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I now have a little more time to put pen to paper and say hi. First of all thanks for the best action-adventure-vacation a skier could have.
I have a great photo of us on the Zumsteinspitze serves as my screen-saver on my laptop. Everyone that sees it freaks out and comments on how
cool it is. It was simply a great day full of challenges, manageable risk and incredible skiing. I told my mom it was one of the best days of
my life. So thank you once again for the great experience.
Johnny Keefe, CO (06/07 season)
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"I wish to thank you for my fantastic trip with SME at the Haute Route this spring! I had a fantastic time, with the best guiding, itinerary and routes that I
could imagine. Ruedi and David are truly fantastic guides!
It is beyond my imagination how SME can not only put together such a great itinerary with variations on the "normal" H.R., but to modify the itinerary day by day to
suit the existing snow conditions, weather and client abilities. SME's knowledge of the routes, peaks, terrain and huts, combined with guiding ability allow the trip
to be tailored for the best variations and experiences.
In our first 5 days, with clear weather and sunny conditions, we were moving early in the good snow, fantastically summiting 4000m peaks daily, and ending the days
before the snow softened dangerously. When the weather cooled and we encountered such good powder snow on Mt. Blanc, we were able to enjoy the conditions into the
afternoon on high and wonderful slopes of the Valee Blanche. SME's ability to have us safely complete the Haute Route down the Mer de Glace once the weather changed
to storm and pea-soup fog was impressive!
But most impressive of all was how we were able to complete the middle section of the route, while escaping the warm temperature dangers from no overnight freezing
and wet snow avalanches. By adapting to more conservative routes and traveling quickly and early in the changed conditions we safely completed the route, even as we
watched other groups not adapt and expose themselves to danger, or quit the route.
My only misgiving is that recent climate change and warm weather has decreased the alpine glaciers and accelerated snowmelt, so that the glacier ski runs are shorter,
the low altitude skiing has suffered, and ski areas are closing so early in the spring.
I will be joining SME to travel to the Swiss, Italian and French mountains at one of your wonderful 4000 m peak trips in the future. Will there be any way to include
a few extra days, either just before or after the 4000 m trip to ski and climb with SME when there in the future?
I will be contacting you this fall, once I can schedule with a few friends to come and ski at the Durrand Glacier Chalet this winter.
John Morrone, Colorado (June 1, 2005)
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"My twenty year nostalgia for ski touring in the Swiss Alps suddenly found "fulfillment"... and more, in every respect: the mountain glacier scenery,
the challenge of peak climbs, the heavenly powder, and... the refined and civilized haven of the chalet: the cozy and neat Swiss décor, the music and the
fabulous meals. The "Selkirk Mountain Experience" is an experience in the highest quality of human living. It is a lifting thought to know that it is there to be
enjoyed again."
Philippe Dunoyer, Colorado
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