After our splitboarding course our next step was to set off on a route by ourselves. We thought we would start with a route that we had already done and we made sure that the weather forecast was going to be good too just to make it as easy as possible.
We were both pretty nervous while also excited when we set off over the back of the peak at Brevant. It was a little daunting as we followed what we thought was the correct way down constantly checking our position with our online map. I was certainly nervous with the directions as there were cliffs around but we managed to make our way down to the correct spot where we had to do our transition and begin our climb back up.
We didn’t follow our previous route exactly and at one point ended up crossing a lake but in the end we made it back safe and sound and completely exhausted. It wasn’t so much just the effort involved physically but the mental strain of navigating the route. However it was worth it for the adventure and the awesome feeling of being out there in the mountains with no one else around.
We managed to enjoy a few more Splitboard efforts by ourselves over the course of the season but there is certainly lot more to explore.
It was also nice for us to continue exploring the other resorts our pass gave us access to and a definite highlight was our trips through the 12km long Mont Blanc tunnel to Courmayer where we enjoyed beautiful well groomed pistes and delicious pizza.
The latter weeks of the season were filled with warmer weather and while other resorts we have been to seem to wind down Chamonix just changed gear as everyone started getting out climbing, hiking and biking gear (as well as a load of other activities I am sure) and while there was still skiing going on the focus of the place was definitely switching. We enjoyed some hiking and biking around the valley and also managed to get a bit of tennis in which was superb and something we will enjoy doing next year too.
Just as we were getting ourselves into the spring feeling Mother Nature sent us a last present of snow! So on our second last day in the resort we got a foot of snow in the valley and about a meter up in the mountains!!! Shame we were all packed up and couldn’t fit one last powder day in.
It’s pretty difficult to sum up our time in Chamonix and what has ended up being an absolutely wonderful 5 months of our lives. The views around the valley are just stupendous and that combined with the beautiful people we have met who all are some of the most adventurous people yet at the same time have encouraged us to break out of our comfort zone and explore new activities. Our biggest adventure has been splitboarding which has given us a glimpse of the other side of the mountain range and will open up a whole new adventure which has got me so excited. The French food as always will be a big draw card for the two of us and Chamonix is so big that there is no way we will get to eat in every restaurant available here!
When we first decided to come to Chamonix it was with the intention of doing just one season before we went and explored another ski resort the next year, never staying in one resort for too long. However it didn’t take long for us to fall in love with the place. It truly is an exciting place and while we are sad that the season has finished we are more excited because we booked our accommodation and stored our gear so that we will be back for the next winter season! T