A big, crazy, adventurous group of friends rented a chalet in the French Alps for a week. In the mighty, crevasse filled, powder steeped, bluebird sky tipped mountains of Chamonix, France (and Cormayeur, Italy) we skied hard. It snowed heavy nearly every evening, and by morning as the fog rose steadily above the vast jagged peaks, the warmth of the sunshine combined with the fresh, deep powder, our happiness radiated at a constant high.
The quintessentially French
mountain town of Chamonix wears many faces, on the one hand it is
quaint and inviting with patisseries and boulangeries, frothy
cappuccinos and Vin Chaud sold street side.
Fantastic restaurants range from the cozy and homey with steaming french
onion soup and rich spaghetti carbonara, (topped with a layer of
parmesan cheese and a runny egg yolk) to the elegant and refined with
escargots bathing in a pesto sauce, buttery foie gras dishes and
perfectly cooked duck a l'orange. Add to that a bustling tourist scene
with elegant fromage and chocolate shoppes and an endless variety of
name brand ski apparel stores. On the other hand it hosts a vibrant
apres ski and nightlife party, with live music and table dancing,
pitchers of Pelfourth and Kronenbourg, bottle service and rounds of
shots. 
Skiing in the Alps was incomparable. Most
notably, there was the 20km off piste run, the legendary Vallee Blanche -
which begins with a descent from the top of the Aiguille du Midi.
Harnessed to one another and our guides we hiked down a ridge edge with a
40 degree pitch on both sides, then we skied all day among the
glaciers, untouched snow and the most breathtaking scenery Mont Blanc
range has to offer.
Favorite spots in downtown Chamonix:
Apres Ski - Elevation 1904, Chambre Neuf
Fine Dining - Hameau Albet 1er, Le Cap Horn
