{"id":1955896,"date":"2026-05-26T12:46:54","date_gmt":"2026-05-26T09:46:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1955896"},"modified":"2026-05-26T12:46:54","modified_gmt":"2026-05-26T09:46:54","slug":"trip-report-pow-and-peril-on-italys-skyway-monte-bianco","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1955896","title":{"rendered":"Trip Report: Pow and Peril on Italy\u2019s Skyway Monte Bianco"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"entry-content\">\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><em>This article is from Guest Author <a href=\"https:\/\/substack.com\/home\/post\/p-197752493\">Cory McMullen<\/a>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><em>Trip Report from February 2026<\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>When I got to the Alps, the snow was old and hard.<\/strong> Rocks poked through patchworks of white, rounded and reduced by the sun. The snow had a gleam and texture to it that was not inviting to someone who spent years staring at snow, trying to discern its character. This was not how an epic ski trip to Europe was supposed to start. This was not the dream I quit my comfortable, well paying job for. I spent my first days in Chamonix skiing groomers at ski resorts like most European tourists. If I was on a ski trip, I was going to ski.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Related: <\/strong><em><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/snowbrains.com\/rabbit-on-the-roof-skis-chamonix\/\" rel=\"bookmark\" data-modified-href=\"https:\/\/snowbrains.com\/rabbit-on-the-roof-skis-chamonix\">Rabbit on the Roof Handmade Skis: A Visit with Chamonix\u2019s Maestro of Wood<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>I\u2019m not sure what I did right in a past life, but the ski gods favored me, as they seemed to most of this season. I<\/strong>t began to snow, but this was not a small refresh to fill in the low tide. Clouds blew in and poured snow on the picturesque peaks until the western Alps were blanked white with light powder.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_407108\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-407108\" style=\"width: 1920px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" class=\"size-full wp-image-407108 lazyload\" src=\"image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAoAAAAHgAQMAAAAPH06nAAAABlBMVEUAAAD\/\/\/+l2Z\/dAAAAAXRSTlMAQObYZgAAAAlwSFlzAAAOxAAADsQBlSsOGwAAAD1JREFUeNrtwQENAAAAwqD3T20ON6AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA4M8Al+AAAUvMG0oAAAAASUVORK5CYII=\" alt=\"skyway italy \" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" data-src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/IMG_3791.jpeg?resize=640%2C480&amp;ssl=1\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/IMG_3791.jpeg?w=1920&amp;ssl=1 1920w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/IMG_3791.jpeg?resize=300%2C225&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/IMG_3791.jpeg?resize=1200%2C900&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/IMG_3791.jpeg?resize=768%2C576&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/IMG_3791.jpeg?resize=1536%2C1152&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/IMG_3791.jpeg?w=1280&amp;ssl=1 1280w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-eio-rwidth=\"640\" data-eio-rheight=\"480\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" class=\"size-full wp-image-407108\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/IMG_3791.jpeg?resize=640%2C480&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"skyway italy \" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" data-eio=\"l\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-407108\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Skyway Monte Bianco mid-station &amp; Courmayeur on a moody morning . | Photo: Cory McMullen<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div class=\"code-block code-block-1\" style=\"margin: 8px auto;text-align: center;display: block;clear: both\">\n<!-- GAM 71161633\/SNWBR_snowbrains\/article_hrec_1 --><\/p>\n<div data-fuse=\"article_hrec_1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><strong>I was with my friend Martin and the hardcore group of skiers he befriended the previous year.<\/strong> The group had been tracking this storm since its inception, a wave of color washing across a map on their screens. That was when the debate started. Where would the storm hit? Would the snow be good? When was the right time? Would we score? It was the only topic of discussion for these snow deprived fanatics. The sole focus and overriding anxiety of their lives until the morning we left Chamonix and drove through the Tunnel du Mont-Blanc. We exited the tunnel on the Italian side and were greeted with manna from Heaven. It fluttered down from the sky in the form of white flakes. When my small rental car finished struggling through the parking lot and came to a stop outside the Skyway Monte Bianco, the debate was over. We came to the right spot. We were here at the right time. We were going to score.<\/p>\n<p><strong>The Skyway is a multi-station tram built of glass and steel, making it look like the world\u2019s most modern airport.<\/strong> But there are no planes, only large glass cabins which rotate as they deliver sightseers up the mountain. The cabins slowly spin to ensure everyone onboard has a good view, but this was unnecessary as every scene through the glass was world class. If one looked towards the mountain they were gifted vistas of jagged spires, rocky spines, and glaciers cut with deep crevasses. Looking away from Mont Blanc, down the valley, one saw large, steep mountains cradling a small town called Courmayeur.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Related: <\/strong><em><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/snowbrains.com\/fear-and-loathing-on-the-freeride-world-tour-the-val-thorens-pro\/\" rel=\"bookmark\" data-modified-href=\"https:\/\/snowbrains.com\/fear-and-loathing-on-the-freeride-world-tour-the-val-thorens-pro\">Fear and Loathing On The Freeride World Tour: The Val Thorens Pro<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<figure id=\"attachment_407110\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-407110\" style=\"width: 1920px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" class=\"size-full wp-image-407110 lazyload\" src=\"image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAoAAAAHgAQMAAAAPH06nAAAABlBMVEUAAAD\/\/\/+l2Z\/dAAAAAXRSTlMAQObYZgAAAAlwSFlzAAAOxAAADsQBlSsOGwAAAD1JREFUeNrtwQENAAAAwqD3T20ON6AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA4M8Al+AAAUvMG0oAAAAASUVORK5CYII=\" alt=\"skyway italy \" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" data-src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/IMG_3805.jpeg?resize=640%2C480&amp;ssl=1\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/IMG_3805.jpeg?w=1920&amp;ssl=1 1920w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/IMG_3805.jpeg?resize=300%2C225&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/IMG_3805.jpeg?resize=1200%2C900&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/IMG_3805.jpeg?resize=768%2C576&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/IMG_3805.jpeg?resize=1536%2C1152&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/IMG_3805.jpeg?w=1280&amp;ssl=1 1280w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-eio-rwidth=\"640\" data-eio-rheight=\"480\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" class=\"size-full wp-image-407110\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/IMG_3805.jpeg?resize=640%2C480&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"skyway italy \" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" data-eio=\"l\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-407110\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Monte Bianco Massif with a fresh coat of white. | Photo: Cory McMullen<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong>The mountains were special and the reason people visited the town.<\/strong> Skiers, mountaineers, and those who enjoy sierra vistas flock here, but there are no buildings boasting modern architecture to house tourists. The Centro (pronounced \u201cChentro, in Italian) is not packed with trendy cafes selling overpriced coffee. No, when a new building goes up, it is built to fit in, not stand out. Cafes are affordable, not expensive, allowing locals to congregate every morning, read newspapers, and fuel their caffeine addiction with community. Courmayeur is not like its neighbor on the other side of Mont Blanc, Chamonix: modern, glamorous, and mostly English-speaking and not French. No, Courmayeur seems to have not changed in a hundred years or hundreds of years. The difference is the Italians \u2014 they know how to live and won\u2019t change for the strangers who visit.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Mostly skiers entered the Skyway\u2019s cabin that morning to venture up the mountain.<\/strong> This is not normally the case, as the Italians did not build this 100 million euro work of art for the ski bums. No, they built it to attract tourists with deep pockets. They built it to put Courmayeur on the map of Europe\u2019s premier vacation destinations, but today was overcast. A thick fog enveloped the Monte Bianco massif, hiding its premier peaks from view. This lack of visibility kept our group from journeying to the top of the Skyway. We skied off the mid station, aka the Pavilion. I had no complaints; we skied a small forest on a slanted slope that delivered untouched, perfect run after perfect run.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_407105\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-407105\" style=\"width: 1440px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" class=\"size-full wp-image-407105 lazyload\" src=\"image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAoAAAANVAQMAAADSh91IAAAABlBMVEUAAAD\/\/\/+l2Z\/dAAAAAXRSTlMAQObYZgAAAAlwSFlzAAAOxAAADsQBlSsOGwAAAFlJREFUeNrtwQENAAAAwqD3T20PBxQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABwZQ30AAG1ytrpAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC\" alt=\"courmayeur italy skyway \" width=\"640\" height=\"853\" data-src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/IMG_3493-1.jpeg?resize=640%2C853&amp;ssl=1\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/IMG_3493-1.jpeg?w=1440&amp;ssl=1 1440w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/IMG_3493-1.jpeg?resize=225%2C300&amp;ssl=1 225w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/IMG_3493-1.jpeg?resize=900%2C1200&amp;ssl=1 900w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/IMG_3493-1.jpeg?resize=768%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/IMG_3493-1.jpeg?resize=1152%2C1536&amp;ssl=1 1152w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/IMG_3493-1.jpeg?w=1280&amp;ssl=1 1280w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-eio-rwidth=\"640\" data-eio-rheight=\"853\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" class=\"size-full wp-image-407105\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/IMG_3493-1.jpeg?resize=640%2C853&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"courmayeur italy skyway \" width=\"640\" height=\"853\" data-eio=\"l\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-407105\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The slanted slope and forest that kept delivering. | Photo: Cory McMullen<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div class=\"code-block code-block-2\" style=\"margin: 8px auto;text-align: center;display: block;clear: both\">\n<!-- GAM 71161633\/SNWBR_snowbrains\/article_hrec_2 --><\/p>\n<div data-fuse=\"article_hrec_2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><strong>As we descended, the trees opened up to fields that ended at a road.<\/strong> We continued to ski down the snow-covered road. As the road steepened, we approached a small town. Quaint buildings zoomed by as we zipped along narrow streets, through tunnels, and around people shoveling their walkways. Martin called this the \u201cstreet couloir.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>The snow was so light, one barely felt it as they moved through it like cold smoke.<\/strong> When skiing straight, snow built up in front of a skier until enough accumulated to fly over head, enveloping the skier in \u201cthe white room.\u201d Turns would kick up snow delivering face shots of powder until everyone looked like Santa Claus. We skied until our legs were full of lactic acid and so fatigued we had to call it a day.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Clouds remained overhead, keeping the snow cold and fresh.<\/strong> Overnight a subtle wind blew, clearing the night sky. This was no surprise to our group who spammed weather apps on their phones every hour. The following morning, we exited the Tunnel du Mont-Blanc and were greeted by a blue, Italian sky. The top station of the Skyway, Pointe Helbronner, the best part, was now visible. It was now skiable.<\/p>\n<p><strong>As we rode from the mid station to the top, I was reminded how extreme the top is \u2014 how wild it is; how dangerous it is.<\/strong> An avalanche tore down the mountain, over the cliffs, and below the tram. Along the line we planned to ski. I assumed this meant the plan would change, but the Italians I was skiing with seemed unperturbed. Their discussion was in Italian and the quick translation I received didn\u2019t go into the details. I didn\u2019t follow up.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_407107\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-407107\" style=\"width: 1440px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" class=\"size-full wp-image-407107 lazyload\" src=\"image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAoAAAANVAQMAAADSh91IAAAABlBMVEUAAAD\/\/\/+l2Z\/dAAAAAXRSTlMAQObYZgAAAAlwSFlzAAAOxAAADsQBlSsOGwAAAFlJREFUeNrtwQENAAAAwqD3T20PBxQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABwZQ30AAG1ytrpAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC\" alt=\"skyway Italy \" width=\"640\" height=\"853\" data-src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/IMG_3774.jpeg?resize=640%2C853&amp;ssl=1\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/IMG_3774.jpeg?w=1440&amp;ssl=1 1440w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/IMG_3774.jpeg?resize=225%2C300&amp;ssl=1 225w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/IMG_3774.jpeg?resize=900%2C1200&amp;ssl=1 900w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/IMG_3774.jpeg?resize=768%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/IMG_3774.jpeg?resize=1152%2C1536&amp;ssl=1 1152w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/IMG_3774.jpeg?w=1280&amp;ssl=1 1280w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-eio-rwidth=\"640\" data-eio-rheight=\"853\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" class=\"size-full wp-image-407107\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/IMG_3774.jpeg?resize=640%2C853&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"skyway Italy \" width=\"640\" height=\"853\" data-eio=\"l\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-407107\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Cables ski descent from the tram just before avalanche. | Photo: Cory McMullen<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong>When the cabin got to the top, we exited.<\/strong> We walked past glass walls revealing views of mountain peaks bathed in warm, morning sunlight. An unblemished coat of white snow layered on them. We took an elevator down to a long tunnel. The roof of the tunnel was carved granite with metal netting. At the end of the tunnel, a gate warns all who walk through it in Italian, French, and English the hazards and potential death that await them in the mountains if they enter. We pushed past the gate and onto a large steel deck encircled by a guard rail.<\/p>\n<div class=\"captioned-image-container\">\n<figure>\n<div class=\"image2-inset\"><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<div class=\"code-block code-block-3\" style=\"margin: 8px auto;text-align: center;display: block;clear: both\">\n<!-- GAM 71161633\/SNWBR_snowbrains\/article_hrec_4 --><\/p>\n<div data-fuse=\"article_hrec_4\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p><strong>We were at the top, frigid wind ripped against our jackets.<\/strong> I watched as skier after skier methodically stepped over the guard rail, put on their skis, and slowly traversed the steep slope. One by one they approached a ridge, crested it, and dropped out of sight. I held my skis in my hand, watching them. My fingers gripping the skis started to ache a familiar pain from the cold. My body was telling me to move and warm up or go inside, out of the cold. My mind was frozen. I wanted to go. I wanted to overcome the fear. Last year I was in this same place contemplating the same thing. Last year I let the fear win. I skied, but an easier route. I skied it fearfully. This trip was about overcoming last year\u2019s shortcomings, proving myself to myself, but I wasn\u2019t sure if it was just fear this time.<\/p>\n<p><strong>I watched the last skier of the group crest the ridge, stop, look back at me behind the guardrail, holding my skis, not moving.<\/strong> He turned, looked toward the unknown, and dropped out of sight. I stood there staring at the ridge, fingers reminding me of the cold. I picked up my skis and walked back up the tunnel. As I walked, I couldn\u2019t decide if I let fear win or if I was being smart. I knew what I wanted the answer to be.<\/p>\n<p><strong>I rode the tram back to the mid station consumed by thought.<\/strong> In the cabin was a snowboarder. She also decided not to ride down the mountain with her group. We found company in our shared decision. To salvage the day I told her we could ski from the mid station. She seemed apprehensive, but I told her how we skied it safely the day before. She agreed and the soft snow in the slanted forest helped me reconcile my decision.<\/p>\n<p><strong>My new friend and I enjoyed a cappuccino and brioche while we waited at the base station.<\/strong> The Skyway has an incredible cafe. Because we were in Italy, the macchiato was perfect, the brioche was delicious, and it was all quite cheap. Have I told you I love Italy?<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_407111\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-407111\" style=\"width: 1440px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" class=\"size-full wp-image-407111 lazyload\" src=\"image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAoAAAANVAQMAAADSh91IAAAABlBMVEUAAAD\/\/\/+l2Z\/dAAAAAXRSTlMAQObYZgAAAAlwSFlzAAAOxAAADsQBlSsOGwAAAFlJREFUeNrtwQENAAAAwqD3T20PBxQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABwZQ30AAG1ytrpAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC\" alt=\"skyway Italy \" width=\"640\" height=\"853\" data-src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/IMG_3808-e1779799103562.jpeg?resize=640%2C853&amp;ssl=1\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/IMG_3808-e1779799103562.jpeg?w=1440&amp;ssl=1 1440w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/IMG_3808-e1779799103562.jpeg?resize=225%2C300&amp;ssl=1 225w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/IMG_3808-e1779799103562.jpeg?resize=900%2C1200&amp;ssl=1 900w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/IMG_3808-e1779799103562.jpeg?resize=768%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/IMG_3808-e1779799103562.jpeg?resize=1152%2C1536&amp;ssl=1 1152w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/IMG_3808-e1779799103562.jpeg?w=1280&amp;ssl=1 1280w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-eio-rwidth=\"640\" data-eio-rheight=\"853\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" class=\"size-full wp-image-407111\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/IMG_3808-e1779799103562.jpeg?resize=640%2C853&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"skyway Italy \" width=\"640\" height=\"853\" data-eio=\"l\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-407111\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Snacking strong at the Skyway. | Photo: Cory McMullen<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong>While we waited, a group of older skiers from the UK joined us.<\/strong> I learned one was a professional ski photographer living in Chamonix and these were his friends, lifelong skiers visiting him to ski the Skyway. I enjoyed talking and getting to know them. When they got up to ski after their cappuccinos, I asked if I could join. The photographer looked at me. He glanced at my mountaineering harness, ice screw, and the crevasse rescue equipment clipped to it. He looked at my backpack, equipped with an avalanche airbag and beacon strapped across my chest, then nodded.<\/p>\n<p><strong>We ascended the tram once again.<\/strong> The group spoke of their ski plans. This time in English, this time including me. The ski line was not the cliff strewn, exposed line under the tram with avalanche paths down it. The plan was to ski the steep bowl that led to a tight couloir called \u201cChesso.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>We exited the tram cabin, past the glorious mountain views.<\/strong> We took the elevator down, walked the granite ceilinged tunnel, and through the gate warning of death. Frigid wind still ripped across the deck. We stood and looked down into the bowl. We saw ski lines from previous descents, but no signs of avalanche. Again the group one by one stepped over the guardrail and put their skis on. The fear rose up again, skis in my hand. I saw the first skier then the second slowly pick their way down the bowl, getting closer and closer to the couloir before disappearing from sight.<\/p>\n<p><strong>When the fourth skier started his descent, space opened up and I stepped over the guard rail.<\/strong> I placed my skis on the snow. Scenes of the skis escaping my grasp and careening down the bowl flashed across my mind. I took a deep breath, knocked snow off my boots, and clicked into my bindings. When I looked up, I saw the path was clear and slid around the corner. Once there, I looked down the bowl, it was steep, but not the steepest I have skied. There was a lot of rock below. Some in the form of \u201cSharks,\u201d jagged boulders lurking below the surface, waiting to pull a ski off your foot. I wasn\u2019t overly concerned about this rock, I had skied around a lot of sharks. I had learned the warning signs and what to avoid. The rock I was worried about were the tall walls of granite flanking the couloir. If I stumbled, lost control, and fell down the slope, I wouldn\u2019t stop until these walls greeted me<\/p>\n<p><strong>I prepared to make my first turn.<\/strong> I stared down the slope, reached out to plant my pole, and jumped, flipping my skis from left to right. It felt natural, it felt familiar. I had only done this a thousand times. My nerves relaxed as I made turns 2 and 3. I was skiing again \u2014 this was just skiing. Soon I was looking between two 70-foot walls of granite. I was at the mouth of the couloir.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Across the world of skiing, couloirs are held in high regard.<\/strong> They are the object of many long ski touring missions and ski fantasies. The walls protect the snow inside from sunlight, keeping it cold and fresh. The limited space between the walls challenge the skier, providing less room for error. I\u2019ve skied my fair share of couloirs and the one I was looking down was beautiful. The right wall was exposed to sun, revealing a raw, rugged cliff face while the left remained coated in white snow. I kept my eyes looking down the fall line, through the tunnel open to the blue sky. As I descended, the walls grew closer around me. Light, dry snow kicked up with every turn and slid down the slope with me. This was why I came to the Alps. This was what I had worked for all those years, improving at skiing. This was what so many skiers risked injury and death to experience.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<figure id=\"attachment_407109\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-407109\" style=\"width: 1536px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" class=\"size-full wp-image-407109 lazyload\" src=\"image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAoAAAAMgAQMAAACJaEE6AAAABlBMVEUAAAD\/\/\/+l2Z\/dAAAAAXRSTlMAQObYZgAAAAlwSFlzAAAOxAAADsQBlSsOGwAAAFZJREFUeNrtwYEAAAAAw6D5U1\/hAFUBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACvAf0gAAHNCW\/DAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC\" alt=\"skyway tunnel \" width=\"640\" height=\"800\" data-src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/IMG_3799.jpeg?resize=640%2C800&amp;ssl=1\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/IMG_3799.jpeg?w=1536&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/IMG_3799.jpeg?resize=240%2C300&amp;ssl=1 240w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/IMG_3799.jpeg?resize=960%2C1200&amp;ssl=1 960w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/IMG_3799.jpeg?resize=768%2C960&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/IMG_3799.jpeg?resize=1229%2C1536&amp;ssl=1 1229w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/IMG_3799.jpeg?w=1280&amp;ssl=1 1280w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-eio-rwidth=\"640\" data-eio-rheight=\"800\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" class=\"size-full wp-image-407109\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/IMG_3799.jpeg?resize=640%2C800&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"skyway tunnel \" width=\"640\" height=\"800\" data-eio=\"l\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-407109\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Tunnel to the exposed steel deck at Skyway. | Photo: Cory McMullen<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong>I exited the mouth of the couloir panting, heart thumping in my ears, but a smile on my face.<\/strong> I saw my new friends standing in a group and skied to them. We all took our turn extolling the snow, the couloir, the beauty. When we ran out of words, we looked down the slope. The danger, the risk, the threat was behind us. In front was a swath of untouched powder, huge rolling fields flanked by spires and peaks. We ripped out as a group, slashing turns, throwing snow with our skis. We looked at the unblemished white canvas in front of us or how the others painted lines with their wooden brushes. The whole time, craggy landscapes slid past as if one was driving through an art gallery.<\/p>\n<p><strong>As we descended, the pavilion approached and the group stopped to discuss the best route to return to the midstation.<\/strong> I told them of the slanted forest, the opportunity for more soft turns. They were an easy sell. As we approached the zone, we were further skiers right than before, more in the sun. It was later in the day and the snow at this elevation was no longer dry. It had become wet in the bright sun. I skied the side of the ridge we were traversing. I alternated top turns, down the slope, with bottom turns, back up the slope, when I felt the snow under me go. I yelled \u201cAvalanche!\u201d and heard someone blow a whistle. The snow under me slid away in a sheet, gathering snow as it ripped down the face. I was pulling up, out of a bottom turn when the snow under me broke. Luckily I was able to continue my upward trajectory, back to the top of the ridge. Everyone in the group was on the ridge or outside the avalanche\u2019s slide path. Mother Nature was reminding us not all the risk was left behind at the couloir.<\/p>\n<p><strong>We reconvened as a group, discussed the threat, and decided to ski down the slide path.<\/strong> Now that all the loose snow was at the bottom, the risk was mitigated. We crossed the valley floor and entered the shaded forest I had skied so many times. The forest delivered again and a narrow hiking trail, occasionally tight with trees and low hanging branches, took us back to the base of the Skyway.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Martin\u2019s hardcore group of skiers, the Italians I started the day with, were at the Skyway\u2019s cafe, smiling, laughing, and recounting their day of skiing.<\/strong> They were happy to see me approach with snow covered skis. I told them about my day and their smiles grew wider. When I asked how their ski descent under the tram went, their faces grew serious, \u201cSketchy.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>Not only had their descent been perilous, but a friend of theirs, a long time ski guide, got <a href=\"https:\/\/snowbrains.com\/chamonix-guide-legend-ross-hewitt-shares-narrow-escape-from-avalanche-on-monte-bianco-skyway-italy-that-left-him-with-shattered-pelvis\/\">caught in an avalanche.<\/a> <\/strong>He was leading a group of clients in the same area, making turns in front of them, when the snow broke. The slide knocked him off his skis, down the slope, and over some large cliffs. He broke his hip and some vertebrae upon impact. The area was too dangerous for the rescue helicopter to land. He was hoisted out by his harness via a cable. He was flown to the hospital. He was stable, but the road to recovery was long, especially for a man in his 50s. He had skied this area in similar conditions for decades. He told his friends, \u201cThe risk finally caught up with me,\u201d when asked what happened.<\/p>\n<p><strong>I sat there processing this new information.<\/strong> I remembered standing behind the guardrail, holding my skis against the frigid gusts, watching everyone at that table ski over that ridge. I remembered walking up the tunnel, dry skis in hand, ruminating my decision.<\/p>\n<p><strong>I looked around the table, faces were smiling again, espressos in hand, bodies intact.<\/strong> We would all ski again this season. Maybe because we were smart. Maybe because we were lucky, but the thought of getting caught in an avalanche, falling down a cliff, or worse, was not far from any of our minds.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_407106\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-407106\" style=\"width: 1440px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" class=\"size-full wp-image-407106 lazyload\" src=\"image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAoAAAANVAQMAAADSh91IAAAABlBMVEUAAAD\/\/\/+l2Z\/dAAAAAXRSTlMAQObYZgAAAAlwSFlzAAAOxAAADsQBlSsOGwAAAFlJREFUeNrtwQENAAAAwqD3T20PBxQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABwZQ30AAG1ytrpAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC\" alt=\"skyway italy courmayeur \" width=\"640\" height=\"853\" data-src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/IMG_3682-e1779799449410.jpeg?resize=640%2C853&amp;ssl=1\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/IMG_3682-e1779799449410.jpeg?w=1440&amp;ssl=1 1440w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/IMG_3682-e1779799449410.jpeg?resize=225%2C300&amp;ssl=1 225w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/IMG_3682-e1779799449410.jpeg?resize=900%2C1200&amp;ssl=1 900w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/IMG_3682-e1779799449410.jpeg?resize=768%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/IMG_3682-e1779799449410.jpeg?resize=1152%2C1536&amp;ssl=1 1152w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/IMG_3682-e1779799449410.jpeg?w=1280&amp;ssl=1 1280w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-eio-rwidth=\"640\" data-eio-rheight=\"853\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" class=\"size-full wp-image-407106\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/IMG_3682-e1779799449410.jpeg?resize=640%2C853&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"skyway italy courmayeur \" width=\"640\" height=\"853\" data-eio=\"l\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-407106\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Author on the scene. | Photo: Cory McMullen<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><!-- CONTENT END 1 -->\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>This article is from Guest Author Cory McMullen\u00a0 Trip Report from February 2026 When I got to the Alps, the snow was old and hard. Rocks poked through patchworks of white, rounded and reduced by the sun. The snow had a gleam and texture to it that was not inviting to someone who spent years [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[226,267],"class_list":["post-1955896","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-crawlmanager","tag-snowbrains-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1955896","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1955896"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1955896\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1955896"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1955896"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1955896"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}