‘Breathtaking, and it wasn’t just the altitude’: I skied the Vallée Blanche – it was a spiritual experience

Taking on the challenge of the Vallée Blanche was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for Lisa Young. Composite: Stocksy United/Lisa Young/Guardian Design

I’ve always loved being in the mountains, but nothing prepared me for the moment I stood at the top of the Vallée Blanche in Chamonix, part of the French Mont Blanc massif.

For those who know the mountains, skiing isn’t just a sport. It’s an invitation into a world most people never reach, where crisp air fills your lungs, peaks stretch endlessly into the sky, and silence falls heavier than snow.