The Aiguille du Midi stands out against the foehn clouds covering Mont Blanc. March 2001.

Moonrise behind the Aiguille du Midi seen from Les Houches. March 2001.

Sunset over the Aiguille du Midi, Chamonix. March 2001.

On top of the Aiguille du Midi (3800 m), before skiing the Vallée Blanche, skiers - roped together for safety - have to negotiate a narrow ridge with a 1000 m sheer drop on their left. The men at bottom right are carving an extra path to accommodate more people during the forthcoming school holidays. Jan. 2000.

On top of the Aiguille du Midi, skiers are getting ready to go down the Vallée Blanche, to the right. March 2000.

At the start of the Vallée Blanche, above Chamonix. The group of skiers seen in this picture came from the Italian side of Mont Blanc. Jan. 2000.

In the middle of the Mer de Glace and its numerous crevaces. This wall of ice is about 2 m high. Jan. 2000.

An unusual cloud phenomenon over the Glacier du Géant, in the Vallée Blanche. Even our guide had seldom seen anything like this. Jan. 2000.

A real touristy picture! Starting in Chamonix, the Montenvers rack & pinion railway allows anyone to reach the bottom of the Mer de Glace in comfort. This was taken in September, so there's flowers and not much snow! 2000.

A double layer of clouds over the Chamonix Valley seen from Le Tour skiing area, close to the Swiss border. March 2001.

Late on a very, very cold January morning, the sun finally reaches the top of a pylon on the Grands Montets skiing area above Argentière, near Chamonix. Ten minutes later we were finally thawing in the warm sunshine. 2000.

The twin peaks of Les Drus seen from the top of Grands Montets. To the right, in the distance, is Mont Blanc. March 2000.

Detail of some lovely ice formations on a rock, taken a few meters from the previous picture. March 2000.

More ice formations, this time on a bush about 1800 m up on Grands Montets. March 2001.

Light clouds over the Chamonix valley seen from the top of Grands Montets, mid-afternoon. Jan. 2000.

Taken from the same spot as the previous picture, by late afternoon the clouds had thickened and it was time to ski back down. Jan. 2000.

One of my favourites! Near the top of Grands Montets, at 3200 m, this is the Glacier de la Pendant in a bit of a blizzard. March 2000.

At the end of the day, when the skiers have gone, the piste bashers take over to "repair" the snow on Grands Montets - they will be there well into the night. March 2001.

Sunset and moonrise over the Chamonix valley, seen from Les Houches. Jan. 2000.

A quiet day on the pistes of Les Houches, at the Western end of the Chamonix valley - and a lonely little cloudlet. March 2000.

These kids were happy to pose for me during a break in their skiing lesson. Les Houches, March 2000.

A grey day in Chamonix down below, but this walker is making the most of the light on the pistes of the Brévent skiing area. March 2001.

Sunset on the Aiguille de Blaitière, seen from Chamonix town centre. March 2001.

The church of Les Houches at dusk. March 2000.

Detail of the glacier of Saas Fee, a popular ski resort in Switzerland. April 1991.

Detail of the glacier of Saas Fee, a popular ski resort in Switzerland. It was the first time I saw a glacier with my own eyes and I was fascinated! April 1991.

Fresh cream, anyone? Saas Fee, again. April 1991.

The semi-frozen Lac du Biolley, above Courchevel. March 1998.

Mountain huts in Courchevel. March 1999.

Hot air balloon over Courchevel. March 1999.

Après-ski time for horse and humans on a misty evening in Courchevel. March 1997.

One of Courchevel's two ski jumps at dusk. March 1997.

Courchevel's Forum (skating rink, bowling alley, etc.). March 1997.

After lunch in Kitzbühel, Austria (my first skiing trip). March 1990.

Sunset on the Mont Blanc du Tacul and the Mont Maudit (just to the left of Mont Blanc, which is barely visible from the valley floor). The colours are for real! March 2000.

Whoopee!... Superdévoluy (one of the ugliest resorts in the Alps), March 2002.

Upside down, too... Superdévoluy, March 2002.

Chamonix, March 2000.

Chamonix, March 2000.

Snowboard race at the Chamjam competition, Grands Montets, Argentière. March 2001.

Snowboard race on Grands Montets, Argentière. March 2001.

An emergency helicopter hovers on the side of the piste as an injured skier is about to be flown to hospital. Argentière, March 2001.

... taking off...

... and off it goes.

Sunset over the Aiguille du Chardonnet, above Argentière. March 2001.

Diffuse light on the slopes of the traditional resort of Les Gets. March 1995.

The picture-postcard village of La-Salle-des-Alpes in the skiing area of Serre-Chevalier. March 2003.

A friendly dog in the old village of Le Bez, in the Serre-Chevalier skiing area. March 2003.

A sunny afternoon on the slopes of Cypress Bowl, in Vancouver. When one is used to skiing in the Alps, it is a very strange feeling to gaze upon the sea while gliding on the pistes! January 1993.

Another sunset over one of the peaks of the Mont Blanc range, seen from Les Houches. March 2000.