If you are going to start a blog on off piste skiing, I guess the first blog really should be about Chamonix. Anyone interested in off piste won't need an introduction to this resort, as Chamonix is the self styled alpine capital of the world and attracts skiers worldwide.
Such a popular resort can however bring large crowds to the slopes and also the better known off piste itineraries. It is therefore sometimes difficult to get away from the masses unless you are in the know. And hence why the best guides will often head away from the obvious off piste itineraries and focuses on Chamonix’s best kept secrets in terms of tranquility and fresh tracks. Examples include the Plan l’Aiguille, and the Balne Area. There are many more that are easily accessible and with some touring, these multiply considerably. Where touch on these in later blogs.
In terms of the most famous, and yes this does indeed attract the crowds, the Vallee Blanche has to be mentioned. There are a number of routes that skiers can take here, and always with a qualified mountain guide in our view, varying from the relatively easy, to the steep and deep. The Vallee blanche is the simplest and less techical route, and most confident intermediates should be able to cope with this route, assuming they can scale the Arrete at the start, and then there is the Real Vallee Blanche which takes a more direct, steeper line. The journey itself is about 17km and involves circa 2,800m of descent, so take a picnic and some water! but the views and scenery are breathtaking, mountain peaks jutting up from the floor and peaking like needles, seracs crafted beautifully by nature, and the spectacular glacier terrain. Whilst the latter is beautiful, glaciers have crevasses and sadly far too many people die in them, either falling to their death, or surviving the fall, but being found to late and dying of hypothermia - so take a good qualified Chamonix mountain guide.
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