NEW THIS WINTER! 

Chamonix stands out as one of the off-piste and extreme ski capitals of the world. What could be a better place for an off-piste course? The main ski areas of the Grands Montets, Brévent, Flégère and Le Tour take on a whole new dimension when you venture away from the groomed runs. In addition, you have the Vallée Blanche, probably the most renowned off-piste descent in the world. As if that was not enough; we now also have access to Courmayeur and La Palud on the Italian side, only a 30min drive through the Mont Blanc tunnel.

The itinerary is purely an example of what might happen in a week. It will most likely be changed around during the week to get the most out of the weather and the snow conditions. The aim is to make sure that you improve your off piste tecnice and ski the best snow to be found in Chamonix.  

For the Off-Piste Intro course there will be a similar programme but we will start on the piste and work on technique to make the transition to off-piste. Depending on how the group progress your guide will choose ski areas and slopes to provide enough of a challenge to develop you in to a competent off-piste skier.

Arrival Day

The group will rendez-vous at the Chamonix Experience office on Saturday evening at approximatly 1830. Here, we will have an informal chat about the upcoming week. Will will give you your ski passes if you have ordered them in advance and the guide will check out your clothing and gear to decide if you need to pick up any further items of equipment before setting out in the morning.

Day 1. Le Tour Col de Balme / Snow & Avalanche

This first day we will head up to Le Tour, the ski area at the end of the valley right on the Swiss border. Your ski instructor/guide will take the opportunity and test everybody’s level and start working on techniques. This area offers a gentle start to the week but also has some fantastic off-piste runs to offer, down to Vallorcineon the French side and down to Trient in Switzerland which may be a perfect finish to the day.
Le Tour is also, on a less positive but from a teaching perspective, interesting note, notoriously known for avalanches. The back bowls of Le Tour are perfect for studying how wind, terrain and temperatures affect the avalanche risk. We will spend some time here learning how to read the terrain, practise use of transceivers and how to search for victims.

Day 2. Flégère and Brévent

Today we are going to head up to the joint ski areas of Brévent and Flégère. These are the south facing slopes of the Chamonix Valley from where you have a magnificent view of the whole Mont Blanc range spread out in front of you. Flégère offers fun terrain with many secrets bowls and tends to be amongst the snowboarders’ favorite spots. When Brévent is good it is maybe the best off-piste in the valley. There is the famous “Hotel face” and ENSA couloirs to mention only a few.

Day 3. Les Grands Montets & Glacier Travel

Ok, time to head up to the famous off-piste domain of the Grands Montets. This area might have seen more world class freeriders than any other ski area in the world ……and it is nearly on the doorstep of the Yeti Lodge, an easy 5 min walk. Thanks to its north facing aspect it is the area holding the snow the best and the latest in the season. Here we will familiarise ourselves with glacier skiing.
As you step out of the top cable car at 3,275m you find yourself on the Rognons Glacier. It is a huge and very impressive area to ski down but not without danger. Your guide will equip ever skier in the team with a harness and one or two people may also be asked to carry a rope. We will spend some time learning about crevasse rescue and how you should read a glacier to decide how and where to ski.
Providing the conditions are good we may also do a run down the “Pas de Chèvre”. This well known off-piste itinerary take us down right below Le Dru to the Montenvers station at the end of the Vallee Blanche.

Day 4. Vallée Blanche

And the week is getting even more exciting! You cannot do a week off-piste skiing in Chamonix without a descent from the Aiguille du Midi. This is where the famous Vallee Blanche starts and this is off-piste in a high mountain environment at its best. As per the sign you should not head out here unguided unless you know what you are doing. There is no piste, no markings and no ski patrol. 
There are many different ways down with various difficulty and steepness. Whichever way you go you ski through the most amazing landscape of ice towers and deep crevasses, not to mention the surrounding peaks.
We can stop and grab some lunch on the way down at the Requin refuge or bring a picnic. Depending on how our legs are feeling we can take it easy or we push on for some more skiing in the afternoon or even a second lap.

Day 5. La Palud – Italie

This amazing glaciated off-piste area is a bit of a hidden secret and a favourite playground for the local Italian freeriders. Again we will drive through the tunnel to Italy and La Palud where the Helbronner lift will take us in three stages up to Point Helbronner. From here we have various options to descend “Glacier de Toule”. Good local knowledge is a must as there are no marked itineraries.
If the weather and leg muscles allow, we can return to Chamonix on skis via the “Vallée Noire”, the less frequented but nonetheless impressive Italian side of the Vallée Blanche. 

Course ends with a coffee and debriefing at the Chamonix Expereince office.

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