And when we're not skiing ... we're enjoying being close to the hills in North Wales, off rock climbing and walking in the area whenever we can. And also trying to get a good balance between climbing and updating texts for brochures and websites!
We retain our close links with Jagged Globe and Mountain Kingdoms for whom we have worked for in past years, leading commercial expeditions and treks to some fascinating and dramatic corners of the globe. During the summer of 2005, John led a very successful expedition to Cho Oyu, the world's 5th highest peak at 8,211 m, getting himself and four clients to the summit on a beautiful day in September.
At virtually the same time, Bonny was on the 7048 m Lhakpa Ri, the mountain right next to Everest on the Tibetan side, in rather more dodgy conditions but successfully to the summit nonetheless!
In the summer of 2006 we enjoyed the drama, hospitality, travel, treks and climbs of the Pakistan Karakoram and Bonny and John led two exploratory expeditions in the Indian Karakoram, again for Jagged Globe. John did a reconnaissance of the area in 2005, including a first ascent, and saw the huge potential of this unspoilt area for Jagged Globe groups – clean campsites, virgin peaks, hospitable villages, alpine pastures, lakes, waterfalls, etc.
During the summer of 2007 with our groups we did the first ascents of three peaks, one just over 6000 m and two at almost 5800 m; for some of the group it was their first time in the Himalaya, let alone climbing a virgin summit!
For the Summer of 2008, it was 'back to our roots' and rock climbing in the UK and climbing in the Dolomites of Italy and the limestone cliffs of the Greek isles …
Last October John had a very successful trip to the summit of Kilimanjaro, the continent’s highest point with it’s glaciers and snowfields high above the well-known 'safari country'. This October Bonny and John will be back in Nepal again with a couple of 6000 m peaks on the agenda, 20 years since their first visit there!
Do get in touch if you would like to know how we got on, more about these trips, or any others.
Photos top right:
Left: High on the first ascent of a 6000 m peak in Ladakh.
Photo: John Eames
Right: Bonny and team on a first ascent of 5800 m peak.
Photo: Bonny Masson
JOHN EAMES is a British Association of Snowsports Instructors (BASI) National Ski Teacher (Nordic), Telemark Teacher Level 3 (ISIA) and BASI Alpine Instructor Level 2 as well as being a member of the International Ski Instructors Association, very significant for our work abroad. John also works as a Telemark trainer for BASI.
The Telemark Ski Company staff – these are a few of the other people you may well come across:
• Bonny Masson
• Catriona Reid
• Tom Higgs
• Neil MacPherson
• Katherine Hurst
• Julia Tregaskis
• Allan Rorby
• Stefan Janik
• Christian Cesa
Kate Brown: Kate is British and lives in Switzerland (nice for some?!). She is passionate about outdoor sports. A keen biker, runner, climber and skier she qualified as a BASI Telemark Instructor in 2004. She now runs her own outdoor based, personal fitness training business from her home in the Swiss Jura. She spends as much of the winter ski touring as possible, notable ski summits include Mt Elbrus and Mt Blanc. Current ambitions lie within the ski mountaineering/Randonnee racing world - last season she trained to improve her skinning rate of 800ms an hour (eeek!) and competed in the Patrouille des Glaciers race from Zermatt to Verbier – overnight! Kate also has a sports related degree and her other qualifications include Mountain Bike Trail Leader and Summer Mountain Leader qualifications..
Tania Noakes: Tania currently lives in Chamonix where she combines working and instructing in Nordic skiing with climbing in winter and summer. She is a British Association of Snowsports Instructor Nordic Instructor, is a holder of the coveted Mountain Instructors Certificate (MIC) and is now progressing in the Guides scheme that will lead towards being qualified as an UIAGM Guide. Tania has also competed successfully in Nordic skiing competitions and, during her time in the army, has done a number of tours in Norway; her ski touring experience also extends to many areas of the Alps along with considerable expedition experience world-wide. Last winter Tania successfully led our Jotunheim: Pines to Peaks and found it to be a very satisfying and enjoyable itinerary. She also works for Jagged Globe leading climbing expeditions to the Andes, Nepal and the mountains of Africa. Her experience of leading groups in remote mountain areas combined with her Nordic skiing background, qualifications and knowledge of Norway will ensure that you are in the best possible hands for this tour!
Catriona Reid: You will very likely speak to Catriona at some stage as she runs the office and bookings whilst we are away, especially during the winter months when we are instructing and running trips. She actually lives up in Inverness-shire, such is the facility of the internet these days. Besides The Telemark Ski Company she has also got two young daughters and a husband, George, to look after! She is very happy to help with advice about trips, sorting out your booking and making sure you get all the information you need before heading off skiing.
Stefan Janik: Stefan has done spells of instructing with us for the last eight seasons, often doing two tours back-to-back in Norway – during the 07-08 season it was ‘Snohetta & Dovrefjell’ followed by the ‘Trollheimen Triangle’. Stefan has always been well-received by the groups, not only for his skiing and group care but also for the stories from his previous 'incarnations'! Besides being a fanatical Nordic and Telemark skier he is also a fanatical kayaker and fanatical anything else that 'grabs' him! He really enjoys instructing and will make sure you develop and enjoy your skiing as much as possible in a week.
Christian Cesa: As an U.I.A.G.M./ I.F.M.G.A. Guide living near Aosta, Christian has led several of our 'Intro to Telemark Touring' summit trips over the last few years. During the five last winters he has led the 'Silvretta', Stubai, Oetztal and the 'Gran Paradiso' tours and our new Chamonix-Zermatt Haute Route tour, Spring '06. Christian is definitely in the modern idiom of guiding – very professional, very caring, very safe – and very humorous!, ensuring a good time and a good tour is had by all. He is also an awesome Telemark skier!
Bonny Masson: Bonny is a BASI Nordic Ski Teacher (Nordic Downhill) BASI Telemark Teacher Level 3 (ISIA) and BASI Alpine Instructor Level 2 with an extensive background in instruction, leadership and sports studies. Bonny has been involved in The Telemark Ski Company from the start.
Tom Higgs: Tom has led several of our Norwegian tours over the years, managing to find time away from his 'real job' – to our advantage! Tom is another person who knows how to really look after a group, to ensure a wonderful experience and to keep them safe. After a sabbatical to New Zealand for the winter of 03–04 he was back in the Jotunheim for us during March, 2005, leading a very successful 'North-West Passage' tour – again! March '06 saw him leading the Tafjordfjella ... to rave reviews! And winter 2006, two very successful tours: the Jotunheim again and also to the remote and unvisited area beyond the Hardanger Icecap. In 2009 – '10 season he successfully led the 'Hardanger Crossing' despite severe weather and illness! Last winter saw success in the Tafjordfjella and on the Jotunheim Hidden Gems tour, both beset by some atrocious weather but all returned home well-satisfied and a great sense of achievement. We are trying to arrange some good, settled weather for his next tour!
Neil MacPherson: Neil is both Alpine and Telemark qualified and has worked in La Thuile for several weeks in 2006 and 7, on the 'Geilo Nordic' week and also the 'Geilo & Finse' course March, '05, March '06 and in April ’10 alongside Julia Tregaskis. Neil has also helped out in Hintertux – both skiing and après-skiing! When not skiing Neil is based in Scotland working freelance in the outdoors and using his wide-ranging skills in climbing, mountain-biking and paddling. Client feedback has always been very positive; he is very conscientious, a very good skier and great with our groups – hopefully you will be seeing more of Neil.
Katherine Hurst: Katherine started working for us last season – new to us but familiar with many Nordic skiers over the years in Norway. She has led groups and instructed in Nordic skiing for over 20 years in both the Alps and Norway and has a very in-depth knowledge of skiing in Norway, with a great understanding of all things Norwegian and an excellent reputation for group care and empathy. The last 2 seasons she had very successful weeks, in the Rondane, the Skarvheimen Traverse and the Troll Trail. This season she will be with our groups again touring in the Rondane, the Jotunheim Pines to Peaks tour and the Skarvheimen. When not Nordic skiing she will be Telemark skiing and, in the summer, walking, doing 'via ferrata' and mountain biking.
Julia Tregaskis: As a BASI Nordic Instructor Julia has experience of Nordic skiing across Norway, in the Rondane, Sjusoen, Hovda and Kvitavatn areas to name a few! Her current base is near Chamonix in the French Alps where she combines working as an International Mountain Leader and as a ski instructor, to lead and organise mountain adventure holidays for all ages and abilities. She have travelled and worked in outdoor education, fitness instruction and on expeditions worldwide from Africa to the Himalayas and extensively in Europe. Julia is passionate about many sports including: ultra running, ski touring, rock climbing and triathlon, regularly competing in distance running and ski races around the world. She is never happier than when in the mountains!
Allan Rorby: Allan is Danish, lives in Sweden and works a lot of the winter in Norway – he is Scandinavian! He is qualified with the British Association of Ski Instructors as a Nordic Instructor and with the equivalent Norwegian association in both Telemark and Alpine skiing, the latter at ISIA level, the higher level that is recognised internationally. Two winters ago he did a spell for us at Andermatt; last winter Allan combined time working at a ski school at Hovden in Norway instructing on our weeks at Obergurgl, Lenzerheide and Andermatt. During the summer he works freelance as a master carpenter and enjoys the outdoors in all sorts of ways: kiting, paddle-boarding and kayaking to name a few!