Chamonix

Every winter I try to get in as much ski-ing and snowboarding as possible, this winter the snow has been falling hard over the Alps.
I only usually go for three days at a time flying into Geneva, hiring a car then driving to the best snow conditions or meet up with some mates already there.
Group of mates were in Chamonix for a week early January so flew out with two other mates and met up with them.
There good boarders and all enjoy plenty of off-piste, there out first thing and only stop for a little light lunch so suits me perfect.
Conditions were ok; there was plenty of snow but no powder for a few days before I arrived. Only problem was the temperature, -12 every morning and not rising above -6 every day. Don’t really feel the cold whilst boarding but conditions are very hard especially off-piste with a very hard crust on top of the snow.
Mid afternoon on day two I was caught out by some ice, pointing down-hill on a very steep black run I turned to scrub off a little speed losing the edge-grip on my board then all of a sudden caught back edge. Didn’t crash very heavy but sprained my ankle quite badly.
Didn’t go out boarding on the last day, was struggling to walk really so while all the others were out I found the hospital for an x-ray. Luckily just a sprain but they found an old fracture just above my left ankle that I never knew I’d had??
Could get around ok with my snowboard boot on, it supported my ankle much better so jumped in the cable-car to top of Mont-Blanc for some photo’s and a little lunch, like Billy No-Mates!
Had a good chat whilst up there with some local guys about downhill mountain-biking, lots of the lifts are open during the summer with some amazing downhill sections, will definitely be making the trip mid-season for some serious riding, probably take my leathers though!