After all the snow, one of our guests decided today to go and ski the Vallee Blanche. 17km long, and starting at 3,842m, this is probably the most famous off-piste itinerary routes to ski. As soon as you step on to the second cable car, heading towards l'Aiguille du Midi, you kind of get that feeling this isn't a normal off-piste route!
Stepping out the cable car and walking through the rocks and ice tunnel, first timers will be forgiven for the occasional tummy rumble. But this is what in many respects skiing Chamonix is really all about. The guide, and this being a high altitude glacier route, a good Ski Mountain Guide is essential, and at this point you will be roped in for the Arrete. This is probably the most spectacular part of the journey in some respects as you have the Valley Blanche on one side, and a sheer drop into Chamonix on the other, so yes, a head for heights is not a bad thing!
Once off the Arrete, the real fun starts, skiing between seracs and across glaciers. To quote today's guest, "when you said it would be memorable I did to be honest think it would be like just any other mountains, but it was just something else".
I guess I could therefore wax lyrical about skiing in between seracs, across snow bridges, peak jetting up like needs, the glistening blue of the glacier, untracked powder, etc - but unless you do it yourself, your never quite know how good i is!
Take a camera!!
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