Alpine Adventure- Vallee Blanch!

Geneva Airport- a sight for sore eyes after an intense few days of packed meetings and reviews outside Amsterdam.... 

Happy to be back, and when I turn on my phone I'm reminded that Jani is in town for the weekend as I have a message from him.  Patience is not one of my virtues so I call him straight away to hear music and activity in the background (of course, it's Jani!) And he's asking if I want to ski Valee Blanch with him on Sunday... We were already planning to ski on Sunday, I say... not having a clue what about Vallee Blanch- He mentions something about needing a guide, going off-piste... a trip of a lifetime...

Max ended up bailing as he was back from Boston just Sat morning and thought he'd be too jet-lagged for the altitude.  On the fence myself, a text at 12:30am Sun morning to Jani confirmed my trip... and a few hours of sleep later we were on route to Chamonix to meet up with Jani, Lucas, Mario & Zina for what would be an Alpine Adventure to remember!

Being a mixed crowd not know for timeliness (Argentinian, Chilean, Lebanese, Italian-American, and Brazilian,) we were inevitably about an hour late getting on the lift (to which our French Instructor reminded us SEVERAL times throughout the day!) and after 2 (or was it 3) gondalas up, and then an elevator ride, we reached the viewing platform of Aiguille du Midi!

With an INCREDIBLE view of the Alps...

And Mont Blanch was so close, felt like you could reach out an touch it!

Luckily I had googled Vallee Blanch that morning and had an idea what I was getting into...

What were we getting ourselves into???

Had a feeling Mario didn't show this to Zina before she signed up for the trip!  Although we didn't get to repel into a crevasse, but maybe next time :)

Back down the elevator to get started on our treck down the cat-walk like Alpine ridge to our launching pad...  Jani led the way down the icy and narrow path while we were all strapped together and had a rope to help us down and our guide with cramp-ons securing the rear...

Yay! We made it!  

Off to the powder covered Glacial slopes...

 With Breathtaking Views...

And great company!

Enjoying the powder

 Or, at least the boarders were!

 

But always reminded of the ever-present danger peeking trough the cracks...

Led us to the icy glacial wonderland!

After we almost lost Mario (again) to a treacherous pass over a crevasse we finally stopped and had lunch- we were too exhausted to go on!

All fueled up- we were ready to move on!

And then we reached the flats...

Waiting for Mario... :)

 But we all finally made it to the end... and just when we thought it was over... 360 stairs back UP to the goldala!

In the end, an amazing day, great friends, not so great guide, but for sure Jani was right- an experience of a lifetime!

So much newness in 2010! How can we even start thinking of 2011!

Alas, I have yet to write an entry in soooo long, and I find myself eager to share the new adventures that are constantly unfolding... but first I think a bit of reflection on 2010 is owed...

A full year of change in so many positive ways!  I had a new role at work, Max had a new opportunity in Geneva which unfolded to our new life in Geneva.  But first we went through so many amazing celebrations of LOVE through weddings, a birth and a baptism!

Congratulations to the newlyweds of 2010!  Some of which I was able to partake in the special day, and I regret that two of the weddings last year I was unable to attend- but was there in spirit!

First up is Jeff-bro's wedding- wouldn't miss my psudo-brother's wedding for the world!  Also a great excuse to see the fam and friends, and even saw Robby.  They had a beautiful ceremony at the Boojum tree, a tropical rain-forest setting in the middle of the dessert!

Congrats to Jeff & Lyndsay- the first set of 2010 in Phoenix, Arizona!!!

Next up was Max's great friend Pam so we took a trip back to the US!  First stop- NY City!  Strolling to find the perfect sushi and luxury perfume shopping under belt, we headed out West!  San Fran and Napa, wine tasting in the less-frequented Vineyards of the beautiful Valley, and made our way to Half Moon Bay to meet up with Max's old Lilly crew for a gorgeous wedding with a beautiful couple and great friends.

Congrats to Pam & Mickey- Half Moon Bay, California!

Back in Europe we made a weekend jaunt to the Northernlands- Helsinki for the Finnish version of Harsh & Hanna's wedding!  Back in 2009 we attended the Indian version in Harsh's home town of Baroda which was full of dancing, color and amazing tradition!  The Finnish version was more familiar with Hanna in only one dress (as opposed to the multi- sari changes throughout the days events in India) in traditional white in a cute chapel in the city- then off to an island via boat for the reception where the two cultures inevitably mixed with a Findian DJ setting the dancing scene and Harsh's close family ready to demo teh Bollywood magic!  Full of fun, amazing seafood and friends Helsinki is a place we'll have to be sure to return...

Congrats (again!) to Harsh & Hanna- Helsinki, Finland!

And from Baroda, India!

Alas, another trip to North America was in store to see our Zurry buddies and ultimate life-lines ILo tie the knot!  We took advantage of the trip to Torronto to check out the thousand lakes area where Manx and I kyaked to a private island and took the train up to Montreal to meet up with some friends before the celebration back in Torronto.

Congrats to Ian & Laura - Toronto, Canada!

Back in Europe at last to partake in joining of two kind souls- an Italian (who lived much of her life in the US) and a Frenchman (who grew up many places other than France!) a truly international wedding, with family on both sides and friends representing around 35 nationalities of the world!  Mathieu is the only person I know who would invite our ENTIRE class to his wedding, and the only person so many of us would actually show up for!  I was honored to stand by Ale's side on this memorable day...

Congrats to Mathieu and Alessandra- Bari, Italia!

 

No rest for me!  Back to the US for one of my best friends' wedding... in VEGAS!  A pit stop in Phx to see my parents and road trip through the dessert.  Was great to hang with Jyll and Court- great friends who don't skip a beat, even when it's been years since we've hung out!  Bran went all out and had the reception in a penthouse suite at the MGM with a steller view of the strip- we felt like we were in a movie!  Vegas Baby Vegas!!!

Congrats to Brandi & Jason- Las Vega, Nevada!

Back in the US (this time I couldn't make it work!) my dear friend Liora married the man of her dreams near the ocean in Laguna Beach!  Wish I could have been there to celebrate here amazing and colorful day filled with family, friends and laughter!  She was stunning and they even had an artist paint the day for their memories...

Congratulations Liora & Guy- Laguna, California!

Back in Europe... we took a weekend road trip to Provance to taste some lovely Rose's and send my friend Juan off to his lovely French Bride.  Juan is Colombian, whom I met in Paris while visiting my customers- he and his friend Michel saved me from a stalker in the Luxembourg gardens, and who'd have known we'd still be friends to this day!  A fun wedding filled with salsa dancing and wine- the perfect blend of Latin and French culture!

Congrats to Juan & Myriam- Provance, France!

And last but not leaset, back in Americas a great friend Verushka tied-the-knot with her new hubby in Cancun!  Wish we could have made this one, but the visas for Russians are so difficult to come by these days... but I'm sure Ver hit the dance floor for me!  My old slasa buddy and the one who got me over the hump of speaking the Italian I'd been studying while in Itlaia- my Venezuelan/Italian/American salsa dancing Capoera competing Verushka!

Congrats Verushka & Adam- Cancun, Mexico!

Smack in the middle of all these weddings we had another blessing come into this world!  Little man Lucian Duncan McKinsey!  THe first full-blood Class of 2008 IMD baby!  Our colleagues Daniela and Bevan who met at IMD had a surprise bundle of joy flip their lives upside down, but for the better!  

We also had a great experiance in Romania for the baptism where Max and I were honored to be his God Parents!  

And Big sisters Zoe and Nikky were thrilled and are already showing him the ropes!

Hard to believe we'll be in Lille to visit for his 1st B-Day soon!  Last time I saw him was when mommy was off in Paris for a Business Angel meeting and Auntie Lisha got to babysit!  We had fun together, and luckily he's a rockin' good sport of a baby!

With so much having happened in 2010, not to mention all our trips- Moscow, Costa Rica, New York, hiking in the Alps, Italy, France, Spain, London...  What does this year hold?  Certainly not any relaxation!  Already three weddings planned, another engagement and who knows how many little ones in the works, 2011 is already shaping up to be gust as busy as last year, and it's only Feb!

Hope to post more frequently this year, on life in Geneva and whatnots.  Enjoy, stay fit, healthy and happy!

A bientot!

Bise...

It's a WIND!  http://www.weatheronline.co.uk/reports/wind/The-Bise.htm

And it literally took me away today!  On my bike it was so difficult it became ridiculous!  The wind turned my tire while I held my handlebars straight... had to get off the bike and attempt running- but still was not making much headway!  It was soooo funny all I could do was laugh!  Luckally the laughter and stationary workout kept me warm in the otherwise BONECHILLING cold that the silly Bise produces...

We had the Bise in Lausanne back at IMD, but apparently it's MUCH stronger in GVA!  That said I'm still loving it here!

Not the only one diggin' IceBreakers!

http://www.gengo.ca/style/wool-is-where-its-at/?ref=nf

A review on my latest FAV outdoor clothing line- from NZ... check it out!

No pics on this one, but last week Max and I were in Chamonix after a hike and strolled into the (one of like 5 in the WORLD!) IceBreaker brick and mortar shops.... he managed to walk away with a workout T-shirt and beaner, I walked out with a new sleeved (with thumb holes!) zip and tank (perfect for yoga, summer hikes, runs, sleep, lounge... about anything!)

Although it's not the cheapest on the market, after my first purchase of a loose tank and workout T, I'm now a total convert and LOVE this brand!  Love even more that you can trace the wool blend in your individual piece (via the Baaaaa code) to the farms and surrounding areas your sheep live in!  (see pic above)

Anyway, can't say enough about this brand.  Yesterday we were putting our new gear to the test- Max had his T as a base layer under another sleeved hooded number, and I had my T as a base under my IceBreakers sleeves... 

We ascended 500 meters total on the hike up to about 2400meters, a 4.5 hour hike that we decided to start at, oh, 4pm!

A well-known trail that leads to actual Dinosaur Tracks... That's right, allegedly there are Dinosaur tracks there- from when the Alps were the bottom of the ocean!  Amazingly they survived, and even more amazingly, we missed them!  Guess we should have checked out this link: http://www.summitpost.org/route/159722/Normal-route-from-Barrage-d-Emosson.html

Ended up trail running the flats and even after getting lost three times make it back to the car by 8pm- just in time for PITCH BLACK DARKNESS!  Yes, we are a bit INSANE, but it was AMAZING!

At the highest point, around sunset, and we're estimating +/-3degrees C we were amazingly quite cozy in our IceBreakers gear.  It really does the trick and is surprisingly breathable!

This is a pic (not ours!) of the big lake formed by the new dam...

And here is a view of the view of Mont Blanc- truly breathtaking!

(must be in summer, as we didn't have any blooming flowers!)

This is the old, smaller lake formed by the original damn.  This is where the trail running began- imagine running through broken pieces on slate and shale... that's the surface at the bottom, near the water! 

 But Max was crusin' in his Vibrum 5-Fingers he picked up on his trip to Boston a few weeks ago...

Two dams, great views, intense hike, and incredible gear- a great end to an otherwise lazy weekend!



Note: We seemed to forget all photographic devices!  I've added some pics found on info sites for your viewing pleasure!