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I could not pass up hitting Chamonix before heading back home. I only had four days free to get after it, but I made good use of time with some help from my friends. First, I happened upon three Swedes who added me to their already packed car. We had to leave the antique wine jugs they collected in Switzerland to fit. Colin Haley showed up the same day and happened to have some free time. Check out his blog. The first day, we skied the Cosmiques Couloir and the Grand Envers.

On our two laps up the Midi, Colin pointed out all of the classic peaks, climbs, and ski descents that we could see. It blew my mind. This was the most magnificent human creation ever. Essentially, they built lifts and restaurants, huts and bathrooms in the middle of a range at least as magnificent as the Alaska Range or the Waddington, or even Patagonia’s ranges. Walking through a tunnel in the glacier to exit onto a steep, exposed slope, in a line of a hundred people in harnesses, I realized how this place has potential!
The skiing was not amazing, we hit the Cosmiques before the sun had softened it up, and the Grand Envers was completely tracked. But I had little to complain about. I had only 10 minutes of skinning the entire day and skied thousands of feet of magnificent terrain.
Day two took us through the Mont Blanc tunnel to Italy for some sport climbing. Apparently, it is impossible for me to pass up sport climbing in the sun. We packed in the car a South African Jonno, two Swedes Peje and Eve, and Colin and I. I realized as I was screaming for having fallen a second time at the top of the 7a+ overhanging crack that I loved sport climbing in Italy. And would be back soon.
Day three: despite my soreness catching up to me, I was still determined to get out. Colin and I headed up the Albinoni- Gabarrou, an ice climb up the Mont Blanc du Tacul. It was a lovely climb with good ice and fine climbing. I did decide, however, that in Chamonix, climbing harder routes might be safer as less people on the route might abate the icefall. But we enjoyed ourselves and climbed efficiently- arriving on the train by two pm.
I really started to slow down on day four. I lay in bed after a sleepless night due to my roomate’s snoring debating weather or not to call Eva and tell her that I could not make it. I was destined to catch a train at 5pm and not stop traveling for the next day and a half. Plus, I was sore. But, somehow I convinced myself that it would be worth it. I turned out to be right. Lars, Eva and I noticed huge plumes of snow coming off the upper ridgelines, and we realized that the Col du Passion might be too windy. When we arrived, the lift was closed, so we had to resort to plan B. We headed up Flegere instead. After three lifts, we traversed and climbed up to the Col de Beugeant. A short roped section led us to the top of the col and another rope assisted descent to where we could put on our skis. This was the first north facing slope that I skied in Chamonix- and I was pleasantly surprised! We opened it up and ripped down the valley to Le Buet.
The beer and picnic at the bottom sealed my trip with a pleasant glow.

The trip home was epic. I had neglected to bring rolling luggage, so adorning myself with one hundred pounds of awkward duffle and ski bag, I made four train connections. Finally, at the Zurich airport, I fell asleep on a Starbucks’ couch and finally hopped the plane for the 17 hour journey back across the big pond. Whew!