Howie: The deal with the chocs is this:
1. It is about 8 - 9 hrs from my house in ME
2. It is only backcountry skiing & you can cat ski with ski chic chocs in a few areas, but not many
3. It features numerous areas to ski: Mont Albert-patrollers wall, Hogsback, Blanc de la Montagna, Champs Mar and Mines Madeline
4. The first 4 can be skied by staying in the Gite du Mont Albert huts or the Gite du Mont Albert (hotel), while Mines Madeline involves booking and skiing into the hut (13 km)
5. It is some of the best eastern backcountry skiing around
6. The Mines hut is an excellent hut and features 6 - 8 bowls that can all be easily accessed from the hut
7. Hawk will not go because he spends too much time a SB
8. It is totally worth the ride, I have had 3 trips there and all have been excellent
9. I have a booking for Mine Madeline next March so I'll be back for #4 & teaching an AiARE level 1 on the trip.
10. There is no avalanche forecasting at Mine Madeline, but with a good understanding of avalanches that should not be a concern.
That gives you the basic primer
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