Skiing down the Vallée Blanche
The most beautiful off-piste descent in the Alps, accessible to good day skiers.
As soon as you leave the Aiguille du Midi cable car (3842 m), the tone is set: a descent of the ridge equipped with ropes and stakes, the north face of the Aiguille plunging underfoot, sharp peaks all around... The world is glacial, spectacular and unique.
Once you've put on your skis on the Géant glacier, I suggest you descend one of the emblematic routes of the Vallée Blanche, according to your level, your desires and the current conditions:
Vallée Blanche Classique, Petit Envers or Moyen Envers.
If you have touring skis - which I highly recommend - we can cross over to Italy, put on skins and head back up to the Col d'Entrèves or the Torino refuge for a glacier and alpine tour.
We can also choose to take the skip on the Italian side. More comfortable on the way up, less crowded, and much easier to access on the glacier for skiers less at ease with mountaineering. A variant that involves taking the bus in the morning... and a cappuccino on the Italian side. Not that I mind!
With smaller, more experienced groups, I can offer wilder, more technical variants, away from the most popular routes, so you can experience the Vallée Blanche in a different way.
The end of the descent takes us naturally to the Mer de Glace, where a pleasant surprise awaits us: the new cable car section now makes it easy to get to the Montenvers train.
Gone are the 45 minutes of endless stairs to climb with skis on: the return to Chamonix is now quick and comfortable.
If you're looking for great ski touring routes in the area (Brèche Puiseux, Col d'Entrèves, etc.) or off-piste skiing and steep descents in Chamonix (Glacier Rond, Couloir des Cosmiques, etc.), you'll find them on the website.
No, but you need to be comfortable on pistes, be able to ski in all types of snow and be able to stop at any time. The descent is between 15 and 20 km on a glacier: you have to be able to manage the length and fatigue, and it's important to be able to apply the safety instructions.
As well as the avalanche risk, skiing down the Vallée Blanche involves objective risks (crevasses, falling seracs) like any glacier race. I supervise the outing, ensure the safety of the group and adapt the itinerary to the conditions and the level of the participants.
Allow around half a day for the classic Vallée Blanche. A full day for longer itineraries is limited by the timetable of the last train down Montenvers, which can now be reached comfortably thanks to the new cable car, without having to climb the interminable staircase as before.
Yes, but only if you're a good independent snowboarder. The descent includes some long, flat sections, which can be tricky when snowboarding. We'll discuss this with you before you sign up.
Yes, by starting on the Italian side, at the Skyway Monte Bianco, you avoid the aerial ridge. It's a gentler option for skiers less comfortable with crampons. All you need is an early bus from Chamonix... and a cappuccino in Courmayeur to get the day off to a good start.
Yes. If you're experienced and in good shape, I can suggest more technical and less crowded variants, depending on the conditions at the time.
For ski touring and steep slope itineraries around Chamonix, visit the site to discover the various options.
Live with your guide, from first contact to the summit.
Creative and flexible
A flexible framework for devising the most appropriate itinerary or activity for each day, depending on the group and the conditions.
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