Post archives on this website (at the bottom of every page) contain many of Mark’s stories about his experiences working as a mountain guide in the Alps. There are also a few stories by his friend and client, Charles Sherwood, and a couple of historic interest stories about the first mountaineers to climb and ski …
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The Crystal Hunters
We were sitting in a cafe in Andermatt, attempting to use one of the alpinists most important tools: the Internet. We needed a weather forecast for our next mini adventure. Peter Little and I had just descended from climbing the south ridge of the Salbitschijen: possibly the finest rock climb of it grade in the …
Flying Grannies
Anyone who has been in Klosters in January in the past nine years or so will have probably seen the Flying Grannies (the FG’s). They are a group of Ladies who leave the Wynegg at around 8.30am and do not return until dusk or later. To the people who have seen them scuttling along to …
The Fastest 11-Year-Old in France
Florence Seaton was the fastest 11 year old in France. She is also one of the inspirations for the “Little Marmot Mountaineers” characters in the Mark the Mountain Guide children’s book series.
Dawn on the Frontier: the Southeast Ridge of Mont Maudit, September 2010
Charles Sherwood Thursday, September 2, 2010 I sat at breakfast in the Eden Hotel, just outside Chamonix on the road to Argentiere, inspecting the weather through the window. After a turbulent start to the week, things looked stable now and set fair for the next few days. Not that the prior disturbance had curtailed us …
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Beating the Crowds on the Haute Route
The High Level Route, otherwise known as the Haute Route is possibly the most famous ski tour in the world. It attracts people from all over the world and anyone who is lucky enough to complete the journey from Chamonix to Zermatt will enjoy the memory for the rest of their lives. This the ultimate …
“And now let’s climb Mont Blanc”: the north face of the Aiguille de Peuterey Blanche
Charles Sherwood The most difficult of all the 4000-m summits in the Alps is the Aiguille de Peuterey Blanche. On August 29, 2008, Mark Seaton & client Charles Sherwood completed the ascent. This is Sherwood’s account of the adventure. Tuesday, August 26, 2008 It was 10.30am in the morning as Mark and I returned to …
The Art of Iglooism
“So you’ve bought what? Did I hear you right?” John asked. “Yes I’ve bought an Igloo making machine!” I proudly reconfirmed and then added, “We are going to take it into the mountains and build a perfect igloo. And then we are going to sleep in it.” “Who are we?” Peter asked “You guys seem …
“Oh, are you still here?” A bagman’s view of the Eigerwand
Charles Sherwood September 11, 2007: Despite the fact that none of the routes up the mountain were actually “open”, Mark Seaton & Charles Sherwood climbed the notorious North Face of the Eiger, becoming only the second British guided party to do so (Kenton Cool and his client, sir Ranulph Fiennes, accomplished the feat just six …
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The Dent Blanche, and other decisions
When I reflect on the most satisfying climbs I have completed as a Mountain Guide, it is neither the hardest nor the highest that come to mind. Instead I often think of the climbs that have had that extra something. Something where the outcome was less than certain. This is not to say hazardous, but …