguille du Midi

Dave seconding the crux pitch of the Rebufatt route

Dave on the Rebufatt

The treacherous and long descent off the route... This may be the only alpine climb you can approach and descend in your sandals

Spencer Couloir

2010-05-21T02:01:00.001-07:00

The high winds this week have pretty much destroyed the skiing in the high alpine so we decieded to check out the Spencer couloir above the Nantillons glacier hoping the snow might have been a bit more preserved. To access the Spencer you have to uptrack from the mid station of the Aiguille du Mid up the Nantillons glaciers, its a bit of a unique ski line that you actually have to skin for it! Its a very steep wandering line to avoid being below sercas which required far too many kick turns and lots of boot packing. Didnt end up skiing the actual couloir as we were concerned about some windslab instabilities. All in all a great trip.

Forgot my camera this day but stole some pic from my ski partners website, dont tell him.

Tour Ronde North Face

2010-05-19T11:32:00.001-07:00

Climbed up the North Face last spring and was baffled that people would ski down such a steep face above a huge cliff. So not sure what changed but it didnt take too much to talk me into heading up to ski the North Face this week. Turns out its not that bad.

Tour Ronde North Face. Im sure you can guess the line...

Skining with the Grand Cap and Mnt Maudit in the background

The Tacul and Mnt Maduit in the background

Skiing the upper face with the Dru, Aiguille Vert, Droites, Courtes in the distance

Upper face

Rappeling a 90m Ice Gully

About to ski the lower face

Col du Plan, Eugster

2010-05-17T22:45:00.000-07:00

Thankfully after 16 days of rain the clouds parted and we can finally starting skiing some on the more exciting runs around Chamonix. We skiied two runs on the north face of the Aguille du Mid today: the Col du Plan and the Euguster.

Dropping into the upper face

Looking up at the upper face

Rapping into the lower couloir

The Col du Plan

Aguille du Midi North Face showing the line of the Eugster

Skiing on the upper face

Tom pausing on the upper face

The first sidestepping crux of the decent

After the first rappel into the Eugster couloir proper

The crux drop of the lower Eugster couloir

Ronde & Cosmiques

2010-05-12T08:27:00.001-07:00

Cosmiques Ridge

2010-05-11T13:27:00.000-07:00

Some people rapping in to some gnarness off the bridge of the Aiguille du Midi

The summit pitch...to the gondola station

First Peak in Cham

2010-05-10T13:38:00.000-07:00

Been here 10 days all of which have been filled with hours apon hours of rain. Feel like im back in Squamish, which funnily enough looks like is having great weather. But never the less the days have been action packed with trying to decide if i like cappicinos or noisette coffee more or attending one on the many season ending parties at the local bars and resturants.
Lately the skiing has turned around and with almost 100cm of new the by now the skiing is quite good. Yesterday took an afternoon run up the Aigulle d'Argentiere for great steep skiing snow and the first summit of the trip

The Grands Montets Ski Area

A warning that should not be taken lightly here

Mont Blanc and the Midi

Aiguille de Chardonnet and Aiguille d'Argentiere

A near summit self portrait

Decent

Chamonix

2010-04-28T10:45:00.000-07:00

Off the Chamonix France today. Found this great little english-french cheat sheet.

Whistler

2010-03-21T09:59:00.000-07:00

Mount Fissile

The "Hourglass Couloir" Mnt Tremor

Mount Fitzsmmons - Overlord

The Twin One glacier and Mnt Matier

Skinning up Mnt Pattison

Kicking up the Stairmaster Couloir

Peak to Peak!

Rockies Skiing

2010-02-13T16:00:00.000-08:00

Ski Guide Training

2010-02-12T14:44:00.000-08:00

Winter Mountaineering on the Coast

2010-02-12T14:24:00.000-08:00

CMH

2010-02-12T13:34:00.000-08:00

For any skiier who has visited the Bugaboos in the summer climber it pretty easy to imagine how magical of a place the Bugs would be to visit in the winter. It took a half a dozen phone calls but talked CMH in to having me out the the Bugaboo lodge for a wee practicum heli-skiing. The weather and skiing was mediocre but its hard to really notice as your constantly distracted wit the beautiful views, an endless supply of gourmet food and getting to fly around in a helicopter.

Valhalla Mountain Touring

2010-02-12T13:09:00.000-08:00

One of the perks of being a "guide in training" is you have reason for ski opperations to let you come ski with them for free. Only draw back is 1) you must wash about as many dishes as turns you get 2) you have to ski last. But other than that is a freeking good deal! Mid Jan i found myself back up skiing with my good friend Evan Steven and Jasmin Caton at there backcountry ski touring operation Valhalla Mountain Touring.

Rogers Pass

2009-11-19T15:50:00.000-08:00

Well after seeing the conditions currently out at Rogers Pass I think im going to hang up the picks for a while... Today we headed up the Connaught drainage and up to Ursus where the skiing was sick! 50cm blower snow. Despite being dusted when couloir 4 off Cheops ran to the valley, the snow on south aspect was pretty solid. Going back tomorrow.

Game On

2009-11-15T18:24:00.000-08:00

Well it may come as a supprise for you pulling down on the fine rock stone down south but the winter season is officially here! The ice climbing in the Rockies has been struggeling to get going since late october and finaly in the past week it seem there is enough quality ice routes out there to call it, Game on!

In the past couple weeks the few local climber bretheren and I have enjoyed few jem's such as Nemisis and The Socerer. GET OUT THERE!

The Socerer

Mount Bell

Petit Dru

2009-10-07T15:06:00.000-07:00

Some the wildest people I have ever met have been in Chamonix, noumerous people making attempts the ski K2 or Fripper whos goal is to ski Everest and K2 this year! Or most recently the Norwegian duo of wingsuit jumpers and their american friend who between being the leader in turbine technology makes money by jumping off large buildings in a school girl outfit. Respect!

Over beers one of the Norwegians and I got talking about the the Petite Dru and we decided to head up the American direct tomorrow the see if he could fly off of the thing. Unfortunately upon reaching the base it looked like the only jumpable section would probly not be reachable since it layed the massive rock scared area. So we decied to head up to the top of the rappable section and spend the night on the wall. The climbing was amazing! Cant wait to climb the route to the top. Sorry no photos the Norwegian has them.

Kuffner Ridge

2009-10-01T04:52:00.000-07:00

Assuming one manages to get out for the cafe or boulangerie (land of fabulous baked goods) to head up on the the mountian (20 min gondola ride) one is faced with the problem which can be more difficulty than the climbing it self: Deciding what to climb! The mountains here are so jam packed with goodies one can spend half their stay flipping through guides or speaking to the lady at the maison de la mountagne (climbing beta office...sweet) just trying to decide what to do. So after a week of deliberation and acclimatization routes Pete and I decided to head up the Kuffner ridge on Mount Maudit. Was a good choice!

The Fouche bivi

Euro Pine

2009-09-21T03:39:00.000-07:00

After another summer spent training for another ACMG guides exam im not sure how I figured it would be a good idea to fly to another country and go be cold on big mountains for another month. Clearly the more sensible thing would have been to go sport climbing or surfing in some lovely tropical destination . But nevertheless the thought of splitter granite, telepheriques, pain au chocolat, brie and cheap wine lured me back to Chamonix for a month of alpine climbing and im STOKED

Mont Blanc North Face

The Ice Cave at the top of the Aiguille du Midi

The righteous Aiguille du Midi

Pointe Lachenal (5.10) and the Tacul

About time...

2009-09-20T03:28:00.000-07:00

Well I have been working (or at least telling myself I have been) on making a blog for about a year now. Usually I spend 5 minutes trying to set up the title and run in to technical problems and give up for another couple of weeks. As you can see I have now somehow figured out how to make the title and even put a photo there (the climber is not me its local bad ass John Freeman climbing some real sketch) so I now have no more reasons to keep procrastinating and no choice other than to start littering the internet with my thoughts and recaps of recent adventures.

Hope you enjoy...