October 10th 2013

Tacul - Supercouloir Direct

Last year I got to organize and shoot one of the classics of the massif, the Supercouloir Direct, for Adidas Outdoor.

The climb was bitterly cold, read in the -20 degree range, and there was near constant heavy spindrift. But it’s one of those cool winter shoots that I love doing — a strong team and a hard objective. Everything has to move right, and everything has to move fast; otherwise you don’t get the shots you want, and you don’t get to the top as everyone freezes. The results are great when this all happens, and now that Adidas has released the images and video in their marketing I can put some up for you.

Adam George heads in to the Supercouloir the day before to recce

Adam George heads in to the Supercouloir the day before to recce

4am winter start with Max and Steph

4am winter start with Max and Steph

Steph and Max touring in to the Supercouloir

Steph and Max touring in to the Supercouloir

Gearing up at day break

Gearing up at day break

Steph on the M6 crux of the Supercouloir Direct

Steph on the M6 crux of the Supercouloir Direct

Steph negotiating the snow plug on the crux of the Supercouloir

Steph negotiating the snow plug on the crux of the Supercouloir

Steph negotiating the snow plug on the crux of the Supercouloir

Steph negotiating the snow plug on the crux of the Supercouloir

Steph negotiating the snow plug on the crux of the Supercouloir

Steph negotiating the snow plug on the crux of the Supercouloir

Steph pulling out of the crux

Steph pulling out of the crux

Steph pulling out of the crux

Steph pulling out of the crux

The second part of the route takes you up much mellower terrain but in to the shade which combined with the non stop spindrift made for some really unpleasant climbing….such is life.

Max and Steph about to head in to the couloir

Max and Steph about to head in to the couloir

Max questing out of the sun and in to the cold couloir with the Grandes Jorasses in the backgorund

Max questing out of the sun and in to the cold couloir with the Grandes Jorasses in the backgorund

Max questing out of the sun and in to the cold couloir with the Grandes Jorasses in the backgorund

Max questing out of the sun and in to the cold couloir with the Grandes Jorasses in the backgorund

Max questing out of the sun and in to the cold couloir with the Grandes Jorasses in the backgorund

Max questing out of the sun and in to the cold couloir with the Grandes Jorasses in the backgorund

Max high up on the ice of Supercouloir

Max high up on the ice of Supercouloir

Steph on the last pitch on the Supercouloir

Steph on the last pitch on the Supercouloir

Steph taking the spindrift on the last pitch of Supercouloir

Steph taking the spindrift on the last pitch of Supercouloir

Super F*cking Cold Couloir...myself and Adam ready to get out of there

Super F*cking Cold Couloir…myself and Adam ready to get out of there

Incoming!

Incoming!

The Alpine Exposures coffee table photo book