Vallee Blanche – Ski Route

Vallee Blanche - Chamonix - France

The famous glaciated off piste run in Chamonix, the Vallee Blanche will not disappoint. A ski
descent will probably be the highlight of your ski trip to Chamonix if not your life time!

That’s a lot to live up to, but the variety of terrain, huge glaciers and a totally stunning back
drop never fails to disappoint. Indeed, even the locals come back for lap after lap.
It is not compulsory to have a guide or particular safety equipment for the Vallee Blanche.

But this is not your average off piste descent even if you are an experienced skier. Avalanche
danger and partially crevasse falls are a real danger, so you would need to be well versed in
crevasse rescue techniques and carry the right equipment for that.

Having a guide is undoubtedly safer if you don’t have the skills, and they’ll take you to the
right route and good snow too.

There are a few main routes to ski on the Vallee Blanche, each with its own characteristics.

• The classic Vallee Blanche is broad and not too steep apart from the bottle neck past the
Requin hut where there are often Mogels. Skiing underneath the East face of Mont Blanc
du Tacul before curving around the glacier to the Salle a Manger is spectacular.

• Gros Rognon - A variation on the classic Vallee Blanche, this cuts the corner and provides
some steeper skiing often with some great snow. This is red run steepness with some
crevasses to avoid. A great route.

• Petit Envers - The (lookers) left of the Vallee Blanche is a steep glacier criss-crossed with
crevasses and ice cliffs. An unlikely place to ski on first glance, but there are some good
lines here which are quite open once you’re on them! The Petit Envers route refers to the
glacier of the same name and features some nice skiing, never too steep but with plenty of
options for lines lower down. There are a lot of crevasses here so you’re skiing must be in
control at all times. Follow the guide!

• Grand Envers - More of the same but harder. Steeper slopes up to 35 degrees mean
avalanche hazards are increased. For the experienced only and it’s likely we would have
skied with you before taking this (and other hard) variations.

To ski to Chamonix or catch the train?

When there is enough snow it is possible to ski all the way to Chamonix, finishing on the
beginner pistes of Planards. To ski down is a little more technical than the normal Vallee
Blanche above so your legs need to be strong still.

Some closed crevasses and rock moraine just past the Montenvers railway exit here the crux
and it is often hard to avoid scraping your skis a little. After a ten minute hike up a steep
snow slope carrying your skis we pop out on the ridge where there is a little “buvet”, a small
hut serving drinks and snacks when its open.

After that it’s all down hill along the “James Bond” track which is normally a little rutted and
about a car width wide. Short turns and snow ploughs when required.
We will obviously advise you on the conditions that day and asses your skiing to decide
whether we should ski down or catch the train. The train is pretty and a nice way to finish too.

 22km of skiing if there is enough snow to ski all the way to Chamonix, rather than
taking the Montenvers mountain railway in descent.

A vertical descent of 2700m if skied to Chamonix.

Aiguille du Midi lift station

January - April

Aiguille Du Midi Ski Lift