What's New in Chamonix?

Guy Willett ready to go with skis and oxygen mask - gnarly!

A team from Chamonix-based guide company Dream Guides has just completed an expedition to climb Manaslu, the world's eighth highest peak at 8156m and two of the group skied back down, making them the first Britons to do so.

The achievement could also be world first. Back in 1981 an attempt was made to ski down, but this was never confirmed. Ironically, at the same time as the British team was climbing to the summit, another two teams were also in the area with the same aim - to ski from the summit.

Guy Willett a 38 year old IFMGA and British Mountain Guide who runs Chamonix-based company Dream Guides with business and climbing partner Kenton Cool, successfully reached the summit of Manaslu with his fellow team members, before making a complete descent on skis, alongside Emma Jacks, who also works for Dream Guides.

The expedition team were supported by a team of sherpas and used oxygen from around 7000m to reach the summit at 8156m. Guy and Emma than put on their skis and headed back down to basecamp on their epic pioneering ski descent. It's been reported the two summited at 09:00 and were back in basecamp by 16:00, whilst the rest of the team, made up of Rob Casserly, Bonita Norris and Lynette Troff took a lot longer to walk back on foot!

It has yet to be confirmed if it is indeed a world first for Guy and Emma, but it's certainly a British first, so congratulations to the whole team in Nepal.