Our goal: steeps and powder. We found it. (Surprise.) Without the guide and the assorted hangers on, we were able to move at our own speed. It's been several days since it's snowed and there's been sun and heat since then, but we tracked the the north facing slopes and hit jackpot after jackpot. (Without a guide.) Our playground today was Brevant/Flegere. This one is just up the street from our hotel. It has the steepest terrain we've found yet. These two connected ski areas are comprised of about 5 above timberline bowls with couliors dropping from every direction. Oh, and there was some pretty good scenery too. The large bowl (pictured) is a part of Grand Montets and is across the valley from where we were skiing.

Also, we fulfilled another goal of ours: for the third day out of six, we were chased off the mountain by the ski patrol. This time the patroler came through the restaurant at the top of the mountain where we were having a beer at the end of the day and suggested we finish up and get going. Tomorrow, the finale: Courmayeur, Italy.

http://www.compagniedumontblanc.fr/plan_breventflegere.php