Off-Piste Course Vallee Blanche day

The Chamonix Experience Off-Piste Course last week spent one of the days skiing fresh powder on the Vallee Blanche. Thanks to a fair amount of snow early season the arete (the ridge) has been equipped early this year. This makes makes access a lot easier and safer.

The sign speak for itselfSkiers walking down the areteArriving at the end of the arete

The views from the Aiguille du Midi are breathtaking. This day the Italian side was covered in a sea of clouds but otherwise you can see famous peaks like the Gran Paradiso, 4061m.A bed of clouds covering the Italian side of the Mont Blanc range

Not that many people ski the Vallee Blanche in January so after a recent snowfall you are likely to

find some untracked powder. Our guide picked the route called “Gros Rognan” which is not too challanging but often has some great skiing to offer.

Chamonix Experience guide Richard MansfieldHeading down the Gros Rognan route of the Vallee Blanche

After some nice pitches of powder the Chamonix Experience skiers reached the “Giant ice fall” below the Requin refuge. This section can sometimes be tricky and also dangerous because of the seracs towering above. This is not the place to stop for a picnic.

After a long ski down the flatter section of the Mer de Glace they arrived at the Montenvers station from where you can take the train back down to Chamonix. This is a popular tourist attraction all year round as you can visit the ice cave and actually walk inside the glacier.

....for some nice fresh tracks It was quite a windy day....ooops someone has fallen over!

Seracs and skiers at the Arriving at the ice cave at the end of the Vallee Blanche

photo-blog Martina Palm 21 Jan 2008