Is 2013, the longest, and best winter ever?
The end of May in Chamonix continued to deliver conditions that have not been seen in most people's lifetime. Instead of going to sunny beaches to tan and look at half naked beautiful people, the hardcore snow addicts just kept skiing.
After first being skied in a storm this spring by Andreas Fransson, the Frendo on the North Face of the Aiguille was skied like it has never been before - this time by Michael "Bird" Shaffer, Ben Briggs, Ross Hewitt and Minna Riihimaki. On that same day I was with Dave Rosenbarger finding perfect conditions on the North Face of the Tour Ronde.
This video ends with Chamonix's favorite run off a lift, the Couloir Cosmiques. Full-speed face shots and and powder slashes are with big thanks to Michael "Bird" Shaffer, Cedric Bernardini, Tof Henry and Damien Deschamps.
It is supposed to be summer.
Oh well, the Aiguille du Midi is still running, and the mountains are still white.
-- Nate Wallace