tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14645491374152013002024-03-14T03:53:47.297-07:00Hiver a La PlagneFollow a Ski Patroller who spends the winter on an exchange between Beaver Creek (Colorado) and La Plagne (France).Andrew Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03163440203270161614noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1464549137415201300.post-43685343881551827552010-03-28T07:56:00.000-07:002010-03-30T11:28:02.952-07:00Spring- French Style<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ9YLeXZAYDMCLPPjEWdjk93FSjwgAOhz52hs2X6fTGMkYeqUeSYb-cMrwR7BY7M-14Bb713XVKNzDOBS4NH-840d2RnCdp3Rp89kXDtlHX91DnzjEh9AOR8YXj03HHJ79iey3mE5L8Yc/s1600/IMG_0281.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ9YLeXZAYDMCLPPjEWdjk93FSjwgAOhz52hs2X6fTGMkYeqUeSYb-cMrwR7BY7M-14Bb713XVKNzDOBS4NH-840d2RnCdp3Rp89kXDtlHX91DnzjEh9AOR8YXj03HHJ79iey3mE5L8Yc/s320/IMG_0281.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454495195345743122" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">The last couple of weeks have come and gone in a blur. Heidi left Sunday after a great 9 day trip that included pow and movie stars. Rogish's trip was a whirlwind of tele madness and RICHARD! Now they've both left me to fend for myself until the Dudley Brothers arrive on Thursday.</div></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgteGxXGbJMKq1OUCYNEIAZ01kdXQVxD1Wi_aRDJd8iMpAgPCnff6CNjMNIyiBqUeEx6_tUCp-jfllB-Q5Ly0LPU6pXjUiyCTNI0rJXmXWS0OQwIhvaul_Kjf-JfFGzJiGTeImy8TuN92Q/s1600/IMG_0230.JPG"></a><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgteGxXGbJMKq1OUCYNEIAZ01kdXQVxD1Wi_aRDJd8iMpAgPCnff6CNjMNIyiBqUeEx6_tUCp-jfllB-Q5Ly0LPU6pXjUiyCTNI0rJXmXWS0OQwIhvaul_Kjf-JfFGzJiGTeImy8TuN92Q/s1600/IMG_0230.JPG" style="text-decoration: none;"><img style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgteGxXGbJMKq1OUCYNEIAZ01kdXQVxD1Wi_aRDJd8iMpAgPCnff6CNjMNIyiBqUeEx6_tUCp-jfllB-Q5Ly0LPU6pXjUiyCTNI0rJXmXWS0OQwIhvaul_Kjf-JfFGzJiGTeImy8TuN92Q/s320/IMG_0230.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454487859355429090" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWpz7tlS11L0185BihlQZ6NJuGdWZ_dmJyfi2SUC5yAYAPxjNbtP7HMP1hVZjpO4X5EfqHCr7SH4QaW8Fti_S7LwuL_6OM_bNcPSe-tP5zH_0Je9B_WHjAmrJCHtu3OnickG6t6dUs2YA/s1600/SDC10694.JPG" style="text-decoration: none;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWpz7tlS11L0185BihlQZ6NJuGdWZ_dmJyfi2SUC5yAYAPxjNbtP7HMP1hVZjpO4X5EfqHCr7SH4QaW8Fti_S7LwuL_6OM_bNcPSe-tP5zH_0Je9B_WHjAmrJCHtu3OnickG6t6dUs2YA/s320/SDC10694.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454485486481569874" /></a><div>Rogish showed up for his trip without a ski bag, but the smile on his face was proof he was stoked to be in France. After a quick trip in Bourge Ste Maurice for some essentials at the Super U, we drove up to meet Nico at L'Annexe for a cold beer.</div><div>The next day we did some skiing and prepared for the annual Memorial Race. The Memorial is an event to recognize local patrollers who have passed away. The first event is a toboggan race through a course with multiple "up's and down's" and "switcharoo's". Rogish and I ran the course in fine fashion and were handsomely rewarded for our efforts. It's just skiing, right? Check out the link below for some exciting action of the race with Jeff and I making a couple of appearances.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.pisteurslaplagne.com/index.php?file=Sections&op=article&artid=12">www.pisteurslaplagne.com/index.php?file=Sections&op=article&artid=12</a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbi7Oqj01Rh0WfzUnNsiRrq7At_u0nBrJyVkVbAIXqN7ud-xQ9r22U5RmPA1EuVtQV4KdEmr6fTxmxDQE7-wLGJqGMHO8LfL1PIb6VtDDHy7bZzOWbIgOihNaKm3PmCUeDsH2b1pBZ0NI/s1600/SDC10692.JPG" style="text-decoration: none;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbi7Oqj01Rh0WfzUnNsiRrq7At_u0nBrJyVkVbAIXqN7ud-xQ9r22U5RmPA1EuVtQV4KdEmr6fTxmxDQE7-wLGJqGMHO8LfL1PIb6VtDDHy7bZzOWbIgOihNaKm3PmCUeDsH2b1pBZ0NI/s320/SDC10692.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454485482664332882" /></a><div></div><div>After our fair share of RICHARD, vin chauld, vin rouge, vin blanc, beer, jambon, fromage, and du pain we somehow made it back the La Hilton in the dark. Not without casualities though. We lost a bottle of blanc on the way.</div><div>The La Tel'm was our next all-inclusive event for the week. This day included an unlimited amount of runs on the giant air-bag in the park, vin, telecross, vin, tartifilette, and oh yeah. WINE! We met a lot of really nice folks and it couldn't have had a more beautiful day to tele.</div><div>The next few days we did some exciting sking off the Roche De Mio and the Friolin. I think Jeff was enjoying the skiing and very quickly realized how big La Plagne is and what kind of skiing possibilities she has to offer.</div><div>It was great having "Brogish" here for a few days but I wish it could have been longer. I haven't laughed that hard in a while and it was great to have another patroller around to see the work side of this experience. I think Rogish got a good taste of France. A taste not soon forgotten. THANKS JR!!!!</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoIL1uvftBs-43OqN6VapnsW8aqivD_IRc3MKqTNsYT4Aj_TSPtHv1GN_yk57BbDjNSW49hMyw8iVK0dFTALsPpJs0Wg9hkx3k5bjs18Sal7B1oHGL8Lxzuz6WVETE-p9uI2f666SAZ30/s1600/IMG_0064.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 216px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoIL1uvftBs-43OqN6VapnsW8aqivD_IRc3MKqTNsYT4Aj_TSPtHv1GN_yk57BbDjNSW49hMyw8iVK0dFTALsPpJs0Wg9hkx3k5bjs18Sal7B1oHGL8Lxzuz6WVETE-p9uI2f666SAZ30/s320/IMG_0064.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454485473044345714" /></a><div>Heidi's last trip here was looking to be a repeat of the last one. A major snow storm hit Colorado which made the chances of an on time arrival pretty grim. Flying out of Eagle wasn't happening. Heidi made the right choice to hi-tail it to Denver. After a quick 4.5 hour drive to Denver she made her flight to Germany and was on time into Lyon on Saturday.</div><div>We hung out with Mikey and Gretchen for the first couple nights before they had to leave for Vail. Two weeks ago Mikey broke this Tibia and Fibula after hucking his meat off what is now referred to as "the hovey line". A rod, 12 screws, and 38 staples later Mikey was headed home to recover.</div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKucDFmGkXEJOByxCcNOYL5SMpIsPPZZgtjL-u-LucKjRNcsmiSljo5oWzqKUiPttUEbiHqhkAZ777-nEK1EkJEww_A0rltL4ZQIuHxwDT1TeKiLRZiZGOeS3yE4dJ6BNezygF0fNjQ58/s1600/IMG_0100.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKucDFmGkXEJOByxCcNOYL5SMpIsPPZZgtjL-u-LucKjRNcsmiSljo5oWzqKUiPttUEbiHqhkAZ777-nEK1EkJEww_A0rltL4ZQIuHxwDT1TeKiLRZiZGOeS3yE4dJ6BNezygF0fNjQ58/s320/IMG_0100.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454481653384540530" /></a><br /><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1lfruQiJiUINwN6twMqt7TP37hOlvr7UUdjwWuCZKjJDvQq5cK9yRzj9Kt078iuSWhrjhJMNkCc9cdjp565oIhJFyMFSEWoGKPueR0TAtwP46fepjbDRATXeMUijzbndy7V8ABIJzo9s/s1600/IMG_0226.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1lfruQiJiUINwN6twMqt7TP37hOlvr7UUdjwWuCZKjJDvQq5cK9yRzj9Kt078iuSWhrjhJMNkCc9cdjp565oIhJFyMFSEWoGKPueR0TAtwP46fepjbDRATXeMUijzbndy7V8ABIJzo9s/s320/IMG_0226.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454481644292680578" /></a><div>Heidi and I had a great time skiing with Mikey and Gretchen this season and are looking forward to hanging out in Vail this summer. Mikey showed me lines that I'd never have skied if we hadn't met. I hope he has a speedy recovery and I can't wait to ski with him again next year.</div><div>After a couple decompression days for Heidi we had good weather forecasted and decided to head to Chamonix. Good Choice. There aren't many words to describe a place like Chamonix. </div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTa34nCmTYdpx5hnCkaPfSNRfFB3nd1Y802jrNyRCeVb0AQbMftRDzTe_7wz1O28ff6Oy9zanV8B-MgUAescOSZuT71o2g1ueKuCckFpKO64BIKjk-IEm_Z1mNp4RSnWUyGU6Vi5zQev4/s1600/IMG_0146.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTa34nCmTYdpx5hnCkaPfSNRfFB3nd1Y802jrNyRCeVb0AQbMftRDzTe_7wz1O28ff6Oy9zanV8B-MgUAescOSZuT71o2g1ueKuCckFpKO64BIKjk-IEm_Z1mNp4RSnWUyGU6Vi5zQev4/s320/IMG_0146.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454480092412442514" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZIKGfcUrwiu-UbjqutrELG0htN2KSA8huxdH7fKuzWIaUT3P4thkdBfxWlPfjBEBG-udNnT_uy5eLA2C2TuYFfhyaVDsrwCruqKdGCJ7X19zvrL7ZQNFEo5oh0Zcq7tgIq1RxNwxlOD0/s1600/IMG_0143.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZIKGfcUrwiu-UbjqutrELG0htN2KSA8huxdH7fKuzWIaUT3P4thkdBfxWlPfjBEBG-udNnT_uy5eLA2C2TuYFfhyaVDsrwCruqKdGCJ7X19zvrL7ZQNFEo5oh0Zcq7tgIq1RxNwxlOD0/s320/IMG_0143.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454480077387717810" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihs8bbFbiKdGCgQLaAQ7wGkmfNQtEonti7CGULyvzqSXSmC_xOKpUwi_HepyXUAEMHaNrhn-xsA_Jz5p0fTFOWPXgqISUwpBZe4ZaeOKznkxM52XCRXxjMOkpaJjKSYHlD8tFbSzx6SCA/s1600/IMG_0180.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihs8bbFbiKdGCgQLaAQ7wGkmfNQtEonti7CGULyvzqSXSmC_xOKpUwi_HepyXUAEMHaNrhn-xsA_Jz5p0fTFOWPXgqISUwpBZe4ZaeOKznkxM52XCRXxjMOkpaJjKSYHlD8tFbSzx6SCA/s320/IMG_0180.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454480070819422018" /></a><div>"Big" comes to mind first. Then maybe "Breathless".</div><div>When your standing on top of the Aiguille du Midi breathing is the last thing on your mind. Just walking around and taking in where you are is hard enough. Every now and then you remember to suck in what oxygen there is.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc07JV_CcIvOUQF-26K0DwcJ5Nx4kPAZveXNkTxguuOM8e-F-9dAPNiv58SZFHqtkXwiPjnsZ8wLnMPQTUb53JfSTODzhIdofj5nYv_jE5hZ-Gv-seI4zORMMwxozXmVoIxd33qvG0eQA/s1600/IMG_0160.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc07JV_CcIvOUQF-26K0DwcJ5Nx4kPAZveXNkTxguuOM8e-F-9dAPNiv58SZFHqtkXwiPjnsZ8wLnMPQTUb53JfSTODzhIdofj5nYv_jE5hZ-Gv-seI4zORMMwxozXmVoIxd33qvG0eQA/s320/IMG_0160.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454476776718547346" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip3JVgEPeG7_tZejtHbzhGitdj-6PeFtpfKznM_6JOXUVJuw-AQU0Td4_9KYQsOw8sEWAB9Efjw2bh3Wr8mli5_gQqIOkDYN3wsk3qBBFpWnS_b1TE7vXrUP83spvwJC7ghMTXhvMreqk/s1600/IMG_0178.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 178px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip3JVgEPeG7_tZejtHbzhGitdj-6PeFtpfKznM_6JOXUVJuw-AQU0Td4_9KYQsOw8sEWAB9Efjw2bh3Wr8mli5_gQqIOkDYN3wsk3qBBFpWnS_b1TE7vXrUP83spvwJC7ghMTXhvMreqk/s320/IMG_0178.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454476771137751314" /></a>We bought passes for the day and headed for the closest cafe of a shot of expresso. After deciding we'd take skis to the top and see what kind of options we had, Heidi spotted Glenn Plake. He was talking with another person so we didn't get a chance to say hi. Heidi was pretty star struck and thought it was a good sign for the day. Mikey Hovey's brother Brock met him on one of their trips to Chamonix and said Glenn was a super nice guy who didn't mind talking to other American's visiting France. Next time maybe.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlJL96yF8bE_NYnJyyvmR7b81yqWjtir0xPYlFVWnO6vUzhgSfv6JipoSp3se2rykmAjwFR6oIK5hRrTpQXTcOa05pOyFlRWLQFPcOaKiK1Rx5AInU3KogIsQd5lpAYtNvAxET_Ava6J8/s1600/IMG_0193.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlJL96yF8bE_NYnJyyvmR7b81yqWjtir0xPYlFVWnO6vUzhgSfv6JipoSp3se2rykmAjwFR6oIK5hRrTpQXTcOa05pOyFlRWLQFPcOaKiK1Rx5AInU3KogIsQd5lpAYtNvAxET_Ava6J8/s320/IMG_0193.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454475675420622290" /></a><div>I lost my pass between the first turnstile to get on the damn tram and the mid-station. Luckily the operator let me up to the top. When we reached the top I don't think Heidi and I spoke more than a few words to each other. We were both in complete awe and just gapped at everything there was to see.</div><div>We didn't have our trusty guide Mikey Hovey so skiing was going to have to be very straight forward and the visibility would have to be clear to pull this one off. We didn't get up the top until noon and the weather was moving in quickly making the vis quite low. We decided that it was a good idea to call it good and live for another trip. My magic pass reappeared just in time to get me back down the tram too. If you ever have the chance to see Chamonix, do not pass it up!</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFdKsLJAz-io4kh7hoXWXoxuD_OPtzOdxjsPyQWjbivm5UnKZtPjLX043mOlpXFqIWSsW0lCPAihtuxIxcbc89V1Wa0M7Q9g1jRu1XGfot__XlJM3brEgCRly8GwoCL39HKE_e939iYNw/s1600/IMG_0224.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 211px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFdKsLJAz-io4kh7hoXWXoxuD_OPtzOdxjsPyQWjbivm5UnKZtPjLX043mOlpXFqIWSsW0lCPAihtuxIxcbc89V1Wa0M7Q9g1jRu1XGfot__XlJM3brEgCRly8GwoCL39HKE_e939iYNw/s320/IMG_0224.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454475667101060530" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmKCBVdi9tE3UEhzxgL77iOKZDnQ2oVhRHMog0GBxPlu0Sqta20FGL6_RHL_sWfULoOWRs3s7ZmoUDda0-pWbNT_FFihn008dnp7iAdU73M38HK1wGMOAkH8nF9i1NEHJJFo-pXBS_RJ8/s1600/IMG_0268.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 272px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmKCBVdi9tE3UEhzxgL77iOKZDnQ2oVhRHMog0GBxPlu0Sqta20FGL6_RHL_sWfULoOWRs3s7ZmoUDda0-pWbNT_FFihn008dnp7iAdU73M38HK1wGMOAkH8nF9i1NEHJJFo-pXBS_RJ8/s320/IMG_0268.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454472773520995170" /></a><div>After Chamonix the weather turned to shit and the snow started to fall. For Heidi's last few days in France the weather was a bit white to say the least. But we had a great time skiing new snow and eating great food in our favorite spots.</div><div>Having Heidi be able to visit me three times this winter has been incredible. She brought me a sense of normalcy each trip and I can't even begin to explain how influential she was in making this a perfect winter. Ok...I love her.</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk2IiZxA0OtusoE2wrOjf6RJhUZ6BucZKsrXNYkkDa8G9BzNdOVk6Kp6oMgZ-Orv4CxeHCMRRYDDDPj_OhL8YMOUyOZVxX3G3JMk2O-H4j5vXnYc5Sn5Uwf5kBRs_wzN6uDMI4nHHkB2Y/s1600/IMG_0278.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk2IiZxA0OtusoE2wrOjf6RJhUZ6BucZKsrXNYkkDa8G9BzNdOVk6Kp6oMgZ-Orv4CxeHCMRRYDDDPj_OhL8YMOUyOZVxX3G3JMk2O-H4j5vXnYc5Sn5Uwf5kBRs_wzN6uDMI4nHHkB2Y/s320/IMG_0278.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454472763510763314" /></a><div>Heidi's last day in France for the season was a good one to remember. The snow was falling pretty heavy down low and the Glacier had been closed for three days. At the end of the day Vins came over for a beer and said there was already 30+ cm's on the Glacier. It was still snowing hard and Sunday was going to be great.</div><div>When Heidi and I got up early to make sure she made her 10 am flight, Nico's cars was already buried under a good 15 cm's. This is at 1800 meters, the Glacier sits at 3000 meters. Needless to say the Glacier wasn't open Sunday either.</div><div>Sunday the guys working went in early to get started on the PIDA work that needed to be done. There was 60-70 cm's at the Glacier and we needed to get a head start because it was still snowing. They had some pretty big results with and without explosives. Cowboys. Is there a word for a French Cowboy?</div><div>Yesterday. Monday. We went in early for more PIDA work and another trip up the hill in the bird. Sunday had turned pretty warm and the wind also picked up a bit. So the wet French snow had settled quite a bit. We didn't have huge results. Mostly new snow on south facing aspects. I worked on a route with north facing aspects that had minimal results but great skiing. We skied a few runs before the masses came and it was fantastic. The sun also came out making it a perfect bluebird day.</div><div>Today. Tuesday. Not so much sun. 10cm's thought. The wind was ripping again and the Glacier was closed. About 1pm the snow started nuking again for the fourth day in a row. Tomorrow will be another PIDA day. Fo show!</div><div>I think the skiing for the Dudley's shoud be great. Right now the avy conditions and weather are dictating where we can ski, if at all. If and when we get a clear morning, it's on! STILL SNOWING!!!!!</div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><br /></div><div> </div><div> </div></div>Andrew Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03163440203270161614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1464549137415201300.post-25698616616753390272010-03-08T09:33:00.000-08:002010-03-08T10:55:51.995-08:00Vent Fort<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNYF4lwgyQTjQ1O5tYsWsEO74NXGLNGfFLAJHgNtbpp2fNd92BHZJchN-t_RcK18SDyCDb3h7NtZIZDQ-8mo0gtsJuPh8cmR6dPFHPNS8kwFAY_iu4VgFBKssporws56ksYsA8ZjKl1ok/s1600-h/P2140990.JPG" style="text-decoration: none;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNYF4lwgyQTjQ1O5tYsWsEO74NXGLNGfFLAJHgNtbpp2fNd92BHZJchN-t_RcK18SDyCDb3h7NtZIZDQ-8mo0gtsJuPh8cmR6dPFHPNS8kwFAY_iu4VgFBKssporws56ksYsA8ZjKl1ok/s320/P2140990.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446319212657209346" /></a>After writing a pretty lengthy blog my sweet internet connection failed and lost the blog. Awesome! So here is the quick version.<div>My camera broke soon after my visitors left. Bummer. Trying to find a new one, but my internet won't stay on long enough to do anything. Hope to have updated pics up soon.</div><div>The weather has been snowy and windy. Mostly windy lately. Yesterday we had a big wind event and the snow turned pretty hard. More snow in the forecast and hopefully the wind will calm down which would help turn the snow back around.</div><div>Rogish is coming out this week and we're entered into a toboggan race for a memorial party. Supposedly there will be some beers and an ipod for entertainment. We'll keep you updated.</div><div>My nephews won their Sectional Championship on Saturday. If you know anything about Indiana basketball you know it's a big deal. Nice work fellas, keep it up!</div><div>All is good here and I'm looking forward to all the visitors arriving in the next few weeks.</div><div><br /></div>Andrew Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03163440203270161614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1464549137415201300.post-23795600314689051702010-02-20T13:11:00.000-08:002010-02-23T12:04:36.979-08:00When the Circus comes to town.<img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 187px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCxEam0HKhcMBkYQeRdClbbQAM9k5HQStLgbELbJVV96WzC9LKwkvriOjLU-TPta6pWM1bQhbtjhOlhKnyrcr75Qo60nZR47wOzcJUpv9gdvuRJOzyuKl63ns5u6pKfUhcreRX7nOvBt4/s320/P2120835.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440776346907752786" />Living in a foreign country you sometimes find that you're wanting some hometown companionship. Last week I was lucky enough to have some hometown friends come and enjoy the French Alps with me. All of them also made big sacrifices to make it here. Heidi was delayed almost 48 hours (what a shitshow), Mikey, Devit, and Charlie changed their flights to avoid another shitshow, then Rob and Kelly drove 10 hours from Italy to make it there. Devit was also traveling with a severely sprained ankle. I was sure glad they all made it for a beautiful weekend of sun and snow.<br /><div> The weekend started in true French fashion with a couple great runs off the Glacier followed with wine, cheese and jambon. The skiing was better than we expected. The night before the wind had scoured the snow and I wasn't sure any of the goods were left. There was. After our first run I think everyone was happy with the powdery conditions.</div><div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGmPT6kFsVdx_VJPfoJkcY0eyKJZPc93t8R1tU4oQ_TQADkovE7sWO43u3eomUu_yCFlzkw2VUCNv4Qe0zXoTYXTjPVQbr6uuhhLjzKbX7sokDO-R8Lkk3glzWAZz9OVodnVmGMvMPzsU/s1600-h/P2140988.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGmPT6kFsVdx_VJPfoJkcY0eyKJZPc93t8R1tU4oQ_TQADkovE7sWO43u3eomUu_yCFlzkw2VUCNv4Qe0zXoTYXTjPVQbr6uuhhLjzKbX7sokDO-R8Lkk3glzWAZz9OVodnVmGMvMPzsU/s320/P2140988.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440776338886009970" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsOX0rlbMTDxYxhkvMQkn2EfywEdNndUZ6yPHxnJfQwSrhpq_OLMKiYNY4929G8wo1UZQHvRqwQiAbwQazn_LtyYasiTAnhlpgyfMjadxhdctPjadfj70tgatFavgOEJKlS0xtLI_STMo/s1600-h/P2140991.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsOX0rlbMTDxYxhkvMQkn2EfywEdNndUZ6yPHxnJfQwSrhpq_OLMKiYNY4929G8wo1UZQHvRqwQiAbwQazn_LtyYasiTAnhlpgyfMjadxhdctPjadfj70tgatFavgOEJKlS0xtLI_STMo/s320/P2140991.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440776327432947266" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiITQRaFRIyp_M4lfZOQRkV3eh-MvjmFwKrZtkBUJTie69JFCDpYqsozoNGNwd8qewdPVPwi_V8t6Z2v-y3Cs0pa8r2y_0w8IVRXwZMNNpMpa1cyZDIqf80s8L0NPL9JdXLSTEwdNlfJcU/s1600-h/P2140969.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiITQRaFRIyp_M4lfZOQRkV3eh-MvjmFwKrZtkBUJTie69JFCDpYqsozoNGNwd8qewdPVPwi_V8t6Z2v-y3Cs0pa8r2y_0w8IVRXwZMNNpMpa1cyZDIqf80s8L0NPL9JdXLSTEwdNlfJcU/s320/P2140969.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440774035718429730" /></a>After a few bottles of wine and hanging out with the patrollers on duty, we met up with Mikey Hovey and Gretchen. They had skied a very nice couloir a few runs before and thought it'd be a good spot to end the day. Boy were they right. The snow was amazing and the lines were even better. Everyone skied well and enjoyed the elevated heart rate. Once Mikey Hovey skied his line with a 30 foot cliff to exit his couloir we headed for dinner in Plagne Center. The first day was a huge success and everyone was excited to be in France. I still couldn't believe they were all here to enjoy this great experience with me.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipe_OIgy6IJLfv0FLi5yaangJY9CHY9StEP6-pYwM5WiSzI__BusITf4zO-K9ECXbP0wq9iAXHW9LPVKZtCgL3PjCIjfyh9JdK3dikK-7VHyLeGZPooh3pM4QP3dB9r4seaBe4RbgmiUA/s1600-h/P2120794.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipe_OIgy6IJLfv0FLi5yaangJY9CHY9StEP6-pYwM5WiSzI__BusITf4zO-K9ECXbP0wq9iAXHW9LPVKZtCgL3PjCIjfyh9JdK3dikK-7VHyLeGZPooh3pM4QP3dB9r4seaBe4RbgmiUA/s320/P2120794.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440627619032589586" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcEM_p1Ab6V90RVpglZpDDXjuw6CWkXv6YaAMQGinHaglkSc0M_whKzfcqZ8tX45MygxgEkW-Ybd7s25YCsDlnjrHf5ATVyhZizSqYEQrXNTzFFTbY9wUuVmaNXZZGh99ckhWpL7ZQa30/s1600-h/P2140983.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcEM_p1Ab6V90RVpglZpDDXjuw6CWkXv6YaAMQGinHaglkSc0M_whKzfcqZ8tX45MygxgEkW-Ybd7s25YCsDlnjrHf5ATVyhZizSqYEQrXNTzFFTbY9wUuVmaNXZZGh99ckhWpL7ZQa30/s320/P2140983.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440627614147661490" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbW9HtZlncUpLOjLPX8i7CyEdxvvxTL9O1nDwpZzQs2OMSRzNExLChLj9FFYszYfQPphYByihgi3R_88z2dVVntad30PO5rAfQlgXIutAAwckGMnMenHwPQ3uawbx9-LlZ-pxgLAsEp9Y/s1600-h/P2120824.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbW9HtZlncUpLOjLPX8i7CyEdxvvxTL9O1nDwpZzQs2OMSRzNExLChLj9FFYszYfQPphYByihgi3R_88z2dVVntad30PO5rAfQlgXIutAAwckGMnMenHwPQ3uawbx9-LlZ-pxgLAsEp9Y/s320/P2120824.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440627607799561474" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga09tMPRSnjckqWWHB_b8bRi1HemzIKhkQA7XPZDeXyvXsPBKOXk33lbLepRVCiM2_MZLqOPISe5WWtEN5F_eLJTe0W_BEgfh3smaFE5x7CxNfB973eMohAwmHLUK6NxKIlJPF4Dutjz4/s1600-h/P2120849.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga09tMPRSnjckqWWHB_b8bRi1HemzIKhkQA7XPZDeXyvXsPBKOXk33lbLepRVCiM2_MZLqOPISe5WWtEN5F_eLJTe0W_BEgfh3smaFE5x7CxNfB973eMohAwmHLUK6NxKIlJPF4Dutjz4/s320/P2120849.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440623707297547666" /></a>The next couple of days the sun stayed out for us and the snow stayed soft. I was stoked that everyone got to push themselves a bit and enjoy some of the great skiing La Plagne has to offer. The picture below is of an area we skied a couple times over the weekend. I think the biggest reason we skied these lines was to get to the Borseliers. Which could have turned into Heidi's new favorite restaurant.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMYYkkST9zC_sByL2fcLJya6SUIMhslyndhO2r2IIX7_3gxsUn1Ka71ZiwFHAP661Jd-ICBwG-Mc0DOhssXfOepuNqh4Btc0ZRRgjCz7ZGzcPZyPe4mGw-T7KzfU7sPNGP2e3rtFxxY5o/s1600-h/P2130875.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMYYkkST9zC_sByL2fcLJya6SUIMhslyndhO2r2IIX7_3gxsUn1Ka71ZiwFHAP661Jd-ICBwG-Mc0DOhssXfOepuNqh4Btc0ZRRgjCz7ZGzcPZyPe4mGw-T7KzfU7sPNGP2e3rtFxxY5o/s320/P2130875.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440623700021415874" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX4brSDuqH2hZS6Ms0JzBqwHHWO6EYM7lWew7TrfS8wroBdTUJE7H3BkmUWCC8fx7Q0kh5tpVwixHRpsZOl_TlpCSwvLltuyIjODy8k5uTBKhZeo6gbTKy6n1l8PYntzcWQ0cwR4EZPio/s1600-h/P2140110.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX4brSDuqH2hZS6Ms0JzBqwHHWO6EYM7lWew7TrfS8wroBdTUJE7H3BkmUWCC8fx7Q0kh5tpVwixHRpsZOl_TlpCSwvLltuyIjODy8k5uTBKhZeo6gbTKy6n1l8PYntzcWQ0cwR4EZPio/s320/P2140110.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440623692889735906" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWucUxi5M635FDCXoD-kI7mZQ1Fepiz8prZb6rmem_liRXghBrrKsZWI0hW4DSYKnTC82pfhTOPHitGRS4Oq6P9Pst9WIhS9u33V10u4UHKR6ytmdvaOgczvA5yjqAMNRVptX-A_5MYnE/s1600-h/P2140063.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWucUxi5M635FDCXoD-kI7mZQ1Fepiz8prZb6rmem_liRXghBrrKsZWI0hW4DSYKnTC82pfhTOPHitGRS4Oq6P9Pst9WIhS9u33V10u4UHKR6ytmdvaOgczvA5yjqAMNRVptX-A_5MYnE/s320/P2140063.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440623681966733602" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbHfKszQM4aouWTlUj9CtL-4HlllD8a4j6YKLyEKDOfJhsuOtuoZAJ5dVDics0F2qXVDGVi7XiwLY2f4KPJtOqqNzwHUNyTrkkhBQ41DPt0IrEkPuofy0mJ3Em9Rot32vqxbJHuvtYsiI/s1600-h/P2120840.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbHfKszQM4aouWTlUj9CtL-4HlllD8a4j6YKLyEKDOfJhsuOtuoZAJ5dVDics0F2qXVDGVi7XiwLY2f4KPJtOqqNzwHUNyTrkkhBQ41DPt0IrEkPuofy0mJ3Em9Rot32vqxbJHuvtYsiI/s320/P2120840.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440620596949832146" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl7TInV6rhEeATlrjwwnQq48qQyN_y8G7-bmGkXgRGR2AuLVD91quk8Sc3HNL5B6vv-GCBNQCipXz6SKpgK3ceqwVaa2MtFk8_fTSQsrujPPsUv_pAbRnrBkZXLBntjNjbhHxGhbZNiqQ/s1600-h/P2130871.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 168px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl7TInV6rhEeATlrjwwnQq48qQyN_y8G7-bmGkXgRGR2AuLVD91quk8Sc3HNL5B6vv-GCBNQCipXz6SKpgK3ceqwVaa2MtFk8_fTSQsrujPPsUv_pAbRnrBkZXLBntjNjbhHxGhbZNiqQ/s320/P2130871.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440620583592855890" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfMdcZMU0nmGQSMVvPLqSAbRBVdLrPQUE_rJxYFV3vu7uoCNeS42Y1ykGcFku0Wp1AT7dygCNhro3INmN2XYLv4XvkVLwuR99qAcwqJbv2Qa98ER7DLA-5raL1XN31-gPSP3PoAWx77KE/s1600-h/P2130099.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 160px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfMdcZMU0nmGQSMVvPLqSAbRBVdLrPQUE_rJxYFV3vu7uoCNeS42Y1ykGcFku0Wp1AT7dygCNhro3INmN2XYLv4XvkVLwuR99qAcwqJbv2Qa98ER7DLA-5raL1XN31-gPSP3PoAWx77KE/s320/P2130099.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440619381381791058" /></a>I had to put this picture of Mikey in the blog because it's a classic. The first night the little guy wouldn't stop snoring. So we put him in the kitchen/toilet/shower hallway so we could sleep. It didn't matter how he was sleeping, he just kept sawing logs. Big logs. This was his new bedroom for the week.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJyxugm9uf4m_a4tNdeZrmWF2myeAZxYf2EhQmKi6opQIGoHOFddkuu-EfROfqLHD6Fdm33Wkb0-Z9hlLHG6G3xshmmjSVHcQEXzGRbZqv_DtqhOwtaWtwhmr-1HwuwKyrGOw6Dv-n8Dg/s1600-h/P2160123.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJyxugm9uf4m_a4tNdeZrmWF2myeAZxYf2EhQmKi6opQIGoHOFddkuu-EfROfqLHD6Fdm33Wkb0-Z9hlLHG6G3xshmmjSVHcQEXzGRbZqv_DtqhOwtaWtwhmr-1HwuwKyrGOw6Dv-n8Dg/s320/P2160123.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440619377986800194" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij1EGXHZpzCS66vx5wQuChNf0u2R4kwu9ZBb93IGLKgeVo1zpanDjYxwhZkZy0e_W1SOCH3rDTlLwsXq9XQPT5RKbStycjC095Amu0a185l1s8PhZneAhNFkqO1SpRltPpExkHdQnob9Y/s1600-h/P2170133.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij1EGXHZpzCS66vx5wQuChNf0u2R4kwu9ZBb93IGLKgeVo1zpanDjYxwhZkZy0e_W1SOCH3rDTlLwsXq9XQPT5RKbStycjC095Amu0a185l1s8PhZneAhNFkqO1SpRltPpExkHdQnob9Y/s320/P2170133.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440616911787421042" /></a>Devito was a real trooper for this trip. I would guess he was in pain the entire time he had his snowboard on. He tried and tried but the ankle wouldn't let him ski off piste. He made the absolute best out of the trip and I was stoked he had a good time. Nice work Devit!!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiue20KHYMl3sGOQm7mqf3yDfn61Me_a3yISwvdO496k01JrvFpqjhVCKepXQT3F0hUOZw-qA-UkCd-DmqhUQA1nEhctePYaEz4iUhAeX8EaDpnkvcC69Y3US8_R7uIVpRha1Ll9Qq4wIc/s1600-h/P2130050.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 247px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiue20KHYMl3sGOQm7mqf3yDfn61Me_a3yISwvdO496k01JrvFpqjhVCKepXQT3F0hUOZw-qA-UkCd-DmqhUQA1nEhctePYaEz4iUhAeX8EaDpnkvcC69Y3US8_R7uIVpRha1Ll9Qq4wIc/s320/P2130050.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440616904542657266" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYSexWPUo2M3o8IuwL7V3_hVRLigtRsvN0NKsIfHmV1TIFQetWiq62FeYbDx4HKv8-_RmJO9LIapnfUv0owT_2-JhNrXo_I59g1WOcHTuQCSY_-p3AZAEig-G9bgOGHV7wwf2U1Sh5OQI/s1600-h/P2130905.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYSexWPUo2M3o8IuwL7V3_hVRLigtRsvN0NKsIfHmV1TIFQetWiq62FeYbDx4HKv8-_RmJO9LIapnfUv0owT_2-JhNrXo_I59g1WOcHTuQCSY_-p3AZAEig-G9bgOGHV7wwf2U1Sh5OQI/s320/P2130905.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440616146118336674" /></a>The stories from the week could fill a book, but those stories will forever stay with me and the friends I shared the good times with. I'm sure many of these stories will be told for years to come. Like drinking Genepi form a wooden statue. Take a close look above.</div><div>After everyone left I came home to empty flat and realized that only after one day of work I already missed everyone dearly. Can y'all come back please?</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh20tModCbhRG7D4U4Dts2RBYa-8j6yA2U1Jyy9kzHtELHkc7kO0xG1zeUBJQY5Tw_IzY27fcfZRtDHEqPy9lWhBLZ_Zocj6MNTUj_JRwSSEIvqas_BWHbkL9-51yzWSHHghNPmyf_Oi4E/s1600-h/P2130869.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 170px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh20tModCbhRG7D4U4Dts2RBYa-8j6yA2U1Jyy9kzHtELHkc7kO0xG1zeUBJQY5Tw_IzY27fcfZRtDHEqPy9lWhBLZ_Zocj6MNTUj_JRwSSEIvqas_BWHbkL9-51yzWSHHghNPmyf_Oi4E/s320/P2130869.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440616138376818386" /></a>In a few weeks Jeff Rogish is coming out to visit for a while. I'm stoked! The snow keeps falling so the skiing should be great when he arrives. I'm not sure he's bringing skis, so we'll probably just do some shopping and sight seeing. There is a chance that if things go right I'll hopefully run into Kurt Kincel in Chamonix. Can't imagine that would be much fun. Mikey Hovey has said he still can't find the word to describe Chamonix.</div><div>Heidi is also coming back out for her third trip of the year a few days after Brogish. Her last trip seemed pretty short, but this trip will be for ten days and should be a blast. She's become familiar with La Plagne and has become comfortable with "French" way of skiing. I just hope all the good travel karma she built up on the last trip gets her here without any worries.</div><div>All is well. Thanks to everyone who came out for making my trip here more memorable. Words, or at least my words, can't explain how much it meant to me that you all came to France.<br /><br /></div></div>Andrew Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03163440203270161614noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1464549137415201300.post-91103739260245993702010-02-09T11:26:00.000-08:002010-02-09T13:45:16.452-08:00I can't wait until the Cubs win the World Series!!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuRbplMl6nXw-W-Dov-vR7HRsecxERt_8gnq_Zmf9S0-hW-H7acqGkVgDOAJCyBfGRPAH6P3pDA1xku_h3hyphenhyphenglA8ScVS86fuNxUMRoQ62t62rCHwAcfy3YK7Pcz1UxoQpBC8D3LJA-OFI/s1600-h/IMG_3142.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 99px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuRbplMl6nXw-W-Dov-vR7HRsecxERt_8gnq_Zmf9S0-hW-H7acqGkVgDOAJCyBfGRPAH6P3pDA1xku_h3hyphenhyphenglA8ScVS86fuNxUMRoQ62t62rCHwAcfy3YK7Pcz1UxoQpBC8D3LJA-OFI/s320/IMG_3142.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436349823664779314" /></a>My work week ended after a couple really fun work days. Saturday was an early morning wake up, a slammed cup of coffee and off to work kind of day. The snow had subsided for the morning and it was perfect working weather. There were some lingering clouds but the views were still incredible and the moon was up with us. This morning I was to meet Ben R. to do some different routes around the Verdon Nord chair. We worked on a couple different areas that were new to me and made our way back down for another lap up the chairlift. <div><br /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:medium;"> </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:medium;"> </span></div></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMWbz9-lOk13nIxCOakM-nm-yefWd5bhDZADmgyfdCrZT7xwIIzs9Cbn6vmEADNHGx1RKvISzLwz7GxTBSTCGVS5K_h-EYLHFtyVvR4J8Q4zruPX_YPg0RlUuiD53TjD8uSvu1so_Svzw/s1600-h/IMG_3150.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 204px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMWbz9-lOk13nIxCOakM-nm-yefWd5bhDZADmgyfdCrZT7xwIIzs9Cbn6vmEADNHGx1RKvISzLwz7GxTBSTCGVS5K_h-EYLHFtyVvR4J8Q4zruPX_YPg0RlUuiD53TjD8uSvu1so_Svzw/s320/IMG_3150.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436349626927911202" /></a><div>This lap we had to use the CATEX system (<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, sans-serif;font-size:small;">cable transporteur d'explosif). <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:medium;"> I hadn't used this method of doing avalanche control and had fun learning a new system. We basically hung the charges from a cable that would move over the areas we wanted to control with explosives. We would adjust the fuses and rope lengths to the distances from the deck where we prepared the charges. Then run the charge out over the slopes. The furthest charge went 260 meters away with a 3 meter fuse.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXumT2bKoORF1ZwwHB0RAV_7CZk-yvTQix0BBqhJJHt_wT0vDVYe4S_BKw-ceU5Onxjp43t4k7bai0S_V3AsdmKa5sql4wWJMNYBR6Fx5e8DVxSq2fuuJKsCzvi93J0RJlRA1DkhEXMow/s1600-h/IMG_3176.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXumT2bKoORF1ZwwHB0RAV_7CZk-yvTQix0BBqhJJHt_wT0vDVYe4S_BKw-ceU5Onxjp43t4k7bai0S_V3AsdmKa5sql4wWJMNYBR6Fx5e8DVxSq2fuuJKsCzvi93J0RJlRA1DkhEXMow/s320/IMG_3176.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436349135962054674" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGawQwC_NgtKjjKWTAlXeiwIla_r7NzSuiwgWazbTILXkJuY1_XHFOycS-NSHicvYKd4fa7Mjue_3G60nknLRxjghvFF66AUkR000wEtE6_bVl-hgVpkeT6QztsUW0tqLYwRLNkHsA80U/s1600-h/IMG_3179.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGawQwC_NgtKjjKWTAlXeiwIla_r7NzSuiwgWazbTILXkJuY1_XHFOycS-NSHicvYKd4fa7Mjue_3G60nknLRxjghvFF66AUkR000wEtE6_bVl-hgVpkeT6QztsUW0tqLYwRLNkHsA80U/s320/IMG_3179.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436349125786935778" /></a><br /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:medium;">The rest of the day was spent eating with my drinking pal Quick. We met Mateo (Chief), Olivier Chenu (Chief), and 6 other patrollers for lunch at the Borsillier. Normal. Towards the end of lunch a man walked to into the room with a dislocated elbow and a broken arm. He just happened to speak English so I got take him with "General" (who doesn't speak English) to Champagny. My day was over.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX8OQTtae8FAIdJvqDr4N5ITHklDQ8le6h72q7mRfV1CKoF7qME4UyC2r2tWknT_lsh8UIU2t2kNY0sfZ2XiyDemOBNsnxHmueOd9uccXezTvey6mcmRSsEs_lWbnLaVgjsFeXUAQ-7yE/s1600-h/IMG_3183.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX8OQTtae8FAIdJvqDr4N5ITHklDQ8le6h72q7mRfV1CKoF7qME4UyC2r2tWknT_lsh8UIU2t2kNY0sfZ2XiyDemOBNsnxHmueOd9uccXezTvey6mcmRSsEs_lWbnLaVgjsFeXUAQ-7yE/s320/IMG_3183.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436348021582205090" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVKTWdSRmjLSOE1xrILTKMf3VA2vGwGHoc6oeT3tkvRg6ZQ1rTp2aLXLktk-REr7RC-oos1fgR3l32anEJb4WDunrppbhARTTfk_BeEUY9BVQXpXbfIxgg7NhczBzRLa42nh0QQBJSRCg/s1600-h/SDC11120.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 146px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVKTWdSRmjLSOE1xrILTKMf3VA2vGwGHoc6oeT3tkvRg6ZQ1rTp2aLXLktk-REr7RC-oos1fgR3l32anEJb4WDunrppbhARTTfk_BeEUY9BVQXpXbfIxgg7NhczBzRLa42nh0QQBJSRCg/s320/SDC11120.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436347359667645730" /></a> Mont Blanc from Roche de Mio 7am<br /><div><br /></div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:medium;">Sunday started off with a sign of things to come later that day. My camera had fallen out of my pocket in my flat the night before and that morning it didn't work at all, broken. Sign #1 I'm a believer in the "things happen in 3's" theory. And today the theory was proven.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:medium;">The work day went great though. The morning was super foggy and the helicopter wasn't able to fly us up to the Glacier to do the PIDA. We took the gondolas instead and it took us an hour to get up there. The Glacier gondola broke down and we sat for a long, long time. I felt sorry for Nico. He was hurting pretty bad from the night before and the rocking gondola cabin didn't help. I think most of us have been there and can imagine the misery.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:medium;">Once at the top we did the regular routes around the Glacier and headed back to the top. The clouds had cleared around 2000 meters and the heli was coming to pick us up for another round of PIDA.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:medium;">This pilot was no joke. He pretty much landed right on top of us, but in just the right spot to load and go. As we approached the mountain he flew only 30 feet off the deck and then straight up the mountain to our drop point. He dropped us off on the ridge line hovering of course with only one skag on the ground. We unloaded our gear. That's when he did a switch-180 and dove off the ridge line. That was awwwwesome!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:medium;">The day turned out to be beautiful on the Glacier. Blue skies and powder. We did some good skiing and a few rescues. One of which needed a helicopter for evacuation.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:medium;">Sometime during the day Mikey Hovey called and said there was an american football game on that night at midnight. And we could watch the game at his place on the HD widescreen. I was very excited and enjoyed my final run of the day to the locker room. This is when sign #2 came into play. I had broken a leash on my binding on my way down the hill. Bummed. First the camera, now the leash. I was starting to think about what else could go wrong and the "theory". I'm sure if you know me at all you know what went wrong. NUMERO TOIS! The game we watched lasted until 4 am our time and I was happy to sleep until noon the next day. That's all I have to say about that.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:medium;">On a good note. Heidi arrives tomorrow to Lyon and we have a great week of fun ahead of us. Mikey, Devito and Charlie arrive friday afternoon, then Rob and Kelly Parish will be here early Saturday morning. Nothing like a good ol' Eagle County hoe down in France!!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:medium;"> </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:medium;"> </span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS0Wghn0I8u8Qvc8dYFKe8LpHsToHozvG8OMUARiv8VgoVHLVFMKsf4gZ9JVFzEmI5IP48fJybrF_SWhYmg0JqhCZwrhAn4q8MqFHIYiKlaRc2C6obQr46XXiQYKThbsmFGs9w9ulYPYI/s1600-h/SDC11122.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS0Wghn0I8u8Qvc8dYFKe8LpHsToHozvG8OMUARiv8VgoVHLVFMKsf4gZ9JVFzEmI5IP48fJybrF_SWhYmg0JqhCZwrhAn4q8MqFHIYiKlaRc2C6obQr46XXiQYKThbsmFGs9w9ulYPYI/s320/SDC11122.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436347352541018578" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU-fyJffoknM1U2VI7r63hvDSBguee18Lysh7kTxee3hVXlScRkxoAJTaCEJigyt2LL-UZm7_WThYrMME0wQG-zGPiI7mN-dQo1UQCFp8pquufwcfgJdNicc0tTmnbZugS5H02wsYCwFQ/s1600-h/SDC11137.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 63px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU-fyJffoknM1U2VI7r63hvDSBguee18Lysh7kTxee3hVXlScRkxoAJTaCEJigyt2LL-UZm7_WThYrMME0wQG-zGPiI7mN-dQo1UQCFp8pquufwcfgJdNicc0tTmnbZugS5H02wsYCwFQ/s320/SDC11137.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436346794916994274" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><br /></span></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:arial, sans-serif;font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:16px;"> </span></span></div></div>Andrew Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03163440203270161614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1464549137415201300.post-85382690480023328092010-02-05T10:14:00.000-08:002010-02-05T10:25:36.844-08:00Just a taste.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMNGmpl1qwgNrbkjP-G1gqlq45AW-gwxHhSoEWUFq7RJiSWooHXmQzGudeN08O_smxrU5I1KIIMvxHLBWfvgytEVlPsBhhikWZnNnF8pgCfqAP6ffKNZIxmgEw3uT4i4WE1UjM9Y0oul0/s1600-h/SDC10486.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMNGmpl1qwgNrbkjP-G1gqlq45AW-gwxHhSoEWUFq7RJiSWooHXmQzGudeN08O_smxrU5I1KIIMvxHLBWfvgytEVlPsBhhikWZnNnF8pgCfqAP6ffKNZIxmgEw3uT4i4WE1UjM9Y0oul0/s320/SDC10486.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434826773059844242" /></a><br />This one is for all the folks who are headed here next week, and to all those who are thinking about coming. We're sitting pretty in a big storm right now and it's not supposed to stop until Sunday. It was dumped all day long with minimal wind, so I think it's going to stack up nice for tomorrow. The Glacier closed today after noon and we're headed in early for more PIDA work. Heidi, Mikey, Devito, and Charlie are in for a good trip. I LOVE SNOW!!!Andrew Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03163440203270161614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1464549137415201300.post-26904945159629621002010-01-30T00:32:00.000-08:002010-02-01T07:36:03.103-08:00Waiting for snow can be hard to do.<div><br /></div><div>The last week or so we've been enjoying gorgeous, bluebird days and great skiing. No new snow though. We decided to make some huge sacrifices for the snow gods at the local "establishments". This weekend the gods were happy with our sacrifices and granted us another foot of fresh pow.</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL9fvXBpX9Qne0X8qs4f-hQ2YPlYrTGEnujGWtp9gQLpx8ezdSVWZ3owejXAgQOL1BtmQ8AngsmMoGzOTn_9CrDl_p2L9YAvk64dn8EdsEc9f5l7PCDbBSJRJ-Pwx3wylbmabQIdVN34o/s1600-h/IMG_3042.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL9fvXBpX9Qne0X8qs4f-hQ2YPlYrTGEnujGWtp9gQLpx8ezdSVWZ3owejXAgQOL1BtmQ8AngsmMoGzOTn_9CrDl_p2L9YAvk64dn8EdsEc9f5l7PCDbBSJRJ-Pwx3wylbmabQIdVN34o/s320/IMG_3042.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432919811493950994" /></a><div>Mikey Hovey is back from Vars, where he had been working for the last month on the Red Bull Lincatchers comp. His girlfriend Gretchen has also arrived for the winter. It's great to have some english speaking folks around to ski and socialize with.</div><div>On Saturday we (Mikey, Gretchen, and I) skied around Montchavin. The Glacier and Roche de Mio were both closed because of snow and high winds, so we stuck to the trees where we found great untracked pow. Mikey and Gretchen are great skiers and I think we all had a great time exploring some new areas around the resort. We all agreed that the lines we skied are worthy of putting into the regular rotation.</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5GdE3JbDKpDmLwjzvBK9X3tXALEfmEqtXbTlXZEVjI-NJ_bAyUef3CLxxzTYLwGSNs4EkPmUkQtyTIzVI0-nNNIyPcZ5m-uXGuU2-WcKrHKqwbUfZed-tNqBmjP3HGljf2NUM7lOZSWI/s1600-h/IMG_3057.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5GdE3JbDKpDmLwjzvBK9X3tXALEfmEqtXbTlXZEVjI-NJ_bAyUef3CLxxzTYLwGSNs4EkPmUkQtyTIzVI0-nNNIyPcZ5m-uXGuU2-WcKrHKqwbUfZed-tNqBmjP3HGljf2NUM7lOZSWI/s320/IMG_3057.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432919807171892370" /></a>Saturday evening we skied down to Champagny for the Gorzderette. The Gorzderette is a weekend long ice climbing event in the upper village of Champagny. For the last seven years this event takes place on Champagny's 22 meter ice tower. The weekend is full of competitions, bands, and plenty of warm wine to keep the -15c chill away.<div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb19c-j8_eH7YHUmDvGPNnP0At5szsmA0XdrGOeKFAkQ8NIkXm9ezGAeTX-bHtvXW3e6LP9N3A63Wv_ybjTFlQeF7o3WMUEVPtgGSXspnrGvUn6KsrKUoIqMZ8EQEh8DYugGusbc_j6Fc/s1600-h/IMG_3059.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb19c-j8_eH7YHUmDvGPNnP0At5szsmA0XdrGOeKFAkQ8NIkXm9ezGAeTX-bHtvXW3e6LP9N3A63Wv_ybjTFlQeF7o3WMUEVPtgGSXspnrGvUn6KsrKUoIqMZ8EQEh8DYugGusbc_j6Fc/s320/IMG_3059.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432918581015656290" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdrbUR-JiVIDUUkoXM-an66f-lYeubH5q5SSiPSA6KrpNErQRFpNJCgrnozvgUdJPznFniA2nKzZFbSXaliXT2PW9ufrNVsEZJ6VZMx-3d2Zy1tQWITh3wUZcfAdq4A2KdGXl1gpE7S7Q/s1600-h/IMG_3081.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdrbUR-JiVIDUUkoXM-an66f-lYeubH5q5SSiPSA6KrpNErQRFpNJCgrnozvgUdJPznFniA2nKzZFbSXaliXT2PW9ufrNVsEZJ6VZMx-3d2Zy1tQWITh3wUZcfAdq4A2KdGXl1gpE7S7Q/s320/IMG_3081.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432918573650397714" /></a>After watching the top 3 men and women in the world climb the tower we started back for Champagny proper for drinks, dinner, and the after party. We stopped at a friend's bar for some Richard and beers before dinner. I kind of lost track of time but I do know that dinner was over around midnight and we hadn't even been to the party yet.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtZlnI2bTTjegbby6q2ckJiWaZpxFeQp13wjJqrnF8MiD-rIi9iWmlXbO9Y1fbbMq5C17fnuwy4_hnS-T4UzAR4OXOUQSnR7eC0JYdheIOuNSpAOhZWAjWonvZdCAG8iI6N3Rf6sQxiho/s1600-h/IMG_3087.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtZlnI2bTTjegbby6q2ckJiWaZpxFeQp13wjJqrnF8MiD-rIi9iWmlXbO9Y1fbbMq5C17fnuwy4_hnS-T4UzAR4OXOUQSnR7eC0JYdheIOuNSpAOhZWAjWonvZdCAG8iI6N3Rf6sQxiho/s320/IMG_3087.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432918570807173922" /></a>We were being hosted by Quick all night. Champagny is Quick's home and I'm sure that there isn't anyone in town that doesn't know him. So I wasn't surprised when we just walked in the back door to the venue, crawled under the crowded bar, and walked out the floor to have a great time. Quick was working the bar and the beer flowed like the salmon of Capistrano.</div><div>Both bands were good and LOUD. Holy shit! They love their music turned up to 11 for sure. The reggae was rocking and the crowd was dancing and having a great time. We meet tons of great people and enjoyed the music until 3am.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFSnZzG0o4YVfAygxTn85KQQ2vaJxjfawU3vF3-kI9maMOl_2Qu4s-ib6Ut_dbJuIUhzti9Qbc-Cw0WY6GdJGDhuuoZ5YQvt3ODxQLkczs2spblPDtPAtVPIM1IPEiNku32h3FTCP0kzM/s1600-h/IMG_3093.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFSnZzG0o4YVfAygxTn85KQQ2vaJxjfawU3vF3-kI9maMOl_2Qu4s-ib6Ut_dbJuIUhzti9Qbc-Cw0WY6GdJGDhuuoZ5YQvt3ODxQLkczs2spblPDtPAtVPIM1IPEiNku32h3FTCP0kzM/s320/IMG_3093.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432918545965775058" /></a>Quick was now headed to the "Disco Tech" to hear his son play music. I don't think he was to0 surprised when Mikey, Gretchen and I said we were ready for some sleep. We thought we'd walk back to Quick's house, good thing we didn't. We would still be walking around trying to find the house. Quick graciously gave us a ride home and we called it a night as the snow kept falling.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiD-FgsavLzjtCoycTdVfFd08L3YeSlVyawrv6FBvCH4sDVbIggeIhRYMSFgXpa9jwI0aR5QgEC5Q6C0O91kDMA1NDL7Qy4-DrEZbe_jCnlwsF1g5os1zziabmTnbnXa0EGfz7wI1Tgco/s1600-h/IMG_3137.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiD-FgsavLzjtCoycTdVfFd08L3YeSlVyawrv6FBvCH4sDVbIggeIhRYMSFgXpa9jwI0aR5QgEC5Q6C0O91kDMA1NDL7Qy4-DrEZbe_jCnlwsF1g5os1zziabmTnbnXa0EGfz7wI1Tgco/s320/IMG_3137.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432918535393133282" /></a>I'm looking forward to the next couple of weeks. Next weekend the Colts play the Saints for the Super Bowl. I'm hoping to watch it live here in France. Even if it does start at midnight. Go COLTS! Heidi is just days away from making her second of three trips out here. Can't wait to see her. She'll be here a few days before Mikey, Devito, and Charlie arrive. And while those four are there from the U.S., Rob and Kelly Parish are coming from Italy to ski for the weekend. Good times!</div><div><br /></div>Andrew Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03163440203270161614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1464549137415201300.post-1023708533661483392010-01-18T10:15:00.000-08:002010-01-19T11:31:29.225-08:00A Day in the Life.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Ky-M24sslkigO7RT2svnwxA8F0U2_m2yCNyZ4eyHLuVfSnHd72cAGskgrYtdHeNEiApGfz0ORnbhl_Q6DpT8vmiTTKS8rZGjkUDZjqq7emYNxKANm_9ioPJRXW3uo77ZPSYHTazR000/s1600-h/IMG_2942.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Ky-M24sslkigO7RT2svnwxA8F0U2_m2yCNyZ4eyHLuVfSnHd72cAGskgrYtdHeNEiApGfz0ORnbhl_Q6DpT8vmiTTKS8rZGjkUDZjqq7emYNxKANm_9ioPJRXW3uo77ZPSYHTazR000/s320/IMG_2942.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428145952786869442" /></a><div>I have to start with a shout out to Jeff and Katie Peak for the birth of their son, Huxley Atturio Peak. A future river rat and NBA All-Star. Congrats y'all!!!</div><div>My week started with free skiing to Les Arches through untouched trees and seeing the biggest tram in the world. Yep, holds 200 people. You'll never see me on that thing with 200 people. The day was also sponsored by Kate McAtavey's Birthday Mix, if you don't have it, get it.</div><div>The next day off was spent skiing another ridiculous route to Champagny. Along the way we assisted in a helicopter rescue and drank white wine at a refugee that sleeps 46. I hope to spend a night here with some good friends to remind me of Polar Star. </div><div><div><div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv3lPThssZjj0sXXrqIzHd8pC7N9MHnPL2e-Z2k8DqZ-vltDdrWT9g3aaf96OKNxd1JqTdHbgiu1HTfZTeCPUm89r7o5vwLhNDogeHs6FKrKzmOTHNiqEs1JLoOHDpkEthLNwfSb6jeKI/s1600-h/IMG_2971.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv3lPThssZjj0sXXrqIzHd8pC7N9MHnPL2e-Z2k8DqZ-vltDdrWT9g3aaf96OKNxd1JqTdHbgiu1HTfZTeCPUm89r7o5vwLhNDogeHs6FKrKzmOTHNiqEs1JLoOHDpkEthLNwfSb6jeKI/s320/IMG_2971.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428145947500167938" /></a>The patrolling in France has proved again why I have the best job ever. After 40+ cm's of new snow fell a couple nights ago, we've been out working in bluebird skies. Loving every minute too. After O.B. and I finished our route we skied the line below. I went first. Then hauled ass to the left to outrun the avalanche I started on my third turn. Good times!!!!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSp3bWBnxaG3pxiTZT5WUzWhZ_dM8bLeGQO5yhrabXR5bHDGrkoHBqEfInS46POtPOMTjNsWBl1RdVlCz_0mkTa91L9qyBGofhFJF6AWopCfLf_DHbNBiO_-ArQrM7be9SXGvo96xTzFs/s1600-h/IMG_3006.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSp3bWBnxaG3pxiTZT5WUzWhZ_dM8bLeGQO5yhrabXR5bHDGrkoHBqEfInS46POtPOMTjNsWBl1RdVlCz_0mkTa91L9qyBGofhFJF6AWopCfLf_DHbNBiO_-ArQrM7be9SXGvo96xTzFs/s320/IMG_3006.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428145943200435378" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA6SozCsFrgOa5bb1KbXCoRLwU_bERBArrPk-OrSfEL8_uSZPTSS0qa8xnYfv4N1TXH4gdlJblKf4Yaghw0Jv7vuNy3Hi4wYcuRwaJUtgVunr2i81vmBQFwzxb4jqQXtGOkVgAt7AAVEI/s1600-h/IMG_3027.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA6SozCsFrgOa5bb1KbXCoRLwU_bERBArrPk-OrSfEL8_uSZPTSS0qa8xnYfv4N1TXH4gdlJblKf4Yaghw0Jv7vuNy3Hi4wYcuRwaJUtgVunr2i81vmBQFwzxb4jqQXtGOkVgAt7AAVEI/s320/IMG_3027.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428145939024876962" /></a>Today we continued the PIDA work needed to get the Glacier Sector open. Overnight we had a lot of wind and it made for some good sized avalanches. Almost every charge had results that ran to the basin floor. My morning ended with some fun. Olivier Chenu and myself went to do a route under the Traversee TS that put us in a tight spot. Olivier couldn't get the charge to slide on the top of the snow as far as he wanted it to. He tried for a good 30 to 45 seconds to replace the charge. With only a minute and a half fuse on the charge, we had to grab what we could and hold on. I grabbed the flat rock I was standing beside and got a real nice hold of nothing. At this point the charge is only 15-20 meters away from us and I'm thinking the ride over the cliffs below us isn't going to be pretty. BOOM! We weren't moving, but the slide poured over the rocks we had knelt down behind and gave us a good white washing. Nico said he wished had remembered his camera when he finished watching us get blasted. The fracture line had broken above us and around the rocks where we were standing. When I looked down my skies were just the edge of another fracture. Man I love this job. The slide went over La Combe piste twice but without any riders, thank god!</div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYGljRn7Z0H_2w4JUwkmfESj1YwQw9YhNihIjdzXUNNrga6Y3acTWh9UCnya8fAdvt-tK1Y5hv2k4ijwSRlydibmSWu9fPFaJCkI1vSevtxq2qmTEg6LlT0tV03xsALhvjcl1W7tmH2Cw/s1600-h/IMG_3036.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYGljRn7Z0H_2w4JUwkmfESj1YwQw9YhNihIjdzXUNNrga6Y3acTWh9UCnya8fAdvt-tK1Y5hv2k4ijwSRlydibmSWu9fPFaJCkI1vSevtxq2qmTEg6LlT0tV03xsALhvjcl1W7tmH2Cw/s320/IMG_3036.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428145930110477474" /></a><br /></div></div></div></div><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dys6a6Wd8OeFNARiLJu99G46KntqBnGqgR3sNDCrC5rdD54CTtUnsYy4CGQ43Y_5_iJRDCeOvDk4A5qhDhLDQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>Andrew Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03163440203270161614noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1464549137415201300.post-20356687882260950262010-01-10T10:19:00.000-08:002010-01-11T02:04:29.341-08:00Membership has its privileges.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMYAd3UoBp0iv-jXSohRWtE7_vRFe9MdPPHFOhHwDvGbEW0uAMAG94Jl5bdhL2fOZMumUuR6TpQyk7AMOPP4CtVx3GBt9vxnNyPbDvoKqavjyMFFy34rXmayhbvFN0ZLb3JjJsxnpMfdU/s1600-h/IMG_2900.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 187px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMYAd3UoBp0iv-jXSohRWtE7_vRFe9MdPPHFOhHwDvGbEW0uAMAG94Jl5bdhL2fOZMumUuR6TpQyk7AMOPP4CtVx3GBt9vxnNyPbDvoKqavjyMFFy34rXmayhbvFN0ZLb3JjJsxnpMfdU/s320/IMG_2900.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425420669501901042" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFgqtIniAMs1-svdYl3quYWLJ-tbhnpY4Xhcp4qW22PkSheFaHpQ7lKFL2NeX3Q7LbA1Jb7Ou2EeNCzPz4b-5kD7G6toYE66oFXLVJDeT9cXOrysNz4FaMG1t_tiLPHSqqFw7DhyM_aFU/s1600-h/SDC10433.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFgqtIniAMs1-svdYl3quYWLJ-tbhnpY4Xhcp4qW22PkSheFaHpQ7lKFL2NeX3Q7LbA1Jb7Ou2EeNCzPz4b-5kD7G6toYE66oFXLVJDeT9cXOrysNz4FaMG1t_tiLPHSqqFw7DhyM_aFU/s320/SDC10433.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425420664109801538" /></a>Work ended on a good note last week. My last day of work we received 3o cms and the glacier was closed for the day. That next day was one of my best days of skiing.<div>Nico and I woke up fairly early and headed straight to the Glacier Chalet for coffee and cake. As we made it to the top of the gondola the crew working that day was just finishing up the PIDA. Long story short. We had the glacier to ourselves, the snow was stable, and there wasn't a cloud in the sky. The view was amazing. The snow was even better.</div><div>Our first two runs were non stop to the bottom form the outpost. Both lines were through a couloir with an easy foot of fresh blower. The first line I went "White Room" twice. The smile didn't come off my face for the next three days. The rest of the day continued as it started. We worked away from the the roast beef, and skied amazing lines with no other tracks in sight. EPIC!</div><div>Day two I skied alone. I went back to an area were we had done some work a couple days before. (Black and White photo). Again the sky was bluebird. Seeing the area without snow and clouds just dropped my jaw. After gape'n it up a while, I realized no was alone. Not a soul for as far as I could see. I made another great run and enjoyed the solitude.</div><div>My last day off I met up with Quick to ski to Champagny. Quick is another patroller working on the glacier with me. He also lives in Champagny, so I think he knew the good lines. We took the Glacier TS up to the top and the rest is history. Bluebird skies, good folks, excellent skiing, plenty to drink, and views you'll only see in France. This type of skiing really puts the soul of skiing in perspective. Great weekend.</div><div>The weather has been beautiful for the last few days with only a couple of inches of new snow. Looking forward to my next three days off. A couple free skiing days and another adventure to Champagny with Quick should make for a good weekend.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1bp7jV405BckIYHQFBCKZRnSYO64LE6yB4-oXx2HHuGw82NO0LnFLBlbbLOA-YqVy8TCVlS8OUwWyE1dAyS_8JQ6iKYpLF3fx3DKIN0TFQj9DKfwCnZZOhfmMENddr-ItoeSwY_ncSOA/s1600-h/IMG_2922.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1bp7jV405BckIYHQFBCKZRnSYO64LE6yB4-oXx2HHuGw82NO0LnFLBlbbLOA-YqVy8TCVlS8OUwWyE1dAyS_8JQ6iKYpLF3fx3DKIN0TFQj9DKfwCnZZOhfmMENddr-ItoeSwY_ncSOA/s320/IMG_2922.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425420662175922914" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt0K5eRDkaVzok8GLTZZ3FNYRi-rumFQ-ht8VYv0KFlfVeQYVks59MHRAiVP9MXTldqmyHgJ1uW-hl-alrXWYSfm_3vDUO92M41wLb9o89suR6QwYJDda1QXpKi_DpQAxabEt5WY0GNFE/s1600-h/IMG_2927.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt0K5eRDkaVzok8GLTZZ3FNYRi-rumFQ-ht8VYv0KFlfVeQYVks59MHRAiVP9MXTldqmyHgJ1uW-hl-alrXWYSfm_3vDUO92M41wLb9o89suR6QwYJDda1QXpKi_DpQAxabEt5WY0GNFE/s320/IMG_2927.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425420650571689842" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoTOW9ZVx8ZbhGoBy6uuegpQgNoWZq9BUhG24fEisn6qSnnrBg6CKnBTx42u-WtEZ14U7NX7D809OIhX1oaaeb2UHg_S2GHOsdMT1IJys_PYujgbnZM1hpMWVNRey1V7xzEOjkdSKBXpU/s1600-h/IMG_2929.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoTOW9ZVx8ZbhGoBy6uuegpQgNoWZq9BUhG24fEisn6qSnnrBg6CKnBTx42u-WtEZ14U7NX7D809OIhX1oaaeb2UHg_S2GHOsdMT1IJys_PYujgbnZM1hpMWVNRey1V7xzEOjkdSKBXpU/s320/IMG_2929.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425420644187815810" /></a><br /><div><div><br /></div></div></div>Andrew Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03163440203270161614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1464549137415201300.post-47038087494403549052010-01-03T10:16:00.000-08:002010-01-03T13:25:04.456-08:00Helicopters+France= "Thanks! Opps I crapped my pants."<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEADC7AUz8ku-OHLVAIzy-tneHhQhU1PMG5dmG0huHXpfUhNMUsWEb-UH9PnHlEag65Pud2JEGM0jVci6ZHk_eGTosKrBzXywuGqmEI7UqADjrnSkRhgAEoE75L3kj8imEUjoKXw8n7Eg/s1600-h/IMG_2858.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEADC7AUz8ku-OHLVAIzy-tneHhQhU1PMG5dmG0huHXpfUhNMUsWEb-UH9PnHlEag65Pud2JEGM0jVci6ZHk_eGTosKrBzXywuGqmEI7UqADjrnSkRhgAEoE75L3kj8imEUjoKXw8n7Eg/s320/IMG_2858.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422617943705445666" /></a>The snow just keeps coming. It's getting exciting and sketchy all at the same time. Yesterday (Saturday) the weather broke for a bit in the evening and it looked like today would be bluebrid. With the clearing came the colder, no freezing, temps and wind. La Plange's snow is changing daily and keeping ahead of the danger is tough. The plan was to get some P.I.D.A done before the danger went up anymore.<div>Our neighboring resort, Les Arcs, had 3 avalanches fatalities in a huge slide this weekend. 9 meters deep! It had been 24 hours this morning since the slide happened and they still hadn't found the third body. The area where the slide occurred is almost inaccessible, so no cats to help move snow. Lots of digging. Val Thorens, near Courchevel, also added a death this week.</div><div>I think the "higher ups" were getting the picture. The danger is going up and the snow keeps falling. Thursday, Nico and Jean Eves set off an avalanche that was 3 meters deep and at least 300 meters wide. That was just one of the two it took to clear the whole area between the Roche De Mio and the gondola mid-station. HUGE!</div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQmWVKQQqQ8-3fz4koi2fv3Idp5LHSWsE4LgjNH65LKbsH1Aq6QVuYWPcomY72Uvu9fRmhG3fv9tlBLQLNHaJ5mA2hNP46FdK3GiZ9KkuQR9bgKvP1cGbgwowkVdJhZZVGpR8r5bbhrSI/s1600-h/IMG_2860.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQmWVKQQqQ8-3fz4koi2fv3Idp5LHSWsE4LgjNH65LKbsH1Aq6QVuYWPcomY72Uvu9fRmhG3fv9tlBLQLNHaJ5mA2hNP46FdK3GiZ9KkuQR9bgKvP1cGbgwowkVdJhZZVGpR8r5bbhrSI/s320/IMG_2860.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422617934731503794" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Xh1KXT2eEZF4G_bn0i1Ck6gSDecCdAvpcrWgHT_zetqZ7Jd9NRye74bMkSbRnDMKpXgJEf6RiAT8BIpCuN6pRzbbjuXrUtTlUgZZo2KuWHE6t3fJtiFl-SUI-6gpCG5EHmXNlFVRkKI/s1600-h/IMG_2867.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Xh1KXT2eEZF4G_bn0i1Ck6gSDecCdAvpcrWgHT_zetqZ7Jd9NRye74bMkSbRnDMKpXgJEf6RiAT8BIpCuN6pRzbbjuXrUtTlUgZZo2KuWHE6t3fJtiFl-SUI-6gpCG5EHmXNlFVRkKI/s320/IMG_2867.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422617933898270610" /></a><div>Friday morning the weather was partly cloudy and clear enough the get back at it. Olivier and I were paired up again and headed to the Traverse Chair for a round trip of dropping charges off the chair. Our next mission was up the Bellecote Chalet chair for another round of air bombs. Those three charges set off two big avalanches a meter deep under and ran below the chair. On our way back down we did another route in the same area under the Chalet chair. We were less productive this round but the good sized slide we did have broke above us and I almost shit my pants. Remember Thursday?</div><div>That day the rumor was that we were going to use the helicopter (heli, bird, ship, chopper, huey, etc) for some P.I.D.A work. YES! I was stoked to say the least, but it didn't happen that day. The weather changed again and no flying.....Until today.</div></div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm7hG2kQE-QeGOpHG0E-XSYXpTJlzKlIk7-0nCUeJL1crtLTlObbDQkvxmkhvCH9Hws55OKRY98mAqdn40qs8obFkxxCgeztrS7wnsdIN4vENzYxF_1uWw-yXVD33TvBZpyu_JDBHqLpU/s1600-h/IMG_2880.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm7hG2kQE-QeGOpHG0E-XSYXpTJlzKlIk7-0nCUeJL1crtLTlObbDQkvxmkhvCH9Hws55OKRY98mAqdn40qs8obFkxxCgeztrS7wnsdIN4vENzYxF_1uWw-yXVD33TvBZpyu_JDBHqLpU/s320/IMG_2880.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422617917489774658" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4YOk1Pug72W0v6b6qkRCVB9qVJ57h6Nr7VxFp_jMyMjsVOTFjDf6Ft-M1XswYqyiRl79YvVPDxcZEH1ir9rbuGzI_CekGb_vKRVDCb5lfKQBlZlpB6P0icu3WBrmhfo0B6z93hd_DjWw/s1600-h/IMG_2887.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4YOk1Pug72W0v6b6qkRCVB9qVJ57h6Nr7VxFp_jMyMjsVOTFjDf6Ft-M1XswYqyiRl79YvVPDxcZEH1ir9rbuGzI_CekGb_vKRVDCb5lfKQBlZlpB6P0icu3WBrmhfo0B6z93hd_DjWw/s320/IMG_2887.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422617915610492994" /></a><div>We came into work early and packed up everything we needed for the morning rounds. Met the bird at the base and flew to our drop areas. I was in a crew with Olivier and Vins. The areas we covered were above the Traverse Chair on the southwest ridge line of Bellecote, and the area above La Combe.</div><div>I don't mind flying and I had been in a helicopter before. I felt like things were good and sat back and enjoyed the ride. It was when we circled the "knife" ridge where we were to land when I started to think. The pilot took a loop of the ridge line and I hadn't seen any "good" landing zones. Good thing I'm not a heli pilot, cause our asses would have been hiking. The L.Z. he did choose wasn't really a landing zone, rather a hovering zone. As I jumped out of the bird I noticed only one scag was on the snow and I'm standing on a knife ridge with three people. The heli takes off and the fun began. I couldn't stop thinking about the snow we were standing on. What's under it? What's stopping us from falling off this ridge with the snow? Which way do I fall if I fall? I don't know what was under the snow, the snow didn't move with us, and...you couldn't fall. We were all carrying 10 to 15 pounds of nitroglicern on our backs. We made our way down the ridge (I was last, and on both skis) to an area big enough for three grown men to put explosive charges together.</div><div>We weren't very productive today, but the trip was amazing. Our last area to control was a section above La Combe that's filled with coulior after coulior. Once our last charge went off we climbed down into the same coulior we had just thrown the charge. To ski. To access this last coulior you have to climb down a 15 foot ladder. IT WAS AAAWESOME!!!! I had been looking at this line since I first rode up to the glacier, and it was everything I imagined. Skiing down an avalanche path you just created is pretty cool too.</div><div>The forecast is for snow the rest of the week. I'll keep you posted!!</div><div><br /></div><div>I almost forgot! Today a patroller in the Roche de Mio sector found a goat. Not a mountain goat, a farmer's goat that disappeared over the summer. The goat was found at 2000 meters in elevation. A lot higher then the farm he's from near Montchavin. La Plagne is thinking of using it as a avy goat.</div><div><br /></div><div>Check out the video below!!!!</div><object id="BLOG_video-FAILED" class="BLOG_video_class" width="320" height="266" contentid="FAILED"></object><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwqTjOZW4N__pAWJwjONMeAqE8Pm3GcdLIXp1QqxrXh2gyHwAwD4At665p0u7L5ezEQrWTuaseyS-_t6CfULg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>Andrew Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03163440203270161614noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1464549137415201300.post-68362794655315199312009-12-31T06:58:00.000-08:002010-01-01T09:08:56.319-08:00My Lucky Day!<div> I thought I was done with writing new posts today but mother nature had a different plan. I got out on the hill late today after taking my time to have some breakfast and write a bit. My plan was to ski back to Plagne 1800 from Bellecote and just enjoy the day to scout out what I hadn't seen yet on the mountain.<div>The sun came out as I hit the hill and right away I noticed the amount of avalanches that had happened around Plagne Centre. I made only a couple runs off piste. The snow was good and I felt good skiing. After a few long chair lift rides I noticed one more spot I wanted to ski before I went home. I should have gone home.</div><div>I finally made it to the Verdons Nord quad and saw some off piste snow that looked good on the way up. The angle wasn't to steep, less than 35 degrees, and the snow looked great. The line would be fresh snow for less than 200 meters until I would be back on a piste(run). It was going to be a great way to end the day. On the way up I watched 3 tourist ski and snowboard just to the right of where I wanted to ski, and thought how dumb it was to ski with 3 people at the same time off piste today. I was the dumb ass.</div><div>I headed over the start of the line and realized it was still a little boney at the top, so I was being a little careful for the first couple of turns. I made one turn and it was a bit rocky, but the second turn was butter. The third turn though, made this rumbling sound like a truck coming down the hill, but with the truck came an avalanche.</div><div>After I heard the rumble and saw everything around me fracturing and cracking, I tried to ski out to my left to no avail. It happened quick. I was caught, and all I could think of was SHIT. My skies were already under the snow and pulling fast. I was thinking to myself "stay up above the snow as best as possible" and just hope I don't get buried over my head. The ride lasted just a few seconds and only took me about half way down the slope. The rest of the slide carried into a gully or run out below me. I was buried almost up to my waste and couldn't believe I had just been in an avalanche. I moved quick to get myself out, while people yelled from the chair to see if I was alright. I told them I was and moved quicker than I ever have to a safe spot. My skis stayed on and my poles were somehow still in my hands. Hello adrenaline!!!</div><div>Afterwards I couldn't stop thinking about how Leo said that I would eventually get caught in a slide in France, I didn't think it was to funny. He made it sound like it was part of the game, and everyone had been in one. I had no plans to ever, in my life, get caught in an avalanche. And I know for sure I never want it to happen again.</div><div>I was very lucky that the slope was short and had a good run out. Or the ride would have been longer, with more chance of getting fully buried. I was wearing all my gear and my beacon was on. I took a pretty big risk today and don't plan on making the same mistake twice. The danger was only at a 3, which is still very dangerous. I let the draw of the snow and that famous cliche "just one more run" influence my decision. I'm still shaking.</div><div>This experience will forever influence how I ski off piste or in the backcountry. I was rushing to ski and didn't think out the consequences. Nor did I make a good plan of attack. SO HAPPY NEW YEAR, and BE SAFE OUT THERE!!!</div><div><br /></div><div>In these pictures you can see my first few turns, before the avalanche started. You can see the fracture width and depth. The debris plied up down the gully. I stopped right below the top of the debris pile, you may be able to see my tracks coming out of the pile. If you click on the photos you get a better view.</div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWcdsb5PjLyH-LnLUhG4wP2IDhq5XvPPjXQy45yeWdQDdFMIbpmhC0IEDhb6Vu7OZ0r2DTnEjtow2pLDJIdaFnHXNUs4GAhnRsvibtdkIgV6DuVRw2X9A5EE_IBgxowLzwQRiAMP880uY/s1600-h/IMG_2852.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 223px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWcdsb5PjLyH-LnLUhG4wP2IDhq5XvPPjXQy45yeWdQDdFMIbpmhC0IEDhb6Vu7OZ0r2DTnEjtow2pLDJIdaFnHXNUs4GAhnRsvibtdkIgV6DuVRw2X9A5EE_IBgxowLzwQRiAMP880uY/s320/IMG_2852.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421439251307921170" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSSjStZPrSyhob0_0fPhzbedPOJpUSXLpkyyfOOdgRjSgukp2x5OREOOmYC_HcIpA5mXBMFbC_4eZ8vtwBwqyx_Fv7snnH7SwpVl-J2xHl8Bp6WKd0-ecuxBDnwcEZYtpDHTLsMXJROS8/s1600-h/IMG_2851.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSSjStZPrSyhob0_0fPhzbedPOJpUSXLpkyyfOOdgRjSgukp2x5OREOOmYC_HcIpA5mXBMFbC_4eZ8vtwBwqyx_Fv7snnH7SwpVl-J2xHl8Bp6WKd0-ecuxBDnwcEZYtpDHTLsMXJROS8/s320/IMG_2851.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421439248019547922" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBJ4NJ1_H2R4B1ydFsdZWSFWoy28q_1SzlnHkiKm0WLgUbmOIOiOxmTdtvrLE3ou1h-VY3aLvh0Fg8SmlqynzGp46eUknwKRVUoQLFTXT9sGaBs2UnH27EIiUS5lkRS2tXKNxtjRgpVpU/s1600-h/IMG_2850.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBJ4NJ1_H2R4B1ydFsdZWSFWoy28q_1SzlnHkiKm0WLgUbmOIOiOxmTdtvrLE3ou1h-VY3aLvh0Fg8SmlqynzGp46eUknwKRVUoQLFTXT9sGaBs2UnH27EIiUS5lkRS2tXKNxtjRgpVpU/s320/IMG_2850.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421439236984587074" /></a>Andrew Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03163440203270161614noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1464549137415201300.post-20178982811599092962009-12-31T03:42:00.000-08:002009-12-31T03:49:52.646-08:00Christmas Gifts!<div>The hat is from ski patrol and the Euro Cup is for winning the money twice. How sweet it is.</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7OeyERMNTMmZSvHTjuIUTAPN8wXBrLvr_EgFDW5hoag_avW61rffvrrLJC9uCjoWTdmJYj7qwYsCXl2QMsRHGD7YLI7VXfa7wYc9H6v2hdK6NpeQUNddeW8R0-eSr9n28robG7IoDknA/s1600-h/IMG_2847.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 222px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7OeyERMNTMmZSvHTjuIUTAPN8wXBrLvr_EgFDW5hoag_avW61rffvrrLJC9uCjoWTdmJYj7qwYsCXl2QMsRHGD7YLI7VXfa7wYc9H6v2hdK6NpeQUNddeW8R0-eSr9n28robG7IoDknA/s320/IMG_2847.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421365801969135138" /></a>Andrew Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03163440203270161614noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1464549137415201300.post-20352564214206524262009-12-31T01:53:00.001-08:002009-12-31T03:39:38.662-08:00BEAUCOUP NEIGE!!!!<div>As I'm writing there are bombs rattling my windows. Heidi brought a ton of snow with her to France. Sorry Colorado!! Ever since she's been here the snow keeps piling up.</div><div><div>A couple of days before she arrived we had a pretty good wind event that left a 3cm wind crust on most everything. Vins and I had a good run early in the day, but it was tough skiing. By noon that day the clouds had moved in and it was on.</div><div>Plagne 1800 didn't get to much snow the next morning, so I thought it was going to be a normal work day with no new snow. After the morning routine of coffee and fresh bread in Belle Plagne, we rode up to the glacier on the Bellecote Gondola. To all of our surprise we had received about 30cms of new snow up on the glacier. POW DAY!</div><div>Remember the wind event? Not good. After the management types did their phone calls and we ate jambon and bread. It was decided no explosives were going to be used today, some agreed, most didn't. So it was decided we'd ski the most used areas and check the conditions.</div><div>The conditions were ridiculous.</div><div>Olivier(O.B.) and I were headed to check La Chiaupe. A black run with some surrounding aspects that had the potential to slide. All good. We skied some of the lightest powder I've skied. France's snow has a much higher water content than Colorado, so I was stoked when it was light and soft on your face. Colorado Style!! The rest of the day the French guys argued about policy and safety, I skied as much as possible.</div><div>Heidi came in the next day so I was planning on sleeping in a bit. Nope. At 7am I awoke to the avalanche control starting for the day around the Plagne 1800 area. AND another 30cm's of snow. Windows rattling, I had a quick cup of coffee and started digging Nico's A4 out from the parking lot.</div><div>The next couple of days it snowed on and off, with about another 10-20cm on Christmas Day. The glacier had been closed while I was off. In the locker room it sounded like we were going to do some P.I.D.A (avalanche control) that day since no one had a chance to do any control work the last couple days. We had our morning coffee and jambon before heading to work on the glacier. The glacier wasn't going to open today either. Only for control work and lunch.</div><div>Vins and I went together to do a route along some chutes skiers left of Le Chaiupe. We had no big results with any of our charges. Meteo and Jean Yeves were across the slope form us and had a couple good slides through the chutes below them, but nothing to serious either. Back to the top to ski and eat.</div><div>Everyone was back safe to the outpost by late morning, and the discussion started about the snow and how safe it really was. While Quick and Lionel were out on their route above the lower chairlift that serves our sector, they had a big avalanche release with only one small charge. Quick told me he thought the fracture line was about a meter thick, and 300 meters wide. And ran for at least 500 meters. HOLY SHIT!</div><div>The snow kept falling through the week and the mountains were really starting to look good. One day I went with Olivier S. on a cool route that starts by skiing a nice couloir, and then covers an area overlooking the la Combe area of our sector. See pics.</div><div>A day before Heidi left we got some rain below 1800 meters, and it put a mental damper on things that day. Then yesterday when I took Heidi to the airport it started raining again down in the valley. Not good. The whole drive it poured rain to and from Lyon. In Bourg St. Maurice it was full on springtime raining, cold and heavy.</div><div>I made my way back to Plagne 1800 and got about 4 switchback up the hill and it was DUMPING! 10-20 cm's had fallen since we left for the airport. Talking to Nico after work he said they didn't get up the glacier until 10:30am and it had already snowed 30cm's by then on the glacier. I asked what the avy danger would be today and Nico thought it would be at a four. That's 4 out of 5. Dangerous! If it hits 5, you just stay in bed.</div><div>It snowed all day yesterday and it's still dumping this morning. The bombs have slowed down and I'm itching bad. Over a meter in the last week, I think it'll be good. Happy New Year! to everyone. And come visit any time, it'll probably be worth it. </div><div><br /></div></div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBW4AHAlTFjxns2POmSpNSHbick567HB6WOaPw5WYQ-_jK4h44fw66mq4r4r-xwOZCdSVKxRC7DQJ-b8c8rbZDvzYg7NEeoXL459JFFWag8dg0ixMfVpOFWZFT3O-xyBp4NMGx08gcUhg/s1600-h/IMG_2809.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBW4AHAlTFjxns2POmSpNSHbick567HB6WOaPw5WYQ-_jK4h44fw66mq4r4r-xwOZCdSVKxRC7DQJ-b8c8rbZDvzYg7NEeoXL459JFFWag8dg0ixMfVpOFWZFT3O-xyBp4NMGx08gcUhg/s320/IMG_2809.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421361767130607218" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNhBehPkyabuDFBfC7PnShNwivqh31qkkBH_h90flPosh1G7y1EM4HX6Akbxas5rEtpY7CpNoZ2qAUuS4NMMG71-jrl9K8UZkGeBCab49egqYBUBlI5MKpi6uH4ogX_9j1s0DP7eEuziA/s1600-h/IMG_2800.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNhBehPkyabuDFBfC7PnShNwivqh31qkkBH_h90flPosh1G7y1EM4HX6Akbxas5rEtpY7CpNoZ2qAUuS4NMMG71-jrl9K8UZkGeBCab49egqYBUBlI5MKpi6uH4ogX_9j1s0DP7eEuziA/s320/IMG_2800.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421361758292475954" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggO7ydR58dIxfACNEW-1xPiq3tlblmMM0T6_MZcwdQadblw_agDMRgSGMFSiXe4TMLces68oZWW0AdOUsUfRb2MS5UrwmAsAcICi38Gqi37etS4AqCuWRRUwAL8TtgI35Coj4rx786qIQ/s1600-h/IMG_2799.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggO7ydR58dIxfACNEW-1xPiq3tlblmMM0T6_MZcwdQadblw_agDMRgSGMFSiXe4TMLces68oZWW0AdOUsUfRb2MS5UrwmAsAcICi38Gqi37etS4AqCuWRRUwAL8TtgI35Coj4rx786qIQ/s320/IMG_2799.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421361754713080418" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLhEONUBrAPya0lrNA6AzrnPEfuGcL0TOSy89LfQpxWnCT5am4KwLdOW6oD_BjXsW6EMjaeWUvtAi6B8ZWbkmwrZVgBFLwTK56qcGDBB3Qr2ATrScB0l6qf8-IaSnpljH0spsFC-8Ikh8/s1600-h/IMG_2786.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLhEONUBrAPya0lrNA6AzrnPEfuGcL0TOSy89LfQpxWnCT5am4KwLdOW6oD_BjXsW6EMjaeWUvtAi6B8ZWbkmwrZVgBFLwTK56qcGDBB3Qr2ATrScB0l6qf8-IaSnpljH0spsFC-8Ikh8/s320/IMG_2786.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421361742704654162" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3cqvBfQDO7hJUWBbbUCDwnViUQl3WfYlpxwlSKiZSb7tgYrokpGN9t2y15BUx33V7prOh-6phcoAprwYX56zjmm5_0-z5hgEmGWiUUoBU0vyogvLkvAd4Ml8vYODQZoYx5SAQ1NFp-gY/s1600-h/IMG_2808.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3cqvBfQDO7hJUWBbbUCDwnViUQl3WfYlpxwlSKiZSb7tgYrokpGN9t2y15BUx33V7prOh-6phcoAprwYX56zjmm5_0-z5hgEmGWiUUoBU0vyogvLkvAd4Ml8vYODQZoYx5SAQ1NFp-gY/s320/IMG_2808.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421359431055130210" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf2fu0Uod5rsMaSNI5gqIVxquV_iADxmtxOx_gSEa60wVnjrgZzOspSwEeGNGZ5-WmCihUTxMGkZVzYm3BgNk-KE4cKE9JM8gfTlUUOS86l1GmA0HIgN_UWDJN2jDw6DRp_6D6hUZFnpQ/s1600-h/IMG_2804.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf2fu0Uod5rsMaSNI5gqIVxquV_iADxmtxOx_gSEa60wVnjrgZzOspSwEeGNGZ5-WmCihUTxMGkZVzYm3BgNk-KE4cKE9JM8gfTlUUOS86l1GmA0HIgN_UWDJN2jDw6DRp_6D6hUZFnpQ/s320/IMG_2804.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421343778554604306" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglI39YcZCk98wUV6fEdo4LRbHzX7WkWM6laP4mxgVlNtGiu_dlROlB9iUYAmrPd3iK2wlivWhRtXAfjKKLYOKI1NwYkXsgEtkCIBu6SSid2wy-upe7jdxIbUTb-4NRJpz-RjbX0BjRNXo/s1600-h/IMG_2754.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglI39YcZCk98wUV6fEdo4LRbHzX7WkWM6laP4mxgVlNtGiu_dlROlB9iUYAmrPd3iK2wlivWhRtXAfjKKLYOKI1NwYkXsgEtkCIBu6SSid2wy-upe7jdxIbUTb-4NRJpz-RjbX0BjRNXo/s320/IMG_2754.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421337172295514258" /></a><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Andrew Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03163440203270161614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1464549137415201300.post-66378101422692493282009-12-30T23:48:00.001-08:002009-12-31T01:51:38.361-08:00Mon copine arrives.<div><br /></div><div><div><br /></div></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjPi8QWUbrXs6R9RXmsXXj64joVhieghOF2yPwVhVdDJ9KuAMWH4oNCRIgggY27vvY3xOW3KeGP9oBoemHKTaAhjCi_a_iUSapElNZC6fDPGoMARiUCjGG0I2fy87ASONawaMtqjUXQg8/s1600-h/IMG_2771.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjPi8QWUbrXs6R9RXmsXXj64joVhieghOF2yPwVhVdDJ9KuAMWH4oNCRIgggY27vvY3xOW3KeGP9oBoemHKTaAhjCi_a_iUSapElNZC6fDPGoMARiUCjGG0I2fy87ASONawaMtqjUXQg8/s320/IMG_2771.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421335106029205314" /></a>Heidi was here for the holidays last week. She arrived a couple of days before Christmas and was a real trooper. She was only scheduled to be here for a week, so I thought she'd get hit hard by the lag. No jet lag for this girl. Other than the first night she didn't feel too tired for anything.<div> The day after she arrived we hit the hill. We slept in and started late morning. It was 1pm before we got into skis. The bus system wasn't quite the same as it is first thing in the morning for employees. So we waited a little longer at the wrong stop, ran after the bus when we didn't need to, waited again in Plagne Centre, and finally made it to Plagne Bellecote. By this time, we were ready for food and cafe'.</div><div> Finally on the chair. Nico calls me to say that the glacier had closed that day and the crew was near Champagny having lunch. The visibility was pretty bad so the skiing wasn't great, we headed to Champagny for lunch after only one run. Heidi was thrown right into the French way of skiing. That means you ski when its good, or not, then eat with friends and maybe ski more if you can still stand. This day was about the eating and drinking. After a great plate de jour of duck filet, potatoes, and veggies we headed out to meet Sandy for a beer. A run down to the bottom of Champagny and up was perfect timing to meet Sandy. We also met up with Mikey Hovey. Mikey grew up in the Vail valley and is also living in La Plagne for the winter. Couple more beers and we we're headed back home to get ready for Christmas Eve dinner with Nico's fam.</div><div> Nico's family had invited Heidi and I to holiday dinner. Dinner was at Nico's mom house on the other side of the valley from La Plagne. Anyone who has been away from their family during the holidays can tell you how much it sucks. So having Heidi was amazing, and Nico's family made us both feel very welcome for the holidays.</div><div> Before dinner we all had some duck and goose foie gras with wine and bread. The foie gras was actually really good, I think Heidi and I agreed the goose was the better of the two. After some fireworks for Nico's niece, literally fireworks in the house, we exchanged some gifts. Actually, Heidi and I received a few gifts from the family and were very grateful. Of course we weren't expecting anything and only brought a bottle of red wine for dinner to give the family. It was very generous of them.</div><div> For dinner we had a boat of seafood. Crab, snails, muscles, shrimp, oysters, crayfish, more shrimp, more snails. All this stuff was in a small Styrofoam boat you could have put the baby in. I don't mind shellfish, so I housed as many shrimp and crab as possible. The snails/urchins were a bit hard to eat, but I managed to eat at least one of everything. Heidi, not so much. When I saw that boat I knew Heidi was in for a challenge. She likes an occasional shrimp or two, but a boat was going to be hard. She said the bread was really good.</div><div> Christmas day we decided not to ski and just take it easy. I hadn't really seen much of La Plagne other than Bellecote, we decided to do some walking around the resort and see what we could. We had plans to have dinner with Nico and Mikey, so we did some shopping for dinner and gifts in Plagne Centre.</div><div> The next four days I was scheduled to work. Nico had those days off and showed Heidi around the mountain. She skied some of the powder we have, ate calf head, drank wine, and really enjoyed the French culture.</div><div> After skiing each day we spent more time eating and drinking. A couple nights this week we went to friend's houses for dinner. Fondue with Jean-Yeves and his girlfriend, CiCi. Then Rochlette with Sandy and Emily. And of course Liv. Sandy is a very proud father and loves being with his daughter.</div><div> Having Heidi come visit so early was awesome. She made missing home, friends, and family much better. Knowing she'll be back soon helps too. Having a visitor who speaks English eases the pain of bashing my head into the wall because my French is still lacking.</div><div> I know Heidi had a great week and many times didn't want to go back to the U.S. Those teachers at Edwards Elementary are lucky they have such a dedicated principal, or at this very moment she'd be here on her 3rd cup of coffee and second pain au chocolate. LOVE YOU BABE!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtBSkt04uNfI03P84f2PUOB2TOPOSC1B9RS4wsmeoxr9qYmxRnMses5ZaZWXWxlIAxBZZ35jzezRs1VAiDFO4WIoLmz349RJUNKkC5Vk1Tf0roEhf0R_DuzvBl7buUjAnwL2Sr7tgWtmY/s1600-h/IMG_2773.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtBSkt04uNfI03P84f2PUOB2TOPOSC1B9RS4wsmeoxr9qYmxRnMses5ZaZWXWxlIAxBZZ35jzezRs1VAiDFO4WIoLmz349RJUNKkC5Vk1Tf0roEhf0R_DuzvBl7buUjAnwL2Sr7tgWtmY/s320/IMG_2773.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421335096656788498" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNzV8oXbWYEDCiNJFlxE1ZT0s5QR_fBqLDHt5tHH6DV8s1ZQ-JvoWwCSvhDmVXsEeceowOCGSxgsc8McMQShleN3ZuIbWmL1TiPaKdZd5dzcUIZK8mB4PlxalSRPVz7JEiuCkO8nmpCxA/s1600-h/IMG_2803.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNzV8oXbWYEDCiNJFlxE1ZT0s5QR_fBqLDHt5tHH6DV8s1ZQ-JvoWwCSvhDmVXsEeceowOCGSxgsc8McMQShleN3ZuIbWmL1TiPaKdZd5dzcUIZK8mB4PlxalSRPVz7JEiuCkO8nmpCxA/s320/IMG_2803.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421335095948815346" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDaLLqVtDrFIjL2SIZO0xJmrXAPAcqxwfGO6N6sckzZlr6-zqcfqfLPYh-_3OYW9CSHAlAq3N4SHeN_LnSMjp-gJtqqW9vwGF-r9gAI0wjUD2qDp364WoUHCJNnuBNQmOFP6yZtX5tvTI/s1600-h/IMG_2819.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDaLLqVtDrFIjL2SIZO0xJmrXAPAcqxwfGO6N6sckzZlr6-zqcfqfLPYh-_3OYW9CSHAlAq3N4SHeN_LnSMjp-gJtqqW9vwGF-r9gAI0wjUD2qDp364WoUHCJNnuBNQmOFP6yZtX5tvTI/s320/IMG_2819.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421335089216930754" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3hFZwvqjXQmQpxdqTkwqwuEiBZopsifa3OsZlzHjsgj49wZ8S7nWcpT5ooZbqJggBNFedEG_3vAPTfP8ua57Xgu808bNepV_MlCJgdNJUKv1By4O6wkinPw083B5eMKSfGLDBHHvq6qQ/s1600-h/IMG_2820.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3hFZwvqjXQmQpxdqTkwqwuEiBZopsifa3OsZlzHjsgj49wZ8S7nWcpT5ooZbqJggBNFedEG_3vAPTfP8ua57Xgu808bNepV_MlCJgdNJUKv1By4O6wkinPw083B5eMKSfGLDBHHvq6qQ/s320/IMG_2820.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421335082198654050" /></a>Andrew Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03163440203270161614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1464549137415201300.post-29392188570604328832009-12-16T13:35:00.001-08:002009-12-18T04:12:23.686-08:00Week 1<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span>I had a pretty busy first week in France. Getting into Savoie from Lyon was quite a ride. Nico and Sandy were at the airport ready to pick me up and carry my over weight ski bag and duffel through the airport. Thanks British Airways. I was looking forward to a relaxing ride into town, when I was given the pleasure of riding in the "dead guy" seat in Nico's Audi A4. Of course I asked what that was about and just got a causal explanation and laugh from the boys. Just a few minutes down the highway when we almost rear ended a semi at 130km/hr I got the picture and found the "oh shit" handle for most of the ride into town.<div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span>That night we hung out at Sandy's apartment with Emily and their new baby Liv for a while. Then Nico and I headed to Plagne 1800, or home. Nico showed me my new digs at the Hilton #3, yep Hilton, and it's everything you would imagine from a Hilton. Great views, hot water, plenty of space. Nico made a piece of beef with some pasta for dinner around 10. I think the French think, we Americans just eat beef. And after a couple glasses of wine with dinner I was ready for bed, so I thought.</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> <span><span></span></span></span>The next couple of days are kinda a blur because I didn't really get any sleep. Jet lag is a bitch. I just followed Nico and tried to power through the lag with vin, beer, bread, cheese, sausage, and ham.</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span>Friday night Nico and I went to a small village for a pizza party to celebrate with the folks he works with in the summer. The setting was unbelievable, the chalets all had to be at least a hundred years old. The building we ate in was made with an oven for baking bread, and tonight, pizza. I soon realized I was in a museum for the apple cider mill and orchard outside. Nico's boss' family was from this village, and he did his best to be a great host to an American that was half asleep and speaks horrible french.</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span>After Nico safely drove us to his mom's house in a tiny village across the valley, sleeping and my first shower were priority. The shower was great, sleeping....not so much.</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span>The next day or two I did some shopping for my penthouse, got Leo's van, arranged a bank account, and hung out with Sandy and Nico.</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span>Starting to feel a bit better by Monday, I went to the mountain with Nico to see how everything worked. Finally stoked to ski and see the mountains, I was amazed the whole day with the size, and beauty of the Alps. The weather was clear and cold, so you could see forever, and the skiing wasn't too bad. We need snow like everywhere else, but La Plagne seems to have enough to start. At least it wasn't Latigo with manmade snow. It was a great day, the guys on patrol were all pretty friendly. I'll be working in the same outpost with the same crew all winter, and those guys are a stitch, I'm sure I'm going to like working with them all.</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span>My first day of work I almost oversleep. I of course didn't bring an alarm clock, and had to rely on my ipod, bad idea when you've been in a sleepless daze for a couple days. I made it though.</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span>So far, so great. Today(friday) is my first day off and I'm headed to Bourge Ste. Maurice for a cell phone for work and groceries. And it's snowing. Driving Leo's van from hear when there's snow is a bit, ok a lot, sketchy. I had to drive it up last weekend and can't believe I made it. I'll be taking Nico's Audi to town, hopefully I can get it started and the tires get me down to the valley floor.</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span>Next week Heidi arrives for the holidays. I can't wait to see her. She may not want to come back after she sees this place.</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span>Nothing in France happens quickly, but I finally got my interweb working and if I'm going to be on, it will be between 10am and 2pm Colorado time, so skype me or whatever. Email me and I can give you my sign on name.</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span>Hope everyone is great and I look forward to seeing and hearing from you soon. Ciao!</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW-VDik3F8szNk-S705Rn22c3E47TLTx2SSkmtAVeZ6O_Ch0FsUGGPwlajQ0JNYpP5v5Jk6lFfIcX45psZTwpa1LcoPbcUPX0nczqO9j11fL0gbRJO-NVE2WDo6hhNmGvIFvIciZzMCHY/s1600-h/IMG_2725.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW-VDik3F8szNk-S705Rn22c3E47TLTx2SSkmtAVeZ6O_Ch0FsUGGPwlajQ0JNYpP5v5Jk6lFfIcX45psZTwpa1LcoPbcUPX0nczqO9j11fL0gbRJO-NVE2WDo6hhNmGvIFvIciZzMCHY/s320/IMG_2725.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416544637298300786" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLOfRqfaeCt21RwIgFlNZ6hKOxZLxCZ44j0pogdPJEyHqbEdF0Ky5MDWx89_GFci-Xj6MNPSUCpFdvP5QAczCtvw7fIUZQAU8KZSHKQYZxn1D0ZJwXwjQRFW9MW66h7GMnnKKH969YxA0/s1600-h/IMG_2708.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLOfRqfaeCt21RwIgFlNZ6hKOxZLxCZ44j0pogdPJEyHqbEdF0Ky5MDWx89_GFci-Xj6MNPSUCpFdvP5QAczCtvw7fIUZQAU8KZSHKQYZxn1D0ZJwXwjQRFW9MW66h7GMnnKKH969YxA0/s320/IMG_2708.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416544631914650082" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBLUdEpTnnut8b-ThIb6ubcuBZRE_S2EEP_iTWKChydbjNhzh3xCEbZG_TuI9D7R-jehwv0Wiqj-pQ-2Ozu5YyWJNjzkMT0Z_EduQ2haRSlMru-xxPP-6Pnct64TQNMYtoBkvLWyWNuRk/s1600-h/IMG_2729.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBLUdEpTnnut8b-ThIb6ubcuBZRE_S2EEP_iTWKChydbjNhzh3xCEbZG_TuI9D7R-jehwv0Wiqj-pQ-2Ozu5YyWJNjzkMT0Z_EduQ2haRSlMru-xxPP-6Pnct64TQNMYtoBkvLWyWNuRk/s320/IMG_2729.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416544628559321378" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6S1g8KwdITU8ktS0YBlOoPBgMMJtA2p4u5BvwGXC7hJVRBkflBIhFX1l3Erh0suefK9xq-JrWPdADeEuTGuwrI9FoCkflt89dAtYegsQjoo5-Wk_-rwmvtQ1AwgojK2uxpjREMrc_qdk/s1600-h/IMG_2707.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6S1g8KwdITU8ktS0YBlOoPBgMMJtA2p4u5BvwGXC7hJVRBkflBIhFX1l3Erh0suefK9xq-JrWPdADeEuTGuwrI9FoCkflt89dAtYegsQjoo5-Wk_-rwmvtQ1AwgojK2uxpjREMrc_qdk/s320/IMG_2707.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416544621995666226" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidJaTExfJNWsUmaZjX8a9RbLD8JscjXff8b5oExCDphwc5NDR9jVSO4CEJppqPXXufB8YLScgaIih28BK1QcyJPpyDkhI328R9QPgqtsfYl6rn2fd4o4Ay6C5fsXaG8XyGJcfNIjv1K0c/s1600-h/STA_2709.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidJaTExfJNWsUmaZjX8a9RbLD8JscjXff8b5oExCDphwc5NDR9jVSO4CEJppqPXXufB8YLScgaIih28BK1QcyJPpyDkhI328R9QPgqtsfYl6rn2fd4o4Ay6C5fsXaG8XyGJcfNIjv1K0c/s320/STA_2709.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416544614512577666" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Andrew Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03163440203270161614noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1464549137415201300.post-8321632929010235802009-12-02T20:52:00.000-08:002009-12-02T22:18:30.129-08:00One Week<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>In a weeks time I'll be headed to France for the winter. Being new to the blogging thing, I thought it would be a good idea to start one about my trip. Mainly so my family and friends could keep track of me while I'm away.<div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>For those of you who don't know about this voyage, I'm taking part in a job exchange of sorts. Every winter (hiver) Beaver Creek and La Plange resorts, one in the Colorado Rockies, the other in the French Alps respectively, each sending one patroller to work at the other ski area. This year I was the lucky bastard who was chosen from Beaver Creek. Leo Coirier was chosen from La Plagne, and has already arrived in Colorado. Leo arrived mid November and has settled in nicely. He's been working on the Ski Patrol race crew for the World Cup event that takes place at Beaver Creek. Beaver Creek holds the only World Cup Downhill event in North America. In the United States ski racing isn't as popular as it is in Europe, so many people don't know about the race. But, it's a BIG DEAL in Europe and this particular race is a racer favorite.</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>All I can tell you about La Plagne is that its in the French Alps and its 5x bigger than Vail. You know Vail, the mother ship of Vail Resorts and 2nd fiddle to Beaver Creek. Not having been to France to ski (only for an 8th grade trip to Paris, Mr. Preston, anyone?) I wish I could tell you more about what I'm expecting when I get there, other than complete awe. Which is why this blog should keep you all informed about the work, play, and experiences in speaking horrible French.</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Being a week out, most of my time is spent thinking about whether or not I have my shit together for the trip. I'm pretty sure I do. Visa's good, passport ready, plane ticket bought, 7 months of Rosetta Stone. That's all I need right?</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Well, I'll be in touch. Hopefully once more before I actually leave. And I'll let you know how the nerves, anxiety, and excitement of leaving home for 6 months is working out. Peace, Andy</div>Andrew Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03163440203270161614noreply@blogger.com1