OMGeeezieee…this makes me feel so old! I went to Chamonix when I was in college, over spring break my freshman year. Chamonix was my first trip to France, and totally amazing spring skiing. I snowboarded down L’Aiguille du Midi (the Vallee Blanche) which I still think is pretty freaking awesome. It was the only time, in my nearly 2 decades of snowboarding/skiing, that I wondered if I had gotten in over my head. I mean, we passed someone who had fallen into a crevasse, and was at least 20 feet down (it really does happen, they aren’t kidding when they warn you to watch where you turn). But I made it down, in one piece, and absolutely thrilled by the experience. As I’m sure you can glean by my excessive use of adjectives.
Anyway, I haven’t taken a destination ski-vacation since Chamonix, and that is a shame. Oh, right, I guess I really haven’t skiied/snowboarded since my little concussion incident in 2010. I apparently can snowboard down the Vallee Blanche, but give me an ice patch and a group of four year olds blocking the traverse….yea…that’s a story for another day. Anyway, time to suck it up, get a helmet, and GO!
Skiing/snowboarding (I do both) in Chamonix was just stunning. I wish I had a better camera, but hey, this was 2003, and these photos look epically ancient. I’d love to go back to Europe for more fun on the slopes….hopefully someday soon.
Chamonix, France
