|
Valley blanche at dusk
The Valley Blanche can be quite a busy motorway of
a run during high season, somewhat detracting from the experience
of being high in the mountains. The other evening Sam and I decided
to do it slightly different.
At the end of a busy afternoon when all the guests
had returned from the slopes on what had been a gloriously sunny
spring day we caught the last cable car of the day up the Aiguille
du Midi. There were a few concerned looks from the lift staff as
it was going to become dark soon and it was obvious by our small
backpacks that we were not intending spending a night on the hill.
But we had Other Plans.
Peace and quiet
We spent an hour or so wandering around the summit,
the viewing decks being eerily quiet. All the tourists having caught
the last lift down. We were alone save for a group of climbers getting
prepared for very early start on their Ice route the next day. As
the sun headed towards the horizon we walked out onto the ridge.
Despite the day having been a scorcher there was no slush at 3800m,
just ice and wind pack to walk down in crampons.
  
The run itself is a green run
with blue patches and black spots..they are quite black in fading
light especially the first 5m, which is very well skied. The fist
bumps negotiated we glided along in silence with the mountains slowly
turning red. Such an expanse of glacier is magnificent when it is
so quiet you can hear a pin drop.
Skiing by moonlight
At the end of the glacier the last train had long
since departed. Our route took us up the traditional scramble out
to look down on Chamonix. At this point it was starting to get properly
dark. So torches out as a precaution, but still skiing by the moonlight.
Being quite far along in the season the ski out is not complete,
but we probably only walked 500m the whole way down.
It was a lovely unstressful way to end the day.
Words and Pictures
from Tom Greenall - Natives Resort
Reporter
Mail
this page to a friend
What do you think? Tell us in the Chat
Room | 
