Behind the Aahhh’s

Behind the Aahhh’s

Check out this article by one of my first guides to Chamonix, Mike Hattrup. In 1999, Ken Dayton and I went to Cham with a crew from Pro Ski Services. Lead by Martin Volken, Hattup and Ronaldo Bara, we were shown around the Chmonix that Mike has made his movie, The Blizzard of Ahhs. Scott Schmidt, Greg Stump, Glen Plake and Hatrrup! There were 2 groups in our possse. The old guys like Ken and I and one other over 35er whom I can't remember. The younger group had Jame the redhead, Peter Avolio and I can't remember who else. Peter Avolio was a wild young man that couldn't get enough challenge. He had yet to meet his future wife and life in the yoga world, Lisa Black. He was still a wild child. We stayed at a hotel near the train station. We would pack extra breakfast sandwiches at the morning buffet to take as lunch or snacks. We all wore harnesses, which I thought was a bit over the top, until i got roped up and dropped into my first couloir, the Poubelle, which Hattrup mentions in this article. We spent on night in the Triomphe Hut which was very memorable. You talk about good food and drink! At 11,000 + ft, it was wonderful to have a safe place with stews and wine. The snoring is a bit of a sleep impediment though and the hut sleep experience isn't great.
In the morning, We had to negotiate our way off that hill by compass and ski roped up so no one went suddenly missing in to a crack! Awesome memory and my first touring trip. Hope to do it again.