UKH

Hi

I'm looking for a specific high alpine skimountaineering book (so not about summer alpinism or ski touring, I know all that). It's mainly for skimo in the alps.

I want to read things like:
- Descending together on a rope when there is fog or snowbridges are weak
- How to let someone down in a couloir with a rope
- How to abseil with ski material
- How to brake if you fall in a no fall zone without axes by hand
- These are just a few basics, so many more.
All these things are not learned out of a book I know.
Hopefully you can recommend me some book(s).
Many thanks,

In reply to wout:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mountain-Essentials-Touring-Sebastien-Constant/dp/2...

A mate of mine has the above book and i think it covers some of what you are looking for, i can't actually remember.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/1594850380/ref=pd_aw_sims_1?pi=SL500_SY115&...

And this book is pretty good and packed full of info. It doesn't really cover steep skiing techniques ie braking in a no fall zone, but it has info on general mountaineering with skis and i think it has a section on rope work with skis, I'll double check when i get home, unless someone else can confirm this?

In reply to Mr-Cowdrey:
From the info I find on amazon these books are too much ski touring. I'm not interested in avalanche decision making info, how to make a kickturn (have plenty of those books) and other management things.
General mountaineering with ski's is also not what I'm looking for, because I allready did a few of those and I found out that if you have done a lot ski touring and summer alpinism you don't kneed to know much more. I mainly would like to read info about (steep) skiing in and around rough terrain.

In reply to wout:

It sounds to me like the information you are looking for would be found in a book about mountaineering skills (e.g. glacier travel, abseil techniques, etc), albeit without specific references to skiing.

BTW, braking in a no fall zone without an axe? First of all, by definition, you shouldn't fall in a no fall zone, and if you are in a no fall zone, then why haven't you got an axe to hand, and descending accordingly? What technique do you think may exist to stop you if you do fall? A mate once went on a steep skiing course, and was repeatedly told not to fall under any circumstance. He had worked that out prior to going on the course, so felt that paying a wad of cash to be shouted at by a Frenchman all week wasn't the best use of his time or money.

In reply to wout:

>> - How to brake if you fall in a no fall zone without axes by hand

Prayer is probably your best option at that point.

In reply to wout:

The BMC video off piste essentials does some of what you want but also features a bit of the stuff you're not interested in. Perhaps you could fastforward?

https://www.thebmc.co.uk/new-off-piste-essentials-dvd

In reply to Scomuir:

That's what I was thinking: In a no fall zone the ground does the stopping for you.

To the OP: I spent 2 days with an instructor last year in Whistler and came out of it a much better skier: could be worth looking at for the specialist advice you're after here.

In reply to Scomuir:
Some things are defintely different from the summers so I don't get your point.
You're probably right (no fall is no fall, but it's a grey area if breaking would be possible) but I asked the question and that means I don't have any idea!?

In reply to london_huddy:


.. or not, as is likely the case. To me, being in a "no fall zone" suggest that should a slip or fall occur, the likelihood of stopping and surviving are virtually nil, whether you have an axe to hand or not.

In reply to wout:

A good book on mountaineering skills (in an alpine environment at least) should cover what you need to deal with when snow and ice is present.

In reply to wout:

In my understanding, what you are asking for is general mountaineering skills. Abing with skis is not really any different from abing without. You either put skis on your pack, or ab with them on. But deciding which option to use takes experience i guess. And the same goes for lowering: rig an anchor and use either a belay device or italian hitch to lower.

In reply to Scomuir:
I was meaning the flat bit under the no fall zone stops you. Usually pretty much instantaneously.

In reply to wout:

Try this : http://www.amazon.co.uk/Complete-Guide-Ski-Touring-Mountaineering/dp/142597...

In reply to Mr-Cowdrey:
Of course main techniques and materials are the same, ice is ice, snow is snow and rock is rock. And the dangers in the summers are also there in the winters and dangers while ski touring or winter climbing are also there at an high alpine environment. I already knew it's not completely different and that's why I asked for specific info!

Some of my questions are probably answered for 95% in general mountaineering books. But I'm looking for information how experts are doing it (not things like Vallee Blanche) in real life not how we would all imagine (because 100 roads lead to Rome). So yes experiences and advised techniques is what I want to read. But most of the things you will read in those books are at the end based on experiences..

And if it doesn't exists it doesn't exists.

In reply to wout:

there is certainly a gap in the market for a book like this. nothing recent, in English, covering the alps that I am aware of. Bruce Goodlad has a book in production but not sure when it will see the light of day. If its anything like his summer alpine one i am sure it will be very good.

In reply to wout:

This is what you want : -

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Free-Skiing-How-Adapt-Mountain/dp/9163313138

Review here : -

http://www.tetongravity.com/forums/showthread.php/135852-Free-Skiing-How-to...

In reply to Tangler:

hero!

In reply to wout:

I'll second the last suggestion - a very good book!

I think we met in cham this summer- you stay at the praz campsite? Hope all's well- it looked from your blog like the rest of your summer was alright! Obviouslythinking about winter now though...

In reply to tjhare1:

Hi Tom,

Yes we did, in the chag! We made the best of that month. Afterwards we went to Switzerland, Italy and back again to Chamonix, searching for better conditions and weather. Could be a better season obviously but it was nice. Hope the rest of your summer was also good in the Ecrins? And thanks for your advise. Have a good winter and maybe we meet again. Grtz