Since my update on January 20th, the skiing has been as good as it gets. The weather cleared on Sunday, and we have had day after day of deep powder skiing under clear skies since. It has been fun to go further afield with each day, allowing the avalanche danger to come slowly down before getting on steep and exposed slopes. Sunday’s heli with Marie, Alex and Edward was a huge day. We started in the Col de Creblet with the feverish crowds, then opened the left flank of the Vallon d’Arbit with intense quietness and feathery deep powder. I had a safe line in mind, so we flew up the Trient glacier to ski the fall line to the valley floor, 2000 meters below to the village of Trient. What immense beauty we found amongst the rock, snow and ice, high in the mountains. Our skis guided us effortlessly down through the powder and glaciers, where we took a last ride up to ski to Champex in the lovely Val d’Arpette.

I have only taken the small Nikon a couple of days, so thank Marie for the alpine shots. Yesterday’s photos of the “Colorodo Couloir” and marginal shots with the iPhone of the Couloir de Monts de Sion with Big Tom, Marie, and Mike round out the selection.

It looks like the big, bad Foehn will be with us next week. Too bad, ’cause that will certainly change this cold smoke to cement. Vivre corn snow!