THE ALPS — LES ALPES VISTAS, ICE AXES AND

HORIZONS, PIOLETS

The Mont Blanc Express lurches to a stop in Argentière. Photographer Kari Medig and I shuffle down with our skis and backpacks, shaking off the stupor of a 5 a.m. start back in Verbier. We gaze upward at a ragged stream of wind-whipped snow peeling from the summit of Aiguille du Dru to where the world-famous Haute Route ski traverse awaits us.