Extract from my diary... "We all moved outside into the freezing cold, and moved towards the hard ice cliff that we were to traverse, back to the Argentiere Glacier. Split board in ride-mode I followed the silhouettes of our team toward the glacier. The board crashed over ruts of ice, around rocks in what seemed a dangerous delirium as the sun poked his head from behind the crags of rock and powerful ice that was the Mont Blanc Massif.

"We got to the flats of the glacier and stopped to change into walking mode. I looked up the steeps of the Chardonnay Glacier, light twinkling off cravases in blue shards, and I could make out the thin zig-zagged randonnee path we were to follow to the col. I undid my binding, pulled off the steel pin which held my bindings onto the board, tugged at the binding which eventually slid off, split my board into two skis, hooked on the skins, added crampons, levered a binding onto each ski, and then bashed the steel pin back in..."

Check out Boardnlodge on the web who run Haute Route Trips from Chamonix to Zermatt.

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A little gay/lesbian/local bar in Chamonix open all night. When all other pubs, bars, clubs have shut their doors, and chucked you out onto the street; there is always the toff. Once you walk through the door there is no going back; the atmosphere hits you like thunderbirds on your first ever night out.

In the pedestrian area of Chamsud with the rainbow above the door.

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Three powder fields at the Grands Montets often untouched by the masses, which connect the top and the bottom of the mountain so you can ride/ski for 12km (2km vertical) non-stop; nice! See how many you can do in a day.

From the Les Grands Montets Cable Car, the Hearse Chair, or by traversing from the Bochard Bubble, drop towards Argentiere high on the glacier wall (stay high at all costs). Keep left at the little restaurant/hotel, and then drop towards the trees keeping your direction (if not go left), and then connect back to the home run.

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A little part of Chamonix how it probably was, once apon a time. Hidden away in the mountain, with no roads, no people; just a little mountain hut specializing in fondu, croute (cheese on baguette), and red wine. Be warned: it only has cheese dishes! And don't be surprised when everyone turns around when you walk through the door; it's a local place for local people. The walk/ride home is rather interesting too.

From the Grands Montets Ski Station, take a little road up the mountain, go through tunnel quite obviously used by skaters, and follow signs through the forest to la cremerie; if lost ask a mountain goat/local.

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