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The Vivian Bruchez Method of Joy

“Off the beaten path on the Col du Plan in Chamonix, France—it could be bulletproof and wicked steep for thousands of feet, and Viv will still have the same smile on his face as he would skiing knee-deep powder. Photo: Clayton Herrmann
“Off the beaten path on the Col du Plan in Chamonix, France—it could be bulletproof and wicked steep for thousands of feet, and Viv will still have the same smile on his face as he would skiing knee-deep powder. I’ve explored some unique places with Viv, pushed my limits both physically and mentally, and he’s always been there, stoked to share the experience.” Photo: Clayton Herrmann
Words: Lily Krass Ritter

The Mer de Glace Gondola closes in 15 minutes. If we miss it, we'll miss the train back down to Chamonix, and have to hike 3,000 vertical feet down the railroad tracks.

Instead of hurrying, Vivian Bruchez grins. “We love to play,” he says brightly. “Follow me.”

We take a detour from the straight shot toward the gondola and follow Viv into a glacial luge, a twisty turny rollercoaster ride that winds through an icy trough in the Mer de Glace. Thirty-foot walls of blue ice flank us on all sides as we race to keep up with Viv, who’s whooping with joy as he glides over bumps and hurtles around banked turns through the glacier.

We come to a halt at the base of the gondola, just as the last cars are loading. “Amazing, right?” he looks up at us as he clicks out of his 170 cm skis. “There is always time for some fun.”

Back to Issue 19.3