The
Haute route classically takes seven days of high alpine backcountry
skiing (or so I'm told). Unfortunately, Phil was taken quite seriously
ill with kidney stones three days before flying out and had to pull
out. The rest of us arrived in Chamonix, and spent a day getting to
grips with the
equipment, learning how to deal with cravasses and avalanche equipment
on the Grands Montet ski area in Chamonix. We were led by a
professional guide, Jim Kerr, from the Ski Club of Great Britain, who
were organising the trip. The weather was too bad the following day to
start the trip, so we skiied on the Grands Montet in the 40cm of fresh
powder that had fallen and was continuing to fall. the next day
promised to be bright and sunny and would be a perfect start.
Unfortunately, I caught an edge in the powder, flipped over, and tore
my plantaris muscle in my calf very severely on the run before lunch.
This was a bad tear, and I pretty much knew that was the end of my ski
trip. I headed down, commiserated over lunch with Jan, and headed home
the next day.
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Jan Paul and Thomas
continued on the route with Mark Bowes, who had also joined us, as well
as a second group of skiers that a second guide (Paul) had hooked up
with through the ski club. The route they followed was:
 Day 1.
Grands Montet to Trient Hut (Col du Chardonnet)
Day 2. Val
D'Arpette to Prafleurie Hut
(Rosablanche)
Day 3.
Prafleurie to Dix Hut
Day 4. Dix
to Vignette Hut (Pigne D'Arolla)
Day 5.
Vignette to
Zermatt (Tete Blanche)
The weather conditions were superb, and I am so gutted to have missed
it for many reasons. I will post some pictures when I can bear to look
at them (and Jan sends them to me).
I will do it next year instead.
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 From
left to right, Phil, Jan and Paul on a previous trip to Zermatt with
the Matterhorn in the background.
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