Copyright by Nick O'Connell

Where the journey starts: "downtown" Argentiere with Mont Blanc in the background.

Brad Taylor leaving the Mont Fort Hut with the Alps in the background.

Desperately seeking untracked snow: Rob Hampton rappelling off the ridge on Rosablanche and onto the Mourti Glacier.

Fern Hietkamp exults after cutting perfect turns through fresh powder on the Mourti Glacier.

Pierre Antoine, the hut guardian, serving rösti to our guide, Dominique.

Fern Hietkamp climbing the steel ladders above the Dix Hut.

The Vignettes Hut, like a swallows nest spackled to the side of a wall.

Bruce Hardardt, Dominique Fellay, Rob Hampton, and Brad Taylor discuss plans for leaving the Vignettes Hut for Zermatt.

Brad Taylor carving perfect tele turns down the Haut Arolla Glacier.

Team Telemark: Brad Taylor and Nick O'Connell on the way up to the Bertole Hut.

Bruce Hardardt grins and bears the blizzard conditions on the way back into Zermatt.

Happy Campers: Rob, Mark and Brad ready to dump the packs in preparation for the big feast at the Walliserkanne Restaurant in Zermatt.

Nick O'Connell topping out on Snake Dike Route on Half Dome in Yosemite, July, 2004. (Photo by Mike Barton)

Bottling day at Les Copains Winery, spring, 2004. (Photo by Nick O'Connell)

Hard-working Les Copains volunteers enjoy the fruits of their labor. (Photo by Nick O'Connell)

Nick O'Connell rappelling off Batman and Robin on Lumpy Ridge, in Colorado, August, 2002. (Photo by Mike Barton)

Nick O'Connell at the top of the Third Flatiron, outside of Boulder, Colorado, August, 2002. (Photo by Mike Barton)