Closer to the Sun

I love mountains, I really do. The view from top, the effort of getting to the top, the power you feel the nature has over man and just the plain thrill of being next to a mountain (don't have them back home), these are all very exciting feelings. Never have I felt that coming downhill on skis or with a snowboard is something like an achievement - it sounds and looks too simple. If you are there for the view then why do you need the skis for? I think this was the main reason why I tried downhill but it didn't stick to me. After learning how to get down from nicely groomed black track without getting hurt it didn't seem interesting any more.

I have changed my mind.

Why? The view from top, the effort of getting to the top, the power you feel the nature has over man and just the plain thrill of being next to a mountain AND the fact that you can rush downhill on a giant slope covered with fresh powder. On top of it, if you can share this experience with the best of your friends, then what can be better? It's all in the state of your mind, no logic I guess...

If you sit somewhere between ground and the sky and the ground is soooo far, then it makes you wonder how close is the Sun now!? At 3842m I felt for the first time that the air is thinner up there. Having visited Mt. Evans (4348) and Piz Languard (3262) I didn't notice it, but at Aguille du Midi I was breathless. Now back close to sea level, I think breathless from the view, for sure.

View you ask? Well look at the pics! The small hill with visible skiing tracks at the end of the valley is 1900m high. There are some good wide pistes and even an unused crosscountry classical ski track for high altitude training up there. And next to it (left, out of frame) is Le Mont Blanc. Don't belive? Look, the final pic is made from this small hill!