Product testing in Chamonix - Day 2

We woke up at 5:45 a.m. to leave the shelter around 6:30 a.m. We got ready by the light of our headlamps, with the stars still visible in the sky. The plan: to reach the base of the couloir before the first gondolas from the Valley. After several hours of skitouring through a magical landscape, we tackle the couloir leading to the Brèche Puiseux, at an altitude of over 3,400 meters. A 300-meter climb with crampons and an ice axe, skis on our ARAVIS backpack… up to 45 degrees. The perfect "extreme" conditions for our product field testing!

My heart was pounding, my breathing quickened, and vertigo crept in… but the experience was insane. Being there, in the heart of the Mont Blanc massif, surrounded by legendary peaks, out on a “ski mountaineering” trip… it was crazy! All of this with Jane, my Canadian friend whom I met in Squamish 20 years earlier; Liv Sansoz, world climbing champion and amazing high-mountain guide… and Richard Bord, my friend and office roommate, who gave us a priceless gift by capturing this moment forever.

ARAVIS BAG technical backpack 25-45L

240,00€

I felt so grateful to be there, experiencing that magical moment, with a backpack I've designed myself! To think that I have managed to create a job, a business, a brand, one that allowed me to make a living doing this kind of thing. It’s crazy when you think about it... It was up there, focused on my breathing, on the repetitive movements of my ice axe, on the steps we took one after another with crampons on the ice, that I realized how lucky I was to be living this life.

This self-reflection also helped me understand quite a few things. In fact, in life (whether it’s at work, with your passions, or in your relationships) nothing comes for free, and nothing can be taken for granted. You have to give yourself the means to make your dreams come true and to live in alignment with your values and what drives you. It’s like a mountain run: you have to get up early, push yourself, face your fears, know your limits, never give up, enjoy it, share the moment… and surround yourself with the best people. But at the same time, when I’m suffering, when I’m at my limit, when I’m thinking of giving up… I realize how lucky I am to be able to experience this, to have a healthy body, a strong mind, and to be surrounded by such exceptional people.

The higher I climbed, the more I got a handle on my movements and my breathing, and the less afraid I was. In the end, despite the fatigue and the altitude, I even started to really enjoy it and didn’t want it to end. When we reached the summit, I understood why it was called “La Brèche”! It was so narrow, and I’d thought we’d just strap on our skis and head back down… but Liv set up a rappel, and we swung over to the other side, at the end of the rope. That’s important, too: leaving room for the unexpected, for surprises. The sense of wonder is even more intense!

We reached the Mallet Glacier and the lesser-known “Vallée Noire.” The view was mind-blowing. Our thighs were on fire, but those huge runs in the April powder, between the crevasses and beneath the Grandes Jorasses… it was just crazy. You cannot hear anything on thes pics, but we were screaming "youhouuuu" all the way down to the valley ;-)

Verdict: the new ARAVIS backpack and all its accessories pass the test, even for this kind of adventure (which might be a bit “extreme” for the average person). In “hiking backpack” mode, it’s perfect for multi-day trips. You can attach skis, a helmet, and even an ice axe using the extra accessories. The roll-top closure lets you adjust what you pack depending on the day (down jackets, lunch…), and best of all: it’s lightweight and super comfortable. Richard, our photographer, was obviously loaded down like a pack mule. He used the ARAVIS in “camera bag” mode with the optional insert. In addition to his personal gear, he had two camera bodies, several lenses, and even a drone…

I’ll wrap up this story with a few “behind-the-scenes” photos. Thank you, “Crazy Jane,” for sharing this moment, these turns, and these smiles with me. Thank you, Liv, for your time, your kindness, and your professionalism. It was really great to share all of this with you. Thank you, Riri, for the memories you’ve given us. Your photos will always be there to remind me just how lucky we are to be able to experience things like this…