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The
"Vallée blanche" with a Chamonix mountain guide
The "Vallee Blanche" is undoubtedly the finest off-piste
glaciar in Chamonix
What is the Vallée
Blanche ?
The
Vallee
Blanche is an outstanding off piste run stretching over 20 km in the
heart of
Mont Blanc range, from the top of the Aiguille du Midi (3842m) to
Chamonix
Mont-Blanc (1050m) or to the Montenvers train depending on snow
conditions. If
you have no or little experience of backcountry skiing or not a good
knowledge on glacier and high
mountain
terrain, the presence of a mountain guide will be necessary.
Several routes down the
Vallée
blanche are possible depending on
the size and level
of the group : the Classic Vallee Blanche, the Petit Envers, the Grand
Envers … A
choice of
itinerary you will make with your guide.
How difficult is the Vallée Blanche?
Without being difficult, the Classic
Vallee Blanche is a long off piste run, on a high mountain
glacier terrain, which in
terms of skiing
requires good control of speed and trajectory. In terms of difficulty, it
could be compared to a “Red” run in a ski resort, except on a
non-packed snow,
in a non-securized environment offering no possibility of turning back,
and…
during 15 km. Even with a
mountain
guide, the
Vallée
Blanche presents some objectives localized risks (falling seracs, crevasses,...) requiring group efficiency in
skiing. You should be able to control your speed.
And
on snowboard? Vallée Blanche is more difficult to
snowboard as
some parts are flat or traversing close to crevasses. You should be a
very good snowboarder, black run with off piste experience and good fitness.
Telescopic poles are useful.
Do
not overestimate
yourself !
Contact
your mountain guide!
The descent of the Vallée
Blanche
is possible from
mid-December to late
April depending on snow conditions.
The Vallée Blanche is not
recommended for young children,
even very good
skiers because of the cold and fatigue. It may be possible only with
their parents, in very good weather conditions and if the
children
are motivated and in very good physical shape (medical opinion advised).
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