There are hardly words to describe the sensation of being in the mountains as storm clouds that have been lingering for days, give way to sunshine and vistas of glacier covered peaks as far as the eye can see. Skiing becomes secondary, its all about being there. Soaking in the sights, feeding the un-satiable hunger of the soul to experience the world. Skiing is simply a means to travel through these snow covered peaks, and your skis the life line between you and a cold brew at the end of the day.

The rich ski culture engrained in the people living in and around the Alps makes sense. Far beyond recreation, skiing is life. Transportation between one valley to the next, often from one country to another. Feeling fortunate to have had the opportunity to experience these legendary mountains, the infrastructure that exists between them, and the culture which resides beneath these towering peaks.

Below is a slideshow documenting this short visit to the Alps. I couldn’t be more grateful to have had the opportunity to leave tracks in Tignes, Val D’Isere and Chamonix, France; La Thuile, Italy; and Verbier, Switzerland. THANK YOU to everyone who helped make this trip happen, and the crew at Wagner Custom for busting out the ultimate ski mountaineering skis shortly before my departure.

Click on the image below to view a slideshow from this adventure:

Click image to view slideshow

Tags: Alp, Backcountry, chason russell, Culture, mountaineering, photos, skiing, Skis, touring, Travel, wagner custom skis