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Category Archives: Vallee Blanche

The famous Vallee Blanche is an off piste 20km run from the top of the Aiguille du Midi which loops back into Chamonix. In good snow cover you can ski back into Chamonix itself, otherwise you can get the Montenvers train back down from above the Mer de Glace glacier.

This is a great day out for good intermediate skiers and snowboarders. Either join a group or take a private Mountain Guide for safety and to get the most out of your descent.

This is not a patrolled or pisted run and it is glacial so there are ceracs and crevasses to avoid.
There are also various routes down the glacier which vary considerably in difficulty and gradient. A Private Mountain Guide will take you on a route to match your ability and allow you to get off the standard tourist route.

Aiguille du Midi to Helbronner ski tour

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Start of the Vallee Blanche

The ridge from the top of the Aig du Midi is in fantastic condition. Once kitted up again at the bottom of the ridge the crowds disperse in various different directions. We headed over the flats toward Helbronner. Someone had very kindly put a track in (while we were faffing about in the lift line) skirting under the crevasses and off up to the Italian side. After a quick bite of lunch we enjoyed fresh tracks virtually all the way down the Vallee Noir to Salle a Manger. Read on… →

Vallee Blanche from the Aig du Midi

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Vallee Blanche

Paul has been on an Intermediate All Terrain Ski Course with Mark Gear all week and decided to round off the week with A Vallee Blanche with EV2 ski school. He was kind enough to share the pictures with us. The whole group of six with the High Mountain Guide skied out down to Chamonix Town for a well deserved beer. Read on… →

Demolition of the old cable car station of the Aiguille du Midi

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Cosmique Arrete

The inspiration of Alfred Cachat, the original lift (also known as “Telepherique des Glaciers”) departed from Les Pelerins. The lift was abandonned in 1951. The lower stage of the lift was used in the first ever 1924 Winter Olympics for competitors to access the bobsleigh track. Read on… →

Ski touring and the Vallee Noir

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Ice cave Vallee Blanche

Three of us set off from the Aiguille du Midi to ski tour over to Helbronner and have a coffee in the restaurant at the top of the Skyway. The descent was brilliant with all the recent tracks filled in with wind blown snow. Down the Vallee Noir to Salle a Manger is still in great condition. Read on… →

Splitboarder telemarker and alpine ski touring

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Group photo in front of the Dent du Geant

The potential to find some fresh snow high up in the mountains was a draw. Hilary had rented a splitboard from Zero G so we headed up the Aig du Midi and over to Helbronner.

Lovely chilled ski tour and found some completely untracked powder to play with. Read on… →

Col D’Entreves ski tour

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Group photo

Setting off from the Aiguille du Midi down the ridge, we skied down the classic Vallee Blanche to the base of Mont Blanc du Tacul where we donned skins. Taking a middle line through the crevasses of the Glacier du Tacul was spectacular with snow bridges between huge crevasses. Read on… →

Ski Tour from the Aig du Midi for coffee in Italy

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Crevasse

5 of us set off from the Aiguille du Midi down the ridge and on to the “tourist route” Valle Blanche. Transferring to climbing skins under Mont Blanc du Tacul we traversed the crevasses and headed up to the top of the new Skyway lift from Courmayeur. Read on… →

March skiing and Eating in Chamonix & Courmayeur

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Ceracs on the Vallee Blanche

Roundup of the last couple of weeks The chalet has been busy and so reports have been lacking but spring has definitely arrived. Snow showers every few days have freshened the Chamonix Valley up and the temperatures have risen. The … Read on… →