The crowd is gone for this time and Monterosa is breathing again; the cars have stopped ingulfing the only street of Champoluc and the usual peace has fallen down on the valley and her inhabitants. Is it good or is it bad? There are different theories: some finds that the tourism has brought only problems to this heavenly place, others see the mixture of tradition and modernity as civilisation. Something in between would be the best obviously, conscient tourism could bring something to all involved. Why taking the car to drive to the lift when there is a shuttle (no 3 really) driving around the valley from early in the morning to late in the night? Why staying in a 100 meters long irritated cue to buy your lunch when you could go a little bit away from the slope to find a refuge with warm exquisite food and the kindest atmosphere? Why not trying a tour with snow shoes or skins instead of racing downhill for once?
We must leave like all the other tourists today, school starts in a few days, but we are coming back soon. A feeling a little bit painful to ski the last day in the fresh powder fallen lately. The trees are so heavy with snow that they barely stnd longer. The kids have mourned the last sunset on the glaciers for this vacation, Cool Bart has indeed swimmed for the last time in the soft white, but his smile reminds us that his souls has forever been connected to the mountains of Monterosa.
Tonight the full moon is lighting the white slopes around the village of Champoluc, and you could imagine what it could have been like before electricity down here.