So we should be running around town acquiring the rest of our equipment for the start of the torture tomorrow, but Caroline is de-heading her plants, Clare and Rich are en route and I am writing this..! Not to worry, we have just found out that there has been a cancellation in Prafleuri hut so the first day isn’t going to be a suicidal dash for the Dix hut…

So below is the route we are taking (well almost) 56km distance and over 8km of vertical ascent and decent. EASY. The wonders of technology doesn’t reach to the Haute Route so I will attempt to text Guy updates of our progress..!

Wish us luck.

Yup, the grinning Swede is back in his homeland doing skiing exams which will sadly probably not involve knowing every wine list between here and Aosta inside out. But if they’ve added it to the written exam he’s laughing…

Anyway, to let us know what we’re missing he’s sent a picture of the crazy Apres ski up in Orsa. Looks wild. (OK he says it’s just the soundcheck but I’ve seen Roxette before and I don’t believe it doesn’t get any livelier than this).

And apparently it’s finally stopped raining and he’s enjoying the fierce Swedish sunshine with a beer. Good luck mate, I don’t know what’s tougher – the exams, the rain, the meagre 140m of vertical or sitting through Apres Ski Orsa style…

In contrast to the rather traumatic last post (Russian Avalanche blasting) here’s something rather more therapeutic to calm you down – the view from outside the Smallest Apartment in Western Europe™ this morning…

Thanks to Bobby in Le Grave for bringing this terrifying / amazing bit of youtube to our attention. Unbelievable how quick it goes when it gets airborne…

For the avid blog followers, I thought I would remind you all that Performance provides top quality ski instructing as well as up-to-the-minure weather information. For the last week or so I have found myself skiing on Les Esserts (the beginners slope).

Below are Samuel, Olivia and Eleanor on their second day of skiing. I have to admit, they are doing very well. And thanks to Sanna for lobbing snowballs at during our hard work..! …T

So. I really didn’t have my eye on the ball when Caroline said that she wanted to do the Haute Route ski tour from Verbier to Zermatt.

I have done some ski touring in the past. I have also driven to Zermatt a couple of times and know how far away it is. So really what is the motivation of ‘a walk’ to Zermatt. Some say that is is the challenge, some say it is being off the beaten track, in the elements, away from everyone.

Well, the reality is that it’s just bloody hard work. It’s not walking it is walking uphill with skis, boots, rucksack, stuff in the rucksack etc etc. And just relentless walking..!

But I am committed now. I am doing it, on the 12th April. I am a geek, I am going to find a way of keeping you all updated on the progress. LIVE, somehow.

So today was the 1st day of training. (kind off). Who best to train me other than the faithful canine. Well, expectedly she is fitter, faster and far more apt than me and considering she is 49 in doggie years I am a little embarrassed.

Anyway, Medran – Ruinette in 1h 45m and still alive. Photo’s below of decent. Still not tired. Goddamit..!