Slaying the Giant

Even in resort there are two worlds, and they are worlds apart. From the inside of the chalet, the piste and chairlifts are framed, untouchable and unreachable as a tv picture. From the piste the chalets are insignificant, uninteresting boxes. Everything melts away when the skis hit the snow. Even the worst days and most hellish moments inside are forgotten. Not that there are many moments like this but after 3 consecutive 15 plus hour days, mountain time is to be savoured. While there are bars and clubs where your host could drink out the demons, the exorcise delivered by the mountain cleanses the soul far deeper than any pint could.

Come, let us slay this beast

And big demons call for big mountains. Giants no less. Beyond the reach of chairlifts and your weekly punters, these areas are reserved for those who know what they are doing. Step up your host, his rental boots 2 sizes too big and skis made years ago for the piste, not the image of the most competent of off piste gurus. And yet after the 20 minute hike in brilliant sunshine the Aguille Grive relented and we reached the peak.

Now this could go wrong...

The advice given to me before the descent comprised of keeping my skis together and to go fast while in control. Unfortunately the last two parts seem mutually exclusive most of the time, either your host has control or he has speed. And yet in the early afternoon sun, risking avalanche and death with the wrong equipment your host skied down in the freshest powder. Few feelings come close to the experience of gliding through virgin snow at too fast a pace.

It is these experiences that make the whole effort worthwhile. Yes the cooking is good, the hosting comes naturally and the cleaning, well it gets done, these are not the reasons why we do what we do. Ok there must be the balance, too much of one soon impedes on the other but the mountains are why we are here. The snow is the reason we work the hours we do. And the runs keep us coming back again and again.