Aiguille du Midi Arete Chamonix 2016
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- čas přidán 15. 01. 2017
- Filmed Thursday 18th February 2016
La Vallee Blanche is a 'Bucket List' day for all skiers. The
Infamous 20km off piste glacier ski route in Chamonix...
I'd advise skiing with a Guide unless you are an experienced ski mountaineer. The guides based in Chamonix are fantastic.
The Vallée Blanche starts at the top of the Aiguille du Midi and finishes in Chamonix’s town centre (snow permitting). It’s an unmarked, unmaintained and unpatrolled high mountain off-piste ski itinerary which offers some of the most spectacular scenery that the Mont Blanc range has to offer.
The Aiguille du Midi cable car is the starting point for this popular route. Generally, the lift company operates a number system where you can phone and pre-book your cable car in advance. This is highly recommended if you want to avoid an unpredictable and possibly long wait on a busy day. A Mont Blanc Unlimited ski pass covers the Aiguille du Midi lift.
The Vallee Blanche routes start at the top of the Aiguille du Midi (3812m) where after exiting the ice tunnel you are straight on to the ‘arête’. This is potentially one of the most dangerous points of the route as it is essentially a ridge edge which has a 50-degree pitch on both sides. In high season, a safety rope is placed along the descending path but it is still pretty intimidating knowing a safety rope is all that there is between you and the pea-sized buildings of Chamonix town centre.
If you have Crampons, use them. Sliding down this on ski boots isn't the most comfortable activity in the World even if you are clipped onto the Guide's rope.
If I was doing this again I'd probably tie my poles onto my pack to keep my hands free.
More people there now, but absolutely worth it! :-) I was there in 1982, 16 years old. My buddy (17) and I convinced our parents that a chartered ski trip to Chamonix at our age was totally safe. We paid for it ourselves so all they had to do was trust us and say yes. We live in Norway, parents were gullible then. We hired a great guide for the whole day for Vallee Blanche, but since there was still time on the clock (and I guess he liked us and wanted to ski there anyway), when we got down he took us to Brévent on the other side of town. On the way up he pointed to a gondola in the snow below and said "the French buy used wires from Italy when they are done with them. Not all gondolas get it to the top". He had a mind of his own, and where he brought us was just awesome and off the trail. We had to travers and climb a bit before we came to the top of a chute we dropped in to and that felt vertical, about 3 to 8 meters wide the first 100-200 meters before widening out to be a little used great slope back to Chamonix. I'm guessing only guides knew about this then.
I skied the Vallee Blanche with my daughter in 2007. The arete at the top isn't for the faint of heart, particularly wihtout...crampons...We didn't have any. The whole experience is simply phenomenal !!!
i did without crampons using snowboard boots carrying a snowboard, and we were not tied to any ropes! ;D
The guides rope their groups and provide some crampons for those who don't have them.
The ropes anchored into the arete is there during the ski season. Yes, you can descend in boots without crampons... up to you.
You can ski past the line on the south side instead of standing in it. It will take like one minute to reach the plateau.
Oh c'est dur mais beau c'est... 😊 Choucas. Oh. 😊
I went down and back up it in 1992 and there were no ropes back then.
Re walking down and back up.... I don't know. Its a one way journey. Id have to refer to the signage at the top.
Thanks for the video! Do they provide the safety rope for free? Are we allowed to go down this arête without crampons?
The safety ropes are provided by guides that you book and pay for. The fixed rope is there for everyone, paying or not. Crampons are not essential by advisable.
@@BigFluter the fixed rope is there since where? I’ve seen some video it’s not there.
I would have loved to have done this 20 years ago.
There’s no way in hell I’d do it now.
When we were there just at the entrance one man who didn't want to wait jumped the rope on the left traversed down to end of the path.
Pauvre con.
Did he die?
great ski run ha ha ha ha ha ha
Can we go back up to the station instead of skiing down the slope? Basically just to walk down the ridge and back up?
Alpinisme or not avis sur tout et tous musique map monde and what what when you gone.
No ice therefore no crampons required. There's really no risk of falling off, you have to jump off!
One time I was hiking some dude slipped and fell. bumped into the next person she fell 6 m of soft grass ground. If any one behind falls like dominos....
Attention au profil c'est Karim rifaat c'est hasardeux
That looks miserable. Far too many people. Would rather hike & drop in somewhere else.
3800 m of vertical on that lift! You have more energy than I do my friend! Enjoy your hike! :D