Photography & adventure
In 2004 I did fight to find a boat to work and sail for 6 months, I leaved a crazy experience and promised me to make it again and used it once as project.
Last week, Valentine and her super sailing girls team offered me to go back on a sailing boat. What a blast, watching kite surf starting from the deck, imagine starting adventure with ski, it gives unlimited ideas and the biggest kick in ass I had for years. I will say it enough thanks Val!
Cause this day could be written in just few words. I write for myself but I guess my mates think a bit the same. We leave for those days of adventure, shared with friends in some of the most beautiful landscape ever.
Some descentes are special this one is one of those. La forclaz is a cute little village I feel kind of home those time and welcome to my friends Alexia and Patrick bnb. It’s a place I go up and start to imagine ski trip, flying trip, climbing session. The perfect place. I ve been now few time on Tsa de l’Ano and I wanted for a bit to ski this line. It’s maybe not the most direct one but it takes you from the very bottom of the face to few meters below the top snow bridge.
The bottom part of the line take a ramp then a couloir to lead to the first traverse. On the way down I had to un climb the icy ramp on 10m.
After the traverse it leads to a couloir, from there you feel in suspension, crazy atmosphere. Then it’s the traverse to join the top section.
Cause never a nice line is easy to ski and when the weather start to play a role the fogg came, and started the big down catastroph.
I ve always felt bit funky when I don’t see more than 2m in fogg and when it’s about skiing some steep serious stuff with ice and crusty snow it’s even worst. So papy took his time but my super skis wedze slash helped me a lot.
So happy to finish my holidays with such nice line speacialy with those delicate snow conditions. The line deserve more snow cause it really value a nice descent with sun and the awesome Val d’herens landscape!
Always to take with care but it might be good possible the ice and rocks on this way seemed to see skis for first time.
As it becomes an habit the spontane plans are carrying nacie surprises with super ski mates. As usual someone take my mind away à day before when I work and starts projects. Yesterday Simone, freshly in Bern told me we should go skiing together. Choice came on Diemtigtal cause close to Bern and wirh a secret hope to ski a nice north couloir. On my way to Männliflue I always saw those couloir to Landvogtehore and today was the day.
The start is always bit the same and I know at some point I might be bit tired.
All approach show us the shitest snow ever to discourage us but we made it until the bottom and there waited for us a magnificent powder snow, good karma!
The route traverse above à cliff and continue direct but stop into the summit wall.
A nice snow bridge was in suspension above our head all the way up, we were about imagine all scénario of protection in case it wanted to fall of. But today was our day and it stayed quite.
All the way specially on the higher part snow was unbelievable regarding the heat and the spring atmosphere around.
Some more narrow place get a bit more packed snow but still nice.
And the lady part reserved us a mega powder.
Regarding the global low altitude snow condition it’s for me the perfect hold up. I am glad Simone motivated me to come!
A super great nice a day in paradise with nice beer and Patan after. Thanks Simone
Some slopes are far to be the most technical in steep skiing history but their esthetics make them « a place to go once in your life », the Aiguille de l’Amone NE slope is one of them.
Wim and Pierre had this face in mind for long time and tried it already three times. On the morning I asked to wim if he was available for a tour on the next day and the reply was: « we go tomorrow at aiguille de l’amone meeting in montreux at 2oclock in the morning », even I had a work day until 20h and I am super tired I didn’t hesitated I said I am in!
After work back to my place grab food, gear and skis, taking train to montreux.
My train arriving in montreux at 0h45 I still got an hour to chill and take my breakfast! Start from la fouly at 3h15 was so beautiful with stars and great moon.
Morning came, we made it until the slope and great surprise snow was good. Wouah. Wim told us his Achille tendon hurt him and he prefers to stay and wait for us. So we started Pierre and I to break the track.
The slope is super beautiful special the upper part where you feel in suspension.
We left 5m to the top to avoid the wind and started a super downhill in good snow.
500m of super nice descent and back to see wim, with tight shoes in a nice splashy snow we all made it happy to be « the king on tee world » today.
Ingredients for the best day ever: take the best ski mate ever, my adelin, take a lots of fresh snow with a local unespected stable situation and put on the top a crazy light, it’s a delight!
Cause last week end was so awesome and cause Alexia and Patrick told me « sure come seb » and my chance, team and hard work gave me saturday free, I am back to the fantastic Val d’herens. After a nice eve and great Iranian meal prepared by Patrick and a super quite night direction Tsa de l’ano. I did the classic last week end and today I wanted to ski the narrow and super nice couloir on the left side.
The snow is still cold and didn’t took sun but get quite more packed. I find all the way some super nice soft snow patch. On the 1/3 is a little meter ice would be such problem to jump on the way down.
The rest becomes litlle bit more narrow and the snow get harder, 50m before the col it’s the end of the skiable area.
The way down is nice, catching nice snow patch.
Then to enjoy my last hours I get back to the local buvette to enjoy local raclette and nice talk with Alexia and Patrick who just came from another skitour.
I thanks so much my freinds alexia and Patrick and there lovely bnb from where I enjoy so much starting my adventures or just watch the landscape and think « waouh » that’s so nice
Contact for bnb: http://www.alexiaturlin.ch/
A week end in Valais is all time special and in Val d’herens even more. I have started a « steep skiing discover day with my friend Luca in Arolla on Saturday. Funny line in modus » looking for our way » in Serre de vuibé.
At evening I was so lucky to be guest to my friends Alexia and Patrick who just opened the most beautiful bnb ever. Patrick builded house most of it by himself, alexia gives yoga and painting lesson there, dream: http://www.alexiaturlin.ch/
So this Sunday I ve started after quite late at this undiscent time of 9h30 direct from chalet. The view kept me for long to chill a bit on my breakfast.
I’ve followed Patrick indications and arrived quite fast to the couloir bottom. Surprise à group of 6 splitboarder were already started to climb the couloir.
Matt broke the track on the low part and I took the work on the high steepest part.
Few meters just below the col we decided to stay there and start from this place. Then began the descent in great snow on the steepest part.
The half rest was quite bit more hard but offered nice pow side turns also.
Then from couloir direct heading to The Forclaz slope buvette to share laugh and nice moments with Alexia and Patrick with an awesome raclette.
Such great week end in Val d’herens. Love it. A speacial thanks to my feidns friends Alexia and Patrick, and Luca or his trust.
Yesterday was a tour I never experienced before. A Sirocco Strom came with Sahara sand in suspension with also some local fogg. Here is some images.
Happy to be back on the Männliflue north face, 4 years after my original descente. The area is still so wonderfull and great to share it with my friends Wim and Pierre.
