Chamonix All Year.com

Frequent visitors to the Chamonix All Year  who know Chamonix well, may well have noted that a section on Chamonix’s infamous Vallée Blanche has been glaringly absent up from the site until now. This was not an act of neglect but more a mark of respect, as up until this winter neither Jo nor I had skied the route and therefore writing a section would ……well basically be wrong.
 
So now,  with a large smile planted on my chops I can tell you all about it!

The Vallée Blanche:

 Simply possibly the most famous ski run in the world, and not without due cause:  It is the longest run in Europe at 22kms, and offers 2780 vertical metres of skiing or boarding - that's nearly three vertical kilometers. It starts at thetop of the Aiguille du Midi, and finishes either at the Montevers train and Ice Grotto or, weather permitting, all the way down to the Chamonix Valley.

The Ascent:

The Vallée Blanche is accessed via the 40 minute ride in the  Aiguille du Midi cable car. There is a mid-station – Plan de l’Aiguille – at 2300m, before passing across the north face and the Pelerins Glacier before arriving at the top of the Aiguille du Midi, a 3,842m rocky ‘needle’  on the shoulder of Mont Blanc, western Europe’s highest mountain. 

A quick note of hiring guides:

Basically if  you are reading this, then you should have one! Via the ‘Voie normale, the run is not technically difficult, but it is still a high mountain off piste environment, so without expert assistance and knowledge you are running distinct risks. We have some great guides we recommend through personal experience.

 When to do the Vallée Blanche: 

Obviously when the weather is good as the scenery n he way doen is stunning. Also it is more enjoyable if you can avoid the crowds; namely the end of the week when everyone on holiday has warmed up their legs and is planning on going. It gets busier and busier so best go early in the week or even on changeover days (Saturday & Sunday). 

To Ski or To Snowboard:

Both skiing and snowboarding are extremely feasible, but you can come a cropper on a board if conditions are not great.  There is a long shuss at the bottom of the appropriately names Mer de Glace which can be a pain on a board. However, don't be put off as riding the powder on the Vallée Blanche is awesome but it helps to take a telescopic pole as you may need to push yourself along in places.

The arête:

Possible as well known as the run itself, the arête is the first hurdle everyone has to tackle before taking on the glacier. It consists of about 150 yards of descent along a ridge with steep drops on either side. Early in the season the lift company, guides and rescue services put a safety rope and steel posts along it for people to use. You do the arête on foot, with crampons if it's icy and usually roped togther with the members of your gorup and your guide. You need a good head for heights. Many have been known to turn back at this early stage!!                                                               

Possible Routes:

Once you are down at the Col at the bottom of the arête, there are four main routes down, but many others if you are touring: The vallée Blanche normal route, The "real" Valley Blanche, The Petit Envers du Plan and the Grand Envers du Plan with each one being technically more demanding. The Petit Envers and the Grand Envers make for some very interesting skiing and involve some steep pitches and couloir skiing. From the bottom of the arête you continue straight ahead to ski directly down to the Refuge du Requin. There is also a steep and technical couloir directly below the Requin hut which leads to the Salle a Manger.'

The arête

Fresh powder on the Petit Envers du Plan



Mer de Glace