February 14, 2008. Bruno and I went to ski today. He wanted to show me some of the really off-piste stuff they have around here so we went to Courmeyeur with the plan to ski a couple of couloirs off the Funivie Monte Bianco at 3462 meters and then ski back to Chamonix. The first couloir was one of the steepest things I’ve ever skied. About as steep as Highlands Bowl, only three times the length in very difficult and challenging snow conditions with rocks everywhere. It was really challenging skiing and very scary turn or die terrain. In fact, my guide (this is an area where each client must have their own guide) told me not to fall. About 2,100 meters later and what seemed like two hours, we made it down on every type of snow imaginable, but mainly challenging conditions with changes from breakable crust, ice, spring crud, breakable crust, powder, etc… Through trees, over rocks, on dirt. I saw a bighorn sheep and a fox on the way down. The top was the scariest, hairiest run of my life. Here are photos from the day.
Then we went up to ski another couloir; this one thankfully was not turn or die conditions (but it would be preferable to stay on ones feet or you’ll descent much more quickly than is preferable or comfortable). By the time we arrived at the mid-station for lunch, and the temperatures had warmed up and I was skiing through mixed spring conditions and soft snow and crust, I arrived at the lunch place covered with sweat.
Bruno and I ate a very nice meal of a lot of wonderful Italian food that was very authentic seeming and an hour or more later, got on the Funivie Monte Bianco for a final ride to the summit and the ski down to Chamonix via the Vallee Blanche. A huge day of skiing to say the least. The most vertical I’ve done probably ever and certainly the most challenging skiing I can remember doing.
February 15, 2008. I can’t say I’ve ever skiing six days straight. In Andorra I skied five days straight, but it was work and very easy skiing. This was vacation with the family and some very challenging runs and yesterday, one of the most challenging days of skiing ever. In any case, we ended up going through the Mont Blanc tunnel again, for the third time for me and the second time for Anne and the kids. Dan and Amy and their kids, Sam and Hanna, joined us for the ride there and back and for lunch. Bruno guided mainly me and some runs for the family. Photos are here.
We had a great vacation. The kids got along well together and it was great that Dan and Amy’s kids got along so well with our kids. The skiing was very good, and of course would have been one tenth what it was without Bruno, our guide. His service is unbeatable and I would not even consider coming here without him (it’s just too dangerous and you’re missing most of what Chamonix is about). While I have no experience with other guides here, I met a few others on the mountains and Bruno is the best combination of hard work, knowledge, humor and seriousness that worked for me.
I learned that I don’t want to bother with the Haute Route. Going to six different huts over six days, slogging around in Rondonee gear, just isn’t for me. I’m sure it’s a great experience, but I can do it any year. I may be interested in coming back just for a day or two to ski powder, again guided by Bruno. Anne discovered she loves the out-of-doors and that Aspen is the place for her. I discovered why I like France so much; it’s just a cool place and parts of it feel very familiar and the people are just great, generally.
February 16, 2008. We woke up this morning and it was lightly snowing in Chamonix. They need snow, and they probably got more at altitude. In any case, it was colder than the spring-like weather we had enjoyed the last week and we all walked around to see anything we missed. We bought some lunch, the bus came on time, and off the eight of us went to Geneva — about a 1.5 hour ride with the traffic. We made the plane, I ended up sharing the exit row with another BFIS parent, Rob M., and we had a great chat. A nice end to a great vacation. Photos are here. All our bags made it and we ended up going through the non-passport control side of the airport, which was wrong (we were coming from Switzerland, which is not a “Schwegen” country and therefore requires passport control) but no matter to us.
February 17, 2008. A very sleepy day getting over a very active vacation. We didn’t go out of the apartment until dinner time and ended up over-eating at Cerveseria Catalunya.
February 18, 2008. Off to our near routine, Starbucks (for me), studying Spanish, etc…
Thinking a bit more about Spain; they need some public education campaigns here. (1) Smoking is dangerous to you and people around you are likely to not want to smoke; and (2) don’t litter. As for #1, you both know my thoughts — I hate it. As for #2, so many people here just thrown their litter on the ground without thinking twice. Instead of waiting to stop at a gas station, they will throw litter out the car window — can’t have a dirty car.
Rocket has been on vacation and is coming home tonight. Hopefully he isn’t worse than before and some how I doubt he’s gotten better (not like at Shelly’s where she actually managed to train him to (1) stop getting on the furniture and (2) stop jumping on people).
February 19, 2008. I’m still tired from the skiing last week and haven’t felt like getting back to the work-out routine. Tomorrow I have too much to do, so I guess it’s the day after. Today I decided to start a new website in order to sell the furniture I bought here in Barcelona and have already begun to focus on getting our stuff home. I guess we’re ready. My new website is here. It is called www.BarcelonaSabbatical.com and should be fully working by tomorrow.
February 20, 2008. Finally, I felt good enough to get back to weight work-outs. I’m hoping that the weather gets better so I can get on the bike soon. I had a nice lunch today with David R who is a good listener. I’m enjoying learning about all the history (this place is just full of it!). Between my haircutter, my Spanish teacher, and my friend at David’s soccer practices, I’m getting lots of one-sided views of what went on 500 plus years ago.