Chamonix's pristine mountain air?

When I was a kid growing up in the Alps, I was constantly reminded about how I was lucky to “breathe pure air...”

Apparently, the situation has changed and today, the iconic mountain town of Chamonix is crying wolf as its valley is now bathing into a cloud of purple, yellow and gray gunk. This of course is due in part to the yearly passage of half a million diesel trucks through the Mt. Blanc Tunnel, but also that open fire remain the sole source of heating for a large number of homes in the valley.

Add to that the fact that Chamonix is the antithesis of a ski-in/ski-out resort town as going from the Houches to Argentière, or to Brévent and la Flégère, always require a car or a shuttle bus! Then, there's even the pollution from industry that seeps back up the Arve river valley and adds up to create a perfect storm for this weather phenomenon: Chamonix's steep mountain slopes and temperature inversions help trap pollutants into still air on the valley floor, particularly on sunny, winter days.

So is what the famous mountain town to do? First, like with any form of addiction, admit it has a problem. This is rather the hardest step in the healing process. From there, nothing's impossible!