Jorg's Blog
October 25:

It's October 25 but it feels like December 25! Night temps are around -15C and there is snow on the ground - enough for the two closest ski resorts (Nakiska and Norquay) to open operations this weekend already. I don't recall they have ever opened this early? There are reports about the first ice climbs coming in too, however many of the usual early season climbs tend to be quite exposed to avalanche hazard! Usually not a concern when there is no snow around yet, but this year will be different!

We are looking back on a very busy summer - probably the busiest yet in the 15 years in business. We spend most of the summer in Europe with the entire family - mainly in the Dolomites, the Bavarian Alps and the Pfalz, the sandstone climbing area at the German / French border where I spend most weekends of my youth.

It's the more quiet time of the year and the Banff Film Fest is a welcome opportunity to get inspired again for the coming winter season and to meet old friends, who make their way to the Canadian Rockies. This year, I'm very much looking forward to having my old climbing buddy Rald Dujmovits and his wife Gerlinde Kaltenbrunner stay with us during the Film Fest. We used to climb a lot together until Ralf started to spend most of his time in the Himaslayas to climb all 8000 meter peaks and I moved to North America. Good chance we may have a few beers together the next 10 days....and try to go ice or mixed climbing without embarrassing ourselves too badly, given the fact that the town is heaving with young hot shots hanging off their ice tools already.

FEATURED TRIPS
Given the tremendous success we had with the Heli-Assisted Ski Touring trips that we run with CMH (Canadian Mountain Holidays) in previous years, we will be offering a couple of additional dates this year to choose from.

New Trips on the Site:
A new Via Ferrata Trip in the Dolomites? Not really, since we've been running it as a custom trip for 16 years now: The Brenta Dolomites Bochette Loop. Probably the best via ferrata hut trek in the Dolomites (i.e.: in the world) in terms of beauty, views, exposure and challenge level. A must for every ferratista!