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So you want to ski the Vallée Blanche?
 | Vallée Blanche, ready to go
Photo ifyouski.com |
Any strong intermediate skier should be able to ski the Vallée Blanche with the proper equipement and accompanied by a qualified guide. Here's how to go about doing it.
 Description of the Vallée Blanche
Who should ski it?
What should you carry?
Where do you find a guide?
When should you go?
Why do it?
Top Tip
360° panoramas of the route
More 360° panoramas of Chamonix
Chamonix information and holidays
Chamonix cheap deals
Who should ski it?
Who
What
Where
When
Why
The Vallée Blanche is not the most demanding skiing on the planet. In fact any strong intermediate can manage. Above all you need to be reliable - there are places where you need to thread your way between crevasses. A good strong snowplough and good sideslip control are all the specialist techniques you need, and no-one cares what you look like on your skis. You also need to be fairly fit - you'll be spending four hours or so on your feet. Above all, though, do not consider going without a fully qualified guide.
For riders the same applies. No-one cares about what you look like, whether your method air has the guys gasping. The name of the game is control. You may find it quite tiresome getting across the Mer de Glace - you might even want to resort to carrying some collapsible poles.
 | Transceiver
Photo: Backcountry Access |
What should you carry?
Who
What
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Why
Here's a list of the special clothing/equipment you (or at least someone in your group) should carry:
| Avalanche Tranceiver
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Every group member must carry one, switched on at all times on the mountain. Guides can provide them for their clients, but make sure this is included in the price. They should also check that your transceiver is switched on and that batteries work before you start out. Assuming you are the person buried, no special training is needed. If you fancy rescuing your guide when he is buried, forget it unless you have practiced beforehand. For more information on tranceivers click here
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| Shovel
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There's little point finding an avalanche victim unless you can dig him or her out fast. If you are going to ski off-piste a lot, you should get into the habit of skiing with tranceiver, probe and shovel.
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| Whistle
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The smallest, lightest and most reliable piece of safety equipment ever invented. Why doesn't everyone ski with one? |
| Harness
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For many recreational skiers, the Vallée Blanche is their first encounter with a climbing harness. The reason you need one is that should you, by any unlikely mishap, fall into a crevasse, it's a thousand times easier to get you out if you are already wearing one. It's also easier to airlift you out by helicopter, and your guide might use it to rope you up for the first arete. Your harness might seem complicated and restrictive, and you'll probably need help putting it on, but you'll soon find you forget you're wearing it. You might even enjoy wandering around trussed up like a Tory MP.
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| Rope
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You cannot get someone out of a crevasse without a rope. As long as you're with a guide, he will be carrying it. He may also rope you up to get you down the first arete.
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| Crampons
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I'm not kidding, plenty of people wear them on the first arete. Ask your guide the day before whether it's worth bringing some - if the conditions are particularly icy, you can rent crampons in the more serious ski shops in Chamonix. Your guide will show you how to wear them and they will make you feel a lot safer on that first climb down. After that you won't need them, they can safely be attached to your pack.
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| Extra clothing
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Even in the best of weather, when there's not a breath of wind in the valley, expect the worst when you come out of the cable car. You'll be quite amazed at the difference in temperature and wind speed 3km height difference can make. Particularly if you want to climb to the observation platform and take pictures, you can be chilled to the bone before you've even started skiing.
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| Hat
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Honey, I don't care about your hair, it's your ears I'm worried about. Bring the damn hat, you'll be glad you did.
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| Suntan Lotion
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As you freeze your buns at 7am, you might easily forget to pack your suntan lotion. Don't. By 12 noon, as the sun reflects into your face from the Mer de Glace, you must have proper sun protection - at least factor 15 and preferably total block.
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| Goggles and Sunglasses
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Sounds like overkill? Well at the start you are likely to encounter some bitter winds - goggles will help keep your face warm and your eyes open; as it warms up, switch to sunglasses and enjoy the views. |
| Sandwiches
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You'll never believe how long one ski run will take you. And the combination of cold and exercise means you are burning calories at an unprecedented rate. The last thing you'll want to do is hurry down because your stomach is rumbling. Even if you don' plump for sandwiches, do not be caught without at least two chocolate bars.
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| Water
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Unlike sandwiches, this one is NOT optional. Four hours of exercise in a high mountain environment and you will lose about two litres through breathing and sweating. You might not even notice you're doing it. You need to drink plenty for breakfast and then carry at least a litre with you. If it's a warm sunny day you may suffer if you don't carry more - if in doubt, pop another little plastic mineral water bottle in your pack. But please make sure you don't drop the bottle on the mountain.
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| Film
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Take at least two 36-exposure films (or digital equivalent). The great views just keep on coming, you will be amazed at how many photos you will want to take. If this is your big alpine adventure of the year, don't run out of film.
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| Money
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You can pay for your lift pass with any major credit card, but you'll need some cash too for drinks at the hut on the way down or a beer on your return. And don't forget a tip for your guide (£5 per person is fine).
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| Backpack
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You'll need one for all the stuff you have to carry. If you don't own one, your guide should be able to lend you one as long as you ask beforehand.
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For more on off-piste equipment, click here
Where do you find a guide?
Who
What
Where
When
Why
Do not ski the Vallée Blanche without a guide unless you taught Reinhold Messner how to abseil.
You've done a bit of off-piste in your time and can't see what the fuss is about? The Aiguille du Midi is not the place to find out how little you know and how badly equipped you are. Chamonix rescue services spend their time picking people off the hill who get into trouble. With the right equipment and a guide with rope and a radio, there's almost nothing to worry about. On your own and ill-prepared, a minor mishap like a jammed ski-brake, twisted knee or whiteout and you can quickly be in very SERIOUS trouble.
It couldn't be easier to find a guide in Chamonix. All guides must go through the six-year Ecole Nationale du Ski Alpine, the most rigorous qualification for high mountain guides in the world. There are plenty of fully qualified freelancers around and almost every local can refer you to one. One guide will take up to eight clients - if your group is larger then eight, he will take along an assistant.
Here are a few of the main guides' bureaux:
The Companie des Guides de Chamonix Mont Blanc, founded 1821, can be found opposite the tourist office (phone +33 (0)4 50 53 00 88)
Chamonix Experience (tel: +33 4 50 53 73 87 or +33 6 08 80 94 27; fax: +33 4 50 53 73 88) was founded by Russell Brice, who is rapidly becoming a high mountain legend for his leadership on trips to Everest and Cho Oyu.
Association International des Guides du Mont Blanc(tel +33 (0)4 50 53 27 05; fax: +33 (0)4 50 53 83 19) is situated in the funky Rue des Moulins and sports more guides from areas outside Chamonix.
Evolution2 (tel: +33 (0)4 50 55 90 22
fax:+33 (0)4 50 55 91 33) is an innovative and fast-growing ski school with an accent on adventure and off-piste skills.
Chamonix-Adventure (Patrick Anulliero) is an independent guide running his own tours.
Summit, Le Mummery tel:+33 (0)4 50 53 50 14 fax:+33 (0)4 50 55 94 16
Mont Blanc Ski Tour, tel:+33 (0)4 50 53 82 16 fax:+33 (0)4 50 53 82 75
Maison des Guides de Vallorcine, tel/fax+33 (0)4 50 54 60 69
Odyssée Montagne, les Marmottières, Les Houches tel/fax:+33 (0)4 50 54 35 74
Oxygène, 95 Chem Cristal des Glaces, Chamonix tel/fax:+33 (0)4 50 53 48 87
Prices to join a group are around FF360 (£36) per person. A private guide will charge FF1300 (£130) for up to four people, plus FF100 (£10) for each additional person. Prices should include rental of a harness and avalanche transceiver, but do not include lift pass, transportation or lunch.
A top tip
Who
What
Where
When
Why
The departure point for the Vallée Blanche is the foot of the Aiguille du Midi cable-car, in Chamonix Sud. There is a big car-park but it fills very early. Here's a tip: if you can ski all the way back to town you will hit the Planard slopes. Drop off your kit and colleagues at the cafe opposite the Aiguille du Midi cable-car; leave your car in the Les Planards car park and walk back (ten minutes in your trainers). It's a pain at seven in the morning - but it beats clomping back across town in boots and skis after your run. And your friends will be so grateful they ought to buy you lunch!
If it's late season and you have to come down in the train, do the same thing but leave the car by the Montenvers glacier train station in town.
For those of you who want a bit of an extra adventure, you can go up in the last cablecar of the day, stay overnight in the Cosmiques Refuge, and be first to hit the slopes in the morning. Any guide will be able to help you with bookings. Just don't expect a good night's sleep, what with the altitude and the cold. But do expect the most extraordinary views before bedtime. Expect to pay around FF860 (£86) for the whole package including dinner and breakfast.
When should you go?
 | Are you sure?
Photo ifyouski.com |
Who
What
Where
When
Why
In theory, you can ski the Vallée Blanche any time between December and May. Early in the season, however, and you need a bit of luck to get a day sunny enough and without wind. Towards the end of the season, and you won't be able to ski all the way down to Chamonix, you will have to bail out at and take the Montenvers train down from around 2000m. Here are some furthe pointers on when to do the Vallee Blanche:
- First of all, don't try the Vallée Blanche on the first day of your holiday, you won't enjoy it. Wait at least three days so your body has a chance to acclimatise.
- Do not start the Vallée Blanche unless the weather is clear and forecast to stay clear. You do NOT want to be caught at altitude when a storm come in.
- You also don't want to do the Vallée Blanche when it's overcast - part of the joy is the fantastic views. Save it for really gorgeous weather, it will be an experience you don't forget.
- Get up early. Starting early you avoid the lines, you're more likely to get clear skies, and you can be back on the normal slopes after lunch. The lift opens at 7.30am, and if the weather is fine, there will be long lines by 9am. The best plan is to have everything ready the night before, check the weather at 7am and either dash for the first few cabins or abort.
Why do it?
 | View towards Italy
Photo ifyouski.com |
Who What
Where
When
Why
Because it's there!
Description of the Vallée Blanche
Who should ski it?
What should you carry?
Where do you find a guide?
When should you go?
Why do it?
Top Tip
360° panoramas of the route
More 360° panoramas of Chamonix
Chamonix information and holidays
Chamonix cheap deals
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