Into France we go! Val D'Isere

So after another crazy week at work it was time to do my weekend ritual and go skiing...this time it was with my real good work friends Pedro, Paul, and Michel. We have been planning a little trip for the past few weeks but not until Thursday were we decided on Val D'Isere is about 3 hours southwest of Geneva. We chose Val because it had a mix of nightlife and skiing. We headed out of Friday night from work and arrivved around 9. From our arrival it was ON! We headed to Paul and Pedro's room for a little Polish Vodka and then off to get some food. It was reasonably late so we headed to the local pizzeria and had a few beers and pies. After the eats we jetted to the local hang outs..Les Petit Danois and Dick's Tea Room. Both were filled and we had a good time. The next morning we awoke with marginal headaches to a bluebird day:

Val:

The Crew L to R (Michel, Paul, Pedro):

The first day we stayed on the skiers right of the mountain which is the Tignes side:

This place is huge....I need a map:

The snow was pretty good overall and the day was perfect. Here is a little line:

That night we did a repeat of the first night but this time with a little Raclette!

We also met some crazy locals that like to put glasses on their heads..I gave it a shot:

The next day after many, many cocktails the night before we got up to another sick blue bird day!
The crew on the slopes:

Me:

A nice lunch to finish the day:

The day was over but not the views...a nice sunset to finish off a great weekend!

Overall we all had a great weekend......it was a laugh as the Brits would say. Thanks Pedro, Michel, and Paul for the great time. We will do it again soon!

Snow in Carouge and Music for the Week!

So it finally snowed in Carouge. We got about 15CM (6 inches). A cool view!


And now some music for the week.
Taking Back Sunday Timberwolves at New Jersey



Get up, get up
Come on, come on, lets go
There’s just a few things
I think that you should know
Those words at best
were worse than teenage poetry
Fragment ideas
and too many pronouns
Stop it, come on
You’re not making sense now
You can't make them want you
They're all just laughing

Literate and stylish (literate and stylish)
Kissable and quiet (kissable and quiet)
Well that's what girls dreams are made of
And that's all you need to know (and that’s all you need to know)
You have it or you don't (you have it or you)
You have it or you (don't)

You have it or you
You see how much time you're wastin?
You're coward of seperatin

Stop it, come on
you know I can’t help it
I got the mic
and you got the mosh pit
What will it take
to make you admit that you were wrong?
Was his demise so carefully constructed?
Well let's just say I got what I wanted
Cause in the end it’s always the same (you're still gone)
Lets go

Literate and stylish (literate and Stylish)
Kissable and quiet (kissable and quiet)
Well that's what girls dreams are made of
And that's all you need to know (and that’s all you need to know)
You have it or you don't (you have it or you)
You have it or you (don't) don't

This is me with the words on the tip of my tongue
And my eye through the scope
down the barrel of a gun (gun,gun)
Remind me not to ever act this way again
This is you trying hard to
make sure that you're seen
With a girl on your arm
and your heart on your sleeve
Remind me not to ever think of you again
This is me with the words
on the tip of my tongue
And my eye through the scope
down the barrel of a gun
Remind me not to ever act this way again (again)
again (again)

This is me with the words
on the tip of my tongue
And my eye on the scope
down the barrel of a gun
I'll never act this way again

Rest the weight (I know somethin that you don't know)
you've had your chance and folded
Don't hold your breath
because you'll only make things worse
Rest the weight (I know somethin that you don't know)
you've had your chance and folded
Don't hold your breath
because you'll only make things worse

(I know somethin that you don't know)
This is me with the worst
(I know somethin that you don't know)
Intentions, don’t
Hold your, hold your breath
(I know somethin that you don't know)
Because you'll only make things worse
Hold your breath
Because you'll only make things worse
Hold your breath
(I know somethin that you don't know)
because you'll only make things worse

Don't hold your breath because you’ll only make things worse

Chamonix: Greg Stump thanks for the inspiration!

As most of know the winter here in Euroland has been marginal to say the least but there is still great fun to be had. After last weekends “dust and crust” adventure with Ripz and TeleAl I headed the other direction to Chamonix to meet up with BBirtle a fellow snow loving skier from TGR. I woke in the AM on Friday after a night of cocktails on Thursday with some friends. The weather report said that 30-40cm could fall over 2000M and it did, but it was a slushy mess up to 2700M. That being said we were really unsure of the conditions as we left for the Grands Montets on Friday. The lifts were closed until 10AM for Avi control, but after that we headed to find a soupy mess.
Great Vis:



The first 10 turns were nice pow/wind blown, but after that was saturated garbage. After a few laps and a little lunch we decided that Saturday may be the day on the Aigulle du Midi. After a beer in town (Chambre 9) Brain suggested that I should get some crampon/ice axe pratice for the next day. The prediction of a clear up started to happen as we headed to practice.


Crampon practive was very cool and I headed back to Geneva to get some rest for the big day.
Saturday I awoke to a killer morning with bluebird and decided this was the day to hit the Valle Blanche.

We hit the 9AM cable car you (Brian, myself, and another Mag Matias...who actually works in my building) and headed up to the ADM. As I arrived at the station I started to think back to the Blizzard of Ahh's by Greg Stump....the images were clear in my head from my childhood. I realized I was going to ski places that I only saw in ski flicks.
Mid Station:


From the Mid we were going to this!

As we arrived at the top of the ADM I started to get really stoked. I saw the world famous "arete" and ice tunnel. I was ready to rock!



East Coast in CH!!!


In the tunnel we put on our crampons and headed down the arete. We are at 12,605 feet so the air was thin but not bad. The arete ended up being not that bad. There was some exposure that if you fell you would die, but with the fixed rope everything was chill.

The first pitch off the arete. Brian and Matias:


After the first pitch we hiked a little to see if the Glacier Rond was going to be good. The enterence to the Rond was very narrow, icy, and exposed and I mean exposed. We decided the best course of action was to put on our crampons and traverse in. This traverse was no joke with crazy exposure to death, but a little planning and deep breathes life was good. We checked it out, but it looked thin, so we turned around and headed to a little powder spot left of the Vallee Blanche tourist route which delivered the goods!





The top sections was really nice snow and then we headed into the glacier where we needed to be careful and watch out for the seracs and crevasses. Overall this place was just amazing. I have never seen this type of topography in my life!



After the flat traverse out we needed to get to a small gondie which was perched on a 500ft cliff. This was NOT fun. There is a 50 story staircase that you needed to climb...again not fun but required to get to the train. We got there after a little huffing and puffing but actually was good excercise. We took the train down and hooked up with some lunch in town. Both Brian and Matias are very chill, so we had good conversations over lunch. 3PM rolled around and it was time to leave. Matias and Brian were going to go climbing so I was going to go back to Geneva, but I decided...screw it I will go! We went down to Les Houches to an indoor climbing wall and I learned some the basic. I actually did a lead on a 5A

3 hours later my ass was beat, so I said my regards to B and M and headed home.
Overall a great B-day weekend. Thank you B and M for the tour, Mom and Dad for the love, and all my friends that sent cards, emails, and SMS....much love to all. -GG

Music....Jan 17th

Less than Jake Robots One, Humans Zero

So what have we really learned today
that some things are easier when we walk away
and acting normal means acting like everyone eles
and you're better of by not acting like yourself
are we buy what they're selling
do we have our eyes open
life's not a fashion statement
it takes more than good intentions
It's just prefect day in our perfect lives
just as long as we have commericals and things to hide behind
it's a life so real you only watch it
on a moive screen getting so close you can almost touch it
are we buy what they're selling
do we have our eyes open
life's not a fashion statement
it takes more than good intentions
[x2]
they never bought or sold you
they can't image and mold you
to chase something cause we think its new
thinking thats the best for you
are we buy what they're selling
do we have our eyes open
life's not a fashion statement
it takes more than good intentions
[x2]
let me tell you what the score is robots 1 humans 0

CH: Another weekend that makes me want to stay!

On Saturday morning I awoke bright eyed ready to meet Al and Jay @ G3000 for a little skiing. I spoke with Jay the night before and was advised that it rained down to 3000M, so I wasn't expecting much. I met Jay at the Lavaux rest stop at 8am, jumped into his car and headed to Al's. It was a bluebird day and we conversated about what-not on the way up. Jay is from Florida and has been living in CH for the past 7. On the way we contacted Al, who wasn't ready, so we headed to his flat in Leysin. Leysin is a cool little village that overlooks the Alps. Al was putting out the laundry on his porch as we arrived. After a little chilling we headed up the pass. I will let Jay explain the rest (Click TR)...TR Here are the pics:
Great views at G3:

Al:

A little snow dancing on a 2000M cliff!

Lunch!

Me putting the East Coast into CH:


I had a blast and Jay and Al showed me the spots even though the conditions weren't that great. I cannot wait for the snow to come to G3. We ended the day with a beer at the "oldegg" and headed home.
The next day after a reasonably late night I decided to head up to the Saleve. I can see the Saleve from my flat, but have never been up there...all I can say is speechless!


Speechless!

Carouge!


I ended Sunday relaxed and recharged for the week ahead. I watched the sun go down and thanked my lucky stars I am alive and living in CH. Much love as always to my friends and family for the support.