Ski Season 2010: Durrand Glacier Chalet

Dear Ski Friends,

Well the winter is over and we at SME are in full summer mode, preparing for a busy hiking and mountain climbing season at the Durrand Glacier Chalet and the Mt.Moloch Chalet.

My mind is still cruising down all the incredible slopes of the Northern Monashee Ski Traverse, a great trip I finished up on May 28, 2010. It is every year the same feeling I get after making this very last turn at the bottom of an endless slope garnished with perfect corn snow and then tie the skis together, I become quiet and think about the perfect ski-season which just finished up. All the guests I have guided at Durrand Glacier, in the mountains of Rogers Pass, in the European Alps and the Northern Monashee Ski Traverse... I still see them smile as they have experienced the run of their life, how they cleaned the powder from the face after experiencing super deep face-shots, the way every single ski guest reflected in their own personal way on the endless serenity of the high alpine and the calming quietness in the enchanted forest. Every body reached their own Everest.

Ski guiding for 200 days every ski-season makes me realize every year again and again why I enjoy guiding guests in big terrain, leading them safely through difficult conditions and showing them the most perfect powder line they ever have experienced... For me guiding is all about being out there with great people and showing to them why we actually ski such amazing terrain, it is not just the actual turn in deep snow... it is the complete adventure which includes high mountains and their endless serenity, impressive terrain and sometimes even wild ski runs, perfect powder snow or spring corn snow and most of all simply being out there and enjoying the experience of the life together with great friends.

How many times you hear somebody saying... This is terrible snow or man I wish that weather would change for the better. Then at the end it is always a great surprise how fast we actually realize that all these short moments of disliking a certain run or that wild storm really mean nothing and definitely carry no weight against the absolutely perfect days and ski runs we had. Again it was the most rewarding ski-season I ever had as a guide, I met great friends. Many have been skiing with me since many years, for some I had the honour to guide them on their 50th plus ski-trip and for others it was the first ski trip they have experienced with me as their guide.

Finally I need good staff to be able to exceed all expectations. My guiding staff Dan and Alex have not been just a superb support in guiding and in our complex avalanche safety program, both also showed endless friendship towards all ski guests and SME. Our professional Chef Bruce this winter again went all out to completely fulfill our hungry appetite before and after each ski-tour with 100 % home-cooked gourmet meals. Then there is Shannon who was the magic woman behind the scene, perfectly organizing the groups and guest exchanges, never mind answering to a huge number of questions from ski-guests. Finally there is my very supportive family, my wife Nicoline and the two girls Charlotte and Florina. How can I possibly guide with so much enthusiasm and happiness if these three ladies would not live together with me at the Durrand Glacier Chalet.

Well, the summer will be short and, just as the winter, filled with incredible adventures in the mountains. Then the next winter will come. Convinced of a big snow-pack and lots of great days in the mountains, skiing all these long and interesting glaciers and steep 1000 vertical meter tree-runs. Hope to get to share many of these days with you.

Until then, enjoy the summer and my family and I are looking forward to skiing b with you next ski-season at Canada's Durrand Glacier or in the European Alps.

Your Guide and ski-friend