What a Privilege

During my day off yesterday I was pondering. For years I've been frustrated by my inability to capture the beauty and sense of scale of the high mountains with a camera. I suspect that many people on a skiing holiday have felt this same emotion. How many times have we taken a photo in this incredible location, but sometimes felt flat after reviewing the image.

With the shortest day of the year beckoning for accessible and available sunset colours, and a busy working period soon to take hold, I had to try once more to capture a decent shot. So I loaded up my pack with Canon, tripod and other gear and sprinted towards the last lift up at 16.20 hrs. By now most skiers and snowboarders are on their way back to resort for a well earned apres-ski drink, or bath.

The weather was stunning at the top of Saulire between Méribel and Courchevel. With clear skies and a sea of cloud below in the valleys, the view across to the mighty peak of Mont Blanc was electric. What a privilege in life to experience such beauty. However, there was a slight problem.

At the end of every day, the pisteurs have to sweep everybody off the mountain, from top to bottom. It's their way of knowing that the mountain is safe and clear before night-time. A pisteur skied down towards me whilst I was exposing away. He stopped next to me and Canon on tripod, nodded and said hello whilst looking at the view. I replied and asked for just a few more minutes. He then radioed to several of his colleagues, talking about an instructor still on the mountain, with a camera, and the tranquility. What is it about these pisteurs, they are just so laid-back and relaxed?

I felt under pressure though, because I didn't want to miss the moment with Canon of the alpenglow over Mont Blanc, but in doing this I was delaying the end of a working day for this dude. So I packed up Canon, strapped tripod back onto my pack, and clicked back into my skis. Just as I started to ski off, Monsieur Le Pisteur stopped me and said with another nod and smile "Quel un privilege" ("what a privilege/honour"). He then skied off in the direction of the deep Courchevel valley down under the layer of cloud. How cool was that?

I still haven't captured 'the shot', but what an experience yet again. Hmm, is it time I stopped banging on about photography and the mountains and got back to my day job of ski instructing?Martin