by ben | Oct 7, 2016 | cycling, Photography
Climbing up the final stretch to the Col de Bavella I stopped to take a few photos of the rock faces and swirling clouds and Valentine was soon a speck in the distance. I was sweating profusely to catch up again. A young guy in an ancient Citroen passed down and I...
by ben | Sep 15, 2016 | Alpinism, Climbing, Photography
At 4554m, perched on the top of the peak ‘Signalkuppe’, this is the highest building in Europe, the Margherita Hut. It serves both as an alpine refuge for climbers and as a research laboratory for scientists studying altitude medicine among other things....
by ben | Aug 19, 2016 | Alpinism, Climbing, Photography
Weissmeis North Ridge from the Lagginhorn, Saas Grund, Switzerland It was the sunrise that I hadn’t expected – often the best kind. Out to the east there was a bank of clouds shifting and growing as the still night air began to warm. I always carry a big...
by ben | Nov 27, 2015 | Photography
Each autumn my father, in his sixties and ever keen for an adventure, comes out to visit. This year it happily coincided with Lowe Alpine asking me to shoot some images for the upcoming pack range. Here are a few images from behind the scenes, for the rest we’ll...
by ben | Nov 19, 2015 | Alpinism, Climbing
This is a review of a pair of pre-production samples of next seasons Scarpa Phantom 6000 mountaineering boot. I’ll say straight up that I don’t know much about boots except than how to use them. Secondly I work with Scarpa (France) as an...
by ben | May 9, 2015 | Alpinism, Photography, Ski Alpinism, Skiing
When all the lifts are closed and it has just snowed 50cm yet rained to 3000m and had gale force winds above, options become a bit limited for mountaineering or skiing! As I’m working on a photography book of the finest routes on each of the 4000s, it seemed an...
by ben | May 6, 2015 | Ski Alpinism, Skiing
North Face of Aiguille du Midi, Col du Plan couloir marked Before the last few days of monsoon, we sneaked in a descent of the North Couloir of the Col du Plan. As so often with an exciting plan in uncertain conditions it was Tom’s idea! It had rained overnight...
by ben | Apr 27, 2015 | Alpinism, Climbing, Photography, Ski Alpinism, Skiing
A technical steep ski traverse from Argentiere to La Fouly with Tom Grant and Ross Hewitt… Mont Dolent (left) and the NE Face of the Aiguille de l’Amône (right – descent marked) from near Grand Lui. Having been working away editing photos through 3...
by ben | Apr 21, 2015 | Alpinism, Photography, Ski Alpinism, Skiing
Perfect clear calm weather for a quick day hit to ski an interesting couloir in Switzerland yesterday! Jesper and Mikko skinning up from Arolla The week before I was working on the Haute Route skinning up to the Bertol hut and spotted a couloir below the Vignettes hut...
by ben | Apr 4, 2015 | Ski Alpinism, Skiing
There has been a lot going on this winter… and not much time to write about it. However the Pierra Menta was probably one of the highlights of the winter season and the year so far! The Pierra Menta is like the Tour de France of ski mountaineering racing....
by ben | Jan 2, 2015 | Alpinism, Climbing, Photography, Scottish Winter, Ski Alpinism, Skiing
Here are handful of images, roughly one for each month, reflecting some of the adventures I had in the last year. Thanks to everyone who I have had the pleasure of working or playing with. I look forward to sharing more adventures with you in 2015! Aside from tons of...
by ben | Oct 28, 2014 | Alpinism, Climbing, Photography
In late August I had a last minute assignment from Lowe to shoot their new range of Alpine Attack packs. As I also work with Rab and Lowe as a supported athlete they asked me to write a little about the logistics of how we got these images! August is prime time for...
by ben | Oct 17, 2014 | Alpinism, Climbing, Photography
After a sustained period of amenable weather this Autumn there is finally a bit of rain and rest time to catch up on admin and stuff. A couple of weeks ago another great high pressure system threatened the Chamonix climbers with the dreaded FoMo (Fear of Missing out)...
by ben | Sep 30, 2014 | Alpinism, Climbing, Photography
If you are interested in alpine climbing you have probably heard how damp the Alpine summer has been, but consequently how well formed with ice faces like the Grandes Jorasses have become this Autumn. Having been busy guiding all summer I haven’t had time to get...
by ben | Sep 26, 2014 | Alpinism, Climbing, Photography
Having been working flat out all summer for my first season as an Aspirant Guide here in the Alps, I have had very little time to climb for myself. For the last 10 days since I finished working my legs have felt wrecked, but the conditions on the Jorasses and other...
by ben | Jun 7, 2014 | Alpinism, Climbing, Photography, Ski Alpinism, Skiing
Friday night over dinner Valentine and I were trying to come up with a plan. With two days of clear weather forecast we really had to come up with something interesting. It had snowed considerably for much of the previous week, but with light winds this suggested that...
by ben | May 23, 2014 | Alpinism, Climbing, Photography, Ski Alpinism, Skiing
We arrived at Montenvers and looked across the Mer du Glace to where we were heading and were somewhat bemused by the lack of snow in evidence. It looked almost like summer conditions from down below. We discussed ditching the skis but eventually, and thankfully,...
by ben | May 7, 2014 | Alpinism, Climbing, Photography, Ski Alpinism, Skiing
After some mediocre weather the forecast was set for a short weather window with a stormy deterioration in the late afternoon. Valentine and I headed up the first lift of the Grand Montets with an open mind, but with the hope of climbing the Charlet route on Mont...
by ben | May 2, 2014 | Photography, Ski Alpinism, Skiing
The final and most popular race of the Ski Mountaineering season has come around – the Patrouille des Glaciers, organised by the Swiss Army. The full course runs from Zermatt to Verbier, 4000m ascent over 53 km. It now attracts so many competitors that there are...
by ben | Apr 28, 2014 | Alpinism, Photography, Ski Alpinism, Skiing
In the last little period before the Patrouille des Glaciers (classic high mountain ski race between Zermatt and Verbier) we’ve been getting out trying to keep fit and acclimatised. With Misha Gopaul and Ben Barsdley I headed over to Verbier to recce the last...
by ben | Apr 27, 2014 | Alpinism, Photography, Ski Alpinism, Skiing
Two weeks ago we had the five days of the British Mountain Guies ski touring training that were run by Terry Ralphs and Graham McMahon, two veteran BMG ski guides. We were based in Arolla in Swiss Valais, but were focussed on hut to hut touring so only spent two...
by ben | Apr 25, 2014 | Alpinism, Climbing, Photography, Ski Alpinism, Skiing
THE RACES: The last month has been all about the Ski Mountaineering racing (and training for it!). If you havn’t come across SkiMo racing before then this all might look a little fetishistic. Lots of men and women running around in the snow in one-piece lycra...
by ben | Mar 18, 2014 | Ski Alpinism
To be frank, I wouldn’t wish the British Mountain Guides Scottish winter test on anyone. It was as gruelling and severe an experience as I can imagine, and one that is best not repeated. Thankfully I passed. I would provide some details but I have shut the...
by ben | Feb 18, 2014 | Photography, Ski Alpinism, Skiing
Though I am spending most of the winter in Scotland guiding and training for the BMG winter test, I had planned since the beginning of the winter to head back to the Alps for the SkiMo European Championships in Andorra. I went out to the Alps a week early to catch...
by ben | Jan 19, 2014 | Climbing, Photography, Scottish Winter
In the last week I have been working with several clients in the Cairngorms and Lochaber. There have been lots of fluctuations in temperature which has made for difficult working conditions at times. However much of the snow on the crags has consolidated down into...
by ben | Jan 10, 2014 | Climbing, Scottish Winter
In the last ten days I’ve been back and forth between the Cairngorms, Lochaber and the North West. At higher elevations there is now a superb winter base, though more recently in Lochaber and much of the Northern Cairngorms there is just too much snow! In the...
by ben | Dec 29, 2013 | Climbing, Scottish Winter
Just a hasty post and some snaps as we saw some vaguely clear sky today in the North West of Scotland, albeit briefly! I drove up early from Aviemore to meet Martin Moran and his clients – James, Gordan, Paul and Steve, at Achnashellach to start a ‘Winter...
by ben | Dec 21, 2013 | Climbing, Scottish Winter
Today I went for a run. It is the first time I have seen the sun since I arrived in Scotland 12 days ago. The defining feature of the what I have seen so far has been the wind. Blowing cold, blowing warm, blowing snow + loading slopes. It has meant conditions have...
by ben | Dec 18, 2013 | Climbing, Scottish Winter
Though I’ve been back in Scotland for over a week now to begin training for the Guide’s winter test, the last two days are the first of the ‘winter’ conditions that I’ve seen. The wind has been unrelenting for the last week, but only in...
by ben | Dec 14, 2013 | Alpinism, Photography, Ski Alpinism, Skiing
November delivered some unruly weather out in Chamonix, with significant snowfalls and snow lying to the valley floor for much of the month. Once the Aiguille du Midi lift closed though one had to try much harder to get up high onto the consolidated snow pack, and...
by ben | Nov 11, 2013 | Alpinism, Photography, Ski Alpinism, Skiing
Laurent Soyis carving down the Glacier du Tour (click images to enlarge!) There has been a lot of new snow high up, yet with the Aiguille du Midi lift closed good options for early season ski touring in the Chamonix area are limited. Nevertheless with my imminent move...
by ben | Nov 6, 2013 | Alpinism, Climbing, Photography
Sunset bivouac at the Rognon des Drus. (click images for a larger view) I doubt I have ever been less prepared for a long route. After a spell of bad weather the skies cleared and the outlook was good for a few days. Having been busy I hadn’t made any plans. As...
by ben | Oct 27, 2013 | Alpinism, Climbing, Photography
Umberto Bado on the forth pitch of Vent du Dragon After a beautiful but rather unsuccessful day on Thursday (http://www.bentibbettsguiding.com/alpine-conditions-midi-tacul-1/) Tom Grant and I decided to head for a mixed route called Vent du Dragon off the Aiguille du...
by ben | Oct 27, 2013 | Alpinism, Climbing, Photography, Skiing
I took too many photos this week so i’ve broken this post into two parts (It’s more about the photos than the climbing unfortunately!). Part 2 can be found at: http://www.bentibbettsguiding.com/alpine-conditions-midi-tacul-2 There has been a lot of...
by ben | Oct 23, 2013 | Alpinism, Climbing, Photography
‘Piolet Ramasse’ For years I have heard stories about the French and Swiss Alpine guides entrance exams which involves a ‘parcours de glace’, or a timed circuit ascending and descending icy terrain. The most engaging part seemed to be the...
by ben | Oct 20, 2013 | Alpinism, Climbing, Photography
After the great dump of snow in Chamonix last weekend, the wind picked up, battered most of it into hard-pack and blew the rest away. This is great for filling in the glaciers and crevasses, though it seems to have blown most of it off the bigger faces before it had...
by ben | Oct 13, 2013 | Photography, Skiing
Waking up to yet more snow in the garden and a blue sky is pretty exciting. I got up early and started desperately messaging folk to try and find someone to come up and ski. It certainly isn’t a normal days skiing this time of year as the high peaks and glaciers...
by ben | Aug 8, 2013 | Climbing
“View of the Chamonix Aiguilles from the Charpoua Refuge” When we left the hut before dawn, Christophe, the guardian’s parting shot was ‘be careful to read the topo very carefully beyond the Trident. This is where a lot of people get lost.’ Christophe hadn’t...
by ben | May 6, 2013 | Ski Alpinism
Misha Gopaul descending the north face of Mont Blanc in blustery conditions. I had never particularly noticed the Arête Royale (N ridge of the Dome de Gouter) before, or noticed how direct a passage it offers to the upper ridge of Mont Blanc. Looking up from the...
by ben | Apr 21, 2013 | Ski Alpinism
Sliding down the damp late afternoon spring snow to the base of the Grand Montets, we saw Killian Jornet and Mathéo Jacquemoud skinning up the piste with their distinctive rolling, long poling techniques. No doubt they were off for a short training session to the...
by ben | Jul 23, 2012 | Alpinism, Climbing, Photography
Looking back, with the clarity of hindsight, we chose the wrong route down. To descend from the top of Europe in the dark, with winds that had us stumbling and crawling off the mountain, was chaos. But to choose the quickest way down was to miscalculate the balance...