Tom Avery • Polar Explorer • Mountaineer • Author • Speaker

Scott 100 years on

100 years ago today, Captain Scott and his team reached the South Pole.  As everyone knows, they were beaten to the prize by a mere five weeks by the Norwegian Roald Amundsen and perished on the return journey.

Scott (centre) and his men at the South Pole, 17th January 1912

Much has been written about Scott over the years, not all of it positive, but in my mind he was quite simply the greatest Antarctic explorer who ever lived.  Not only did his expeditions reveal more about Antarctica than any scientific work before or since, but Scott's bravery, selfless leadership and quest for knowledge have inspired many from these small islands to push the boundaries of exploration and discovery.  

I learnt about the adventures of Captain Scott as a seven year old boy, courtesy of a tattered old Ladybird storybook, and was blown away by what I read.  Ever since then, Captain Scott has been my inspiration.  Had it not been for him, my life would probably have followed an altogether different and far less fulfilling path.  I owe him an enormous debt of gratitude.  

Countdown to Winter

It's been a busy few months on the speaking front (this summer's talks venues have included the Maldives, Dubai, Transylvania, Basel, Antibes and, er, Milton Keynes) but it's now all systems go gearing up for the forthcoming winter.

Exciting changes at Verbier Exclusive are our two new chalets Entre Ciel et Terre, a stunning 4-bedroom chalet penthouse, and Chalet Sorojasa which sleeps 10 guests and has its own indoor swimming pool.  All the details can be found on our website by clicking here. 

A new feature on our website this year are our live webcams, as well as comprehensive mountain weather and snow reports, meaning you can always keep abreast of the current conditions.  Snow is on its way later this week, so wherever you plan to ski this winter I hope you have fantastic conditions.  Roll on the powder!It's like this in Verbier every day (well most days anyway)   

A surreal place to give a talk

I've given talks in some bizarre locations over the years, but my most recent speaking engagement has got to top the list.  I've just returned from the Maldives where I was speaking to a small gathering of people on a sandback in the middle of the Indian Ocean. 

I had been invited to the Robinson Crusoe-esque Soneva Fushi to speak to their guests about the rapid melt of Arctic ice and its consequences for the wider world.  It is frightening to think that these idyllic islands will all but disappear if sea levels were to rise by only a few feet.  

En route to the sandbank

I chose to arrive on the sandbank by kayak, in part to burn off some of the incredible food I had been treated to since my arrival on Soneva Fushi, but also to demonstrate just how rapidly the Arctic Ocean is changing.  In the future, the only way to reach the North Pole is not going to be by dog sled or manhauling, it will be by paddling through the ice floes, just as Norwegian duo Rune Gjeldnes and Cecilie Skog are attempting this summer.  It really is changing that fast.

The World's Greatest Chalet

Don't take my word for it - that was the headline in this month's edition of the UK's most read ski publication, In the Snow Magazine.  Read their article about No.14 Verbier in full by clicking here.

 

Official Opening of No.14 Verbier

It gives me huge pleasure to announce that No.14 Verbier is now officially open!  The team have worked miracles for the past 7 months to get everything ready for the start of the new season, and both David and I are absolutely thrilled with the result. 

No.14 Verbier

Check out the Verbier Exclusive website to see all the latest photos of the chalet, plus all you need to know about booking a ski holiday with us.  The Daily Telegraph published a great article the other day about No.14, which can be viewed here.

The indoor swimming pool at No.14 Verbier   

Early season snow conditions are sensational, so it promises to be a fantastic winter.  See you on the slopes! 

 

Only 5 weeks to go until the ski lifts open...

After a hugely successful first winter at Verbier Exclusive, there are some exciting changes afoot for the new season.  To start with, old Verbier friend David Pearson, has joined Verbier Exclusive as a fellow director, which is excellent news as the two of us will now be running the business together - more than a decade after we first worked together!

David's 16-bedroom hotel in the heart of Verbier, Les Rois Mages, will be familiar to many.  Over the past few months, the hotel has been undergoing a multi-million-pound redevelopment, transforming it into one of the most spectacular chalets in the Alps. 

No.14 Verbier - before the builders moved in 

Renamed as No.14 Verbier (its address is 14 Rue de la Velle) it sleeps 26 guests in 10 double bedrooms and 3 suites.  We're using the same team of architects and interior designers as Richard Branson used to create his Verbier home, the Verbier Lodge, so it's going to be very special.

No.14 has its own indoor swimming pool, 3 separate hot tubs, spa and home cinema room.  We've been busy over the summer recruiting the 14 members of staff, including in-house masseuse, 3 dedicated drivers and 2 superb chefs - one of whom was recently the head chef at Michel Roux's fine-dining restaurant Michel Roux at Parliament Square. 

The spectacular Chalet Pierre Avoi

We will be running the 10-man Chalet Les Attelas again, which has been upgraded over the summer. 

We've also signed up a third property, Chalet Pierre Avoi which can sleep 12-14 people.  Like Les Attelas, it is a stunning stand-alone, fully en-suite chalet with outdoor hot tub, Spa and wonderful views.  Both chalets come with their own chef, chalet host and driver. 

The hot tub at Chalet Pierre Avoi

All the details of our three properties can be found on our new website, http://www.verbierexclusive.com/.

I'll be out in the Alps a fair bit this winter, so hopefully see you on the slopes!