Vallee Blanche

A day on the Vallee Blanche, a classic 20km ski descent down high-altitude glaciers, and finally through forests all the way down to Chamonix from the summit of the Aiguille du Midi at 3,840m.

Dave getting set on the initial section off the Midi arete above the Col du Midi

Looking across to the Dent du Geant on the upper section

Dave shredding one of the few steep sections

Descending into the Requin icefall

Beneath the dangers of the icefall, and into the long slide down to the Mer de Glace

Dave emerging from the hike up from the snout of the Mer de Glace. Only the ski down through the trees of the 'James Bond' track to Chamonix remaining

The Petit Dru resplendent in midwinter sun

Crochues-Berard ski tour

After several days with no snowfall, a perfect bluebird day was all the motivation needed to get on the Berard Valley tour, where the north-facing aspect of the descent often prolongs good powder conditions.

The Aiguille Verte, Dru and Grandes Jorasses from the top of Floria drag-lift at Flegere - the start of the tour.

On the long traverse of the slightly dodgy slopes underneath the Aiguille du Belvedere. Not a place to hang around in the sun.

The initial plan of the Glacier Mort was quickly aborted when we checked out the sun-baked approach couloir

The approach to the Crochues-Berard traverse was far less dangerous, and a good Plan B.

Time to get rid of the skins at the Col du Berard

Fun-time on the long descent from the Col du Berard

Dave Searle carving out the steeps

The final flat section of the Berard Valley before hitting Le Buet, the end of the tour. Very beautiful, but not much fun to ski

Alaskan Landscapes

A selection of some of my favourite images from a 2009 expedition to the Central Alaska Range

Ruth Amphitheater moonscape

The Great Sentinels of the Ruth Gorge


High noon, Mount Dickey


Into the wilds

Ethereal crevasse formations, Ruth Glacier

Snow flutings and threatening skies, Peak 11,300

The calm after the storm, Ruth Gorge

Mount Bradley with a fresh plumage of white

Looking into the depths of the Ruth Gorge

Midnight ambience from the summit of Mount Church

Alaskan sunrise

Alpenglow

The vast north face of Mount Hunter

Mount Hunter moonrise

Late-night alpenglow illuminates Mount Foraker


Late night, Kahiltna Glacier

Sunset over the distant Alaskan giants, viewed from the relative civilisation of Susitna River