Oct 15, 2023

Wooooooooooooooah.

Seriously. Wow.

Wow, wow, wow, wow, woah, wow, woah.

Wow.

(wow)

That’s been about the sum total of my thoughts over the last nine days since I arrived in Chamonix.

Somehow, despite all the time I’ve spent in the mountains over the last half decade, it has still managed to blow me away.

It’s 12 out of 10 beautiful here.

Arriving during a beautifully warm sunny week, with the autumn colours beginning to bloom probably helped. But the vastness of the peaks surround the town on all sides is something truly special. Every time I turn a corner and see huge glaciers and jagged peaks, I stop and catch my breath. Sometimes I miss, and have to watch as my breath disappears into the misty mountains.

Of course, moving to a new town in a foreign country comes with challenges.

Most notably, a distinct lack of social connection.

I expected it to be lonely at first. Moving to a new place usually is. It can take a few months to settle in and find friends.

After a week in the company of others road tripping across France, my first night in my apartment alone, knowing I had nobody local to call upon, felt surprisingly awkward and strange.

I’m someone who quite happily spends time in their own company. Often I prefer it. But, as I sat on my rented sofa and flicked through the various shows on Netflix, I felt like I was a long way from home.

Wherever home is now. A question I no longer know how to answer. Although I’m pretty sure it’s in the mountains somewhere.

Eight days on from that small moment of despair, I think this is the most welcome place I’ve ever been.

Every single day for the last four days someone has invited me out to socialize.

Friday: a sunset trail run and burger. Saturday: a trip to the new climbing gym down the valley. Saturday night: a pint with the lads. Sunday: a scenic drive to Switzerland to meet some wonderfully friendly little cows.