I’ve taken some time away from the blog, but only because I’ve been out in the mountains…or I’ll be honest; It’s not like I’ve been disconnected, I’ve been spraying super hard over on the Mountain Pro facebook page.

After returning from a solid spring of high montagne ski guiding on the Haute Route, Ortler Circuit and the Berner Oberland. my May and June were filled with quality time spent in and around Crested Butte. After 100+ days in the ski boots, my pale weak feet were begging for some sun and some sandstone crack induced torture. Sarah, Louis, and I spent some time exploring a new-ish Mountain Pro permit zone: Moab area and the splitter cracks of  Indian Creek.

Sarah utilizes a trick she picked up in the Alps in the Fisher Towers

While certainly not my first visit to the area, we spent our time in Moab and the Creek exploring routes and crags that would be best suited for Mountain Pro guests. After ticking off a few of the classics and getting sufficiently re-psyched to rock climb, the oppressive desert heat forced us to retreat home for the coarse granite of Taylor Canyon and June in Crested Butte.

Enjoying the Taylor Canyon classic Tony’s Tango
The month of June in Crested Butte is nothing short of perfection. Too early for July and August’s afternoon thunderstorms and intense heat, just clear blue skies day after day.  Truly perfect weather to enjoy the endless amounts of climbing, hiking and biking near town. I made a habit of roping-up daily, interspersed with great Mountain Pro trips in Taylor Canyon and the Black Canyon run through partner Crested Butte Mountain Guides. Simple mountain town living…

Climbing the Black Canyon’s Maiden Voyage

Typical June Greatness

July and August find me back in Chamonix, France. Training for the AMGA Alpine Guides exam and guiding with IFMGA/UIAGM mountain guides from all over the world. I’m really excited to have a full schedule this summer, and it has been great to catch up with friends while climbing some of the world’s greatest alpine objectives.

Check back in for updates, and don’t forget about the Mountain Pro Facebook and Twitter scene.  Stop by and give me a hard time once in a while!
Mike Bromberg
Mountain Pro Guiding

Spring is the season for ski guides training for upcoming AMGA Ski Mountaineering Courses and Exams. I’ve been getting in touch and helping out fellow guides with advice for how to really maximize their instructional experiences while avoiding excessive MARGINAL scores.

As temperatures climb here in the Elk Mountains, stability is quite good, even Very Good (to be a dork about it), making it a great time of year to enjoy some of those steeper lines. As Jayson Simons-Jones (owner of CBMG) and I have been finding, it’s also a great time to train for his upcoming AMGA Ski Mountaineering Exam!

While the lines aren’t exactly Valdez size, there is plenty of technical terrain in our backyards to keep things interesting. Check out this vid of Jayson belaying us into a seldom skied steep line!

Mike Bromberg