Pro Guiding Service - Ski Mountaineering

Trips Reports (All)

Below are our trip reports, in reverse chronological order. We also have an interactive map of our trip reports, if that's more your style.

Morocco 2008

April 19, 2008 - February 28, 2008 | Atlas Mountain,

In shallah- Morocco 2008 Everything seemed so foreign and I was so tired; after all I had just flown half way around the...

Article in the Seattle P-I: She Rocks the Alpine

March 19, 2008 | Snoqualmie Pass, Washington

All-women backcountry ski clinic leaves the lift noise and crowds behind By PHUONG CAT LE P-I REPORTER After a quick...

Chris Solomon writes about the Spearhead Traverse and Pro Guiding Service in the New York Times

February 28, 2008 | B.C. Coast Range,

Direct link to the Spearhead Traverse article:

January is Really a Great Month - She Rocks Report

January 31, 2008 | Snoqaulmie Pass,

It's true. January was an amazing month! The weather stayed cold, and we had a blend of snow and sun (remember, sun? It...

TGIF Chair Peak Circumnavigation

January 25, 2008 | ,

Pat Millegan and Gianluca Interlandi joined guide Ben Haskell for a TGIF tour on Friday 1/25/08. We took advantage of the clear...

Climbing skin selection research

October 11, 2007 | Switzerland,

This is not a trip report, but is might be of interest for the Ski touring crowd. Check it out. Out there with the right...

Chair Peak North Face direct

September 20, 2007 | North Central Cascades,

On September 20th we (Kurt Buchwald and Martin Volken) went to the Chair Peak North Face in the North Central Cascades of...

The Matterhorn (by Terry Jarrett)

August 13, 2007 - August 18, 2007 | Matterhorn - Swiss Alps,

Matterhorn Trip Report: August 13-18, 2007 Midway through our trip Martin said “We should talk about alternatives to...

Forbidden Peak NW Buttress

July 11, 2007 - July 12, 2007 | ,

Forbidden Peak North West Buttress July 11 and 12,2007 An exceptional climb of purity! Fred – the undisputed Alpine King...

Mount Buckner North Face

June 26, 2007 - July 27, 2007 | North Cascades National Park,

The Branca trip on Buckner (by Mihai Iancu) WARNING: There is nothing exceptional in this trip report. There were no major...

Mount Rainier ski descent

June 03, 2007 - June 08, 2007 | Mount Rainier National Park,

We got off to a shaky start. Heck we were trying to be good husbands, dads, whatever. So we left a day later. The forecast...

Ski Mountaineering in the Pantheon Range

May 14, 2007 - May 23, 2007 | Waddington Range in the BC Coast Range,

The Pantheon Range in Canada; I do not know much about Greek mythology, but this Sub Range of the mighty Waddington massif...

The Ortler Range

April 02, 2007 - April 07, 2007 | Italy,

I was over-caffeinated already, and it was only 10 am. What’s a bella to do? Switch to hot chocolate, of course. Which I...

Snoqualmie High Route

March 29, 2007 - April 02, 2007 | Snoqualmie Pass, Mt Daniel

We've been itching to get back to the Snoqualmie High Peaks ever since Martin pioneered his version of the Haute Route several...

Spearhead Traverse - Borat Route

March 26, 2007 - March 27, 2007 | Whistler Blackcomb, British Columbia

Martin Volken Guided Chris Solomon, Andy Martin & Rob Morris. Our first attempt at this trip with a larger group back in...

Snoqualmie Powder

February 21, 2007 | ,

Just when you think it can't get any better, it does. John Rabel skied at Snoqualmie Pass and had a perfect blue sky powder day...

Thunder Creek

February 20, 2007 | Snoqualmie Pass,

Powder skiing conditions have returned to the cascades. Tuesday Feb. 20 Mason Stafford and Ben Haskell Skied the Thunder...

Niseko Powder

February 10, 2007 - February 16, 2007 | Niseko, Japan,

I must admit, Skiing in Japan was not really on my radar. I guess I had heard that the northern portion of the island receives...

Wednesday Day Tour Snoqualmie Pass

January 17, 2007 | Mt. Snoqualmie, East and South Ridges

What's that you say, it's Wed-nes-day? Here is a quick round of pictures from last Wednesday's tour up Mt. Snoqualmie....

Colfax South Face

May 04, 2006 | North Cascades, WA

On May 4th 2006 Martin Volken, Mason Stafford and Matt Schoenwald skied the South Face of Colfax Peak near Mount Baker. The...

Fjords of Norway

March 26, 2006 - March 31, 2006 | Romsdalfjorden, Central Norwegian Coast

Our trip to the Norwegian Fjords exceeded my (and hopefully all participants) expectations. The lands along the Norwegian Coast...

McClellan's Butte

March 13, 2006 | I-90 (Exit 38), WA

On March 13, 2006 Martin Volken skied the East Face of McClellan's Butte off the summit. He was accompanied by Dave Perkins who...

The Matterhorn via the Standard Route (Hornli Ridge)

September 05, 2005 | Swiss Alps, Europe

Location: Swiss Alps
Starting elevation: Matterhorn hut at 3270 meters
Summit elevation: 4478 meters
Elevation...

Skiing South America

August 23, 2005 - September 25, 2005 | Chile and Argentina,

...

South America

August 23, 2005 - September 30, 2005 | Chile and Argentina,

The Andes are wild, South America is too, both should be seen at least once in a lifetime, and dry powder in August can’t be...

24 Hours of Torment

June 03, 2004 - June 04, 2004 | North Cascades, WA

On Thursday June 3, 2004 to Friday June 4, 2004 Martin Volken and Andy Dappen went in and skied the North Face of Mt. Torment...

Overcoat & Chimney Rock

August 07, 2003 - August 09, 2003 | Central Cascades, WA

On August 7-9 2003 Martin, along with Gregg Kimball and Tom Boehmer hiked from the end of Middle Fork Road to the Overcoat &...

Mount Formidable

July 30, 2003 | North Cascades, WA

On July 30th Martin Volken from North Bend and Kurt Buchwald from Snoqualmie completed the ridge crest traverse from...

Arachnophobia on Spider Mountain

May 05, 2003 - May 06, 2003 | North Cascades, WA

Guide Martin Volken and client Peter Avolio skied a new line on the north face of Spider Mountain. Peter dubbed it...

Bonanza Peak

August 21, 2002 | North Cascades, WA

On August 21st and 22nd Martin Volken, Kurt Buchwald and Peter Avolio completed the ridge traverse of all three summits of...

Mount Buckner

March 22, 2002 - February 22, 2002 | North Cascades, WA

In the spring of 2002 Martin Volken invited a few friends to come ski in his back yard, the North Cacades. They skied the north...

Falcon Route

September 10, 2001 | North Central Cascades, WA

Climbers: Martin Volken, Jeff Hansell Route character: Alpine Rock Route difficulty: Grade 4/ 5.9 Time during first ascent:...

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