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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
    Location
    Chamonix/Franconia, NH
    Posts
    1,492

    Cool TR: Chamonix 4/5-4/6

    We arrived just in time for a powder run! Caught the first run up the Grand Montets and hit La Face (D) (Glacier Pendant) for some knee high POWPOW. After a 45 min wait for the tram, it was tracked up so we went down the otherside and skied Combe de Point Géodesique (D). Another 60 min wait and we headed down the Couloir Rectiligne (TD), which is really cool!! This is a 40-45 degree couloir two left from the Pas de Chevre, and really much better. It is rock lined for 300m and between 10-30m wide. The snow was pretty mushy by the time we got there, so you have to watch out for ejecting from your bindings. The line drops onto the Nant Blanc glacier with wide open quasi powder skiing. Finally, there is a down climb and a rocky skid or hike down to the Mer de Glace, which skis across to the Montvers. A slog up 284 steps leads to a 30 min line to get up the Gondola and another 45min line to get on the train back to town. Guides report that something like 4000 people are skiing down to the Montvers at this time of year! We are getting really good at waiting in line!

    Next day, we hit the Aguille de Midi at 8:15 (whoops no line?) and skied the Vallée Blanche just to see how flat it really was. Answer: really flat and fozen up hard in the morning. Lots of chatter. Back up to the Montvers train and down to town. A walk over to the Aguille de Midi Tram, and whoops no line? This time we skied the Grand Envers (TD) and really awesome, with several 40-45 degree sections. And finally, the big end of day line epic at the Montvers....

    5 runs of 3x1300m and 2x2000m and our legs needed a rest day.... Here are some photos for your viewing pleasure.

    After this warm up and a rest day, we continued skiing off the Aguille de Midi for another 4 days, which is illustrated with more photos in TR: Chamonix 4/8-4/11

    Starting the piste from the Grands Montets (of course, we went the other way, seen in the next photo), April 5, 2007


    Powder skiing on La Face on the Glacier Pendant off the Grand Montets, April 5, 2007


    Starting the Pas de Chevre, April 5, 2007


    Pas de Chevre is the couloir on the left, with the Couloir Rectilinge two couloirs right, April 5, 2007


    Mont Blanc from the Couloir Rectilinge, April 5, 2007


    Looking down the Couloir Rectiligne, April 5, 2007


    Mont Blanc from the Couloir Rectiligne, April 5, 2007


    Glacier Nant Blanc below the Couloir Rectiligne, April 5, 2007


    Couloir Rectilinge on the left, April 5, 2007


    Glacier Nant Blanc with tracks from the Couloir Rectiligne, April 5, 2007


    Montvers from the Glacier Nant Blanc, April 5, 2007


    Sketchy descent to the Mer de Glace, April 5, 2007


    Slogging up 284 steps to the gondola at Montvers, April 5, 2007


    Descent from the télépherique station, Aguille de Midi, April 6, 2007


    Vallée Blanche and Mount Blanc de Tacul, April 6, 2007


    Aguille de Midi from the Vallée Blanche, April 6, 2007


    Rescue helicopter flying over the Valée Blanche, April 6, 2007


    Mont Blanc de Tacul with the Super Couloir center (1000m ice route M6, 5+) and the Gervasutti Couloir right, April 6, 2007


    Petit Rognon tower half way down the Vallée Blanche, April 6, 2007


    Aguille de Midi, April 6, 2007


    1st steep snow field on the Grand Envers, April 6, 2007


    2nd steep snow field on the Grand Envers, April 6, 2007


    Séracs du Géanton the Vallée Blanche from the Grand Envers, April 6, 2007


    Skiers on the 3rd steep snow field on the Grand Envers, April 6, 2007


    Looking down the last snow field before the Vallée Blanche, April 6, 2007


    Observe the 12x12 foot serac at the bottom of the last snow field on the Grand Envers, April 6, 2007


    Looking up the Vallée Blanche with the Walker Spur in the background, April 6, 2007


    Return to Montvers on the Vallée Blanche, April 6, 2007
    Last edited by jumpturn; 04-25-2007 at 04:34 PM.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Feb 2004
    Location
    Denver
    Posts
    703
    damn that looks so cool...
    We hold daggers in the side of the Moon...

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Nov 2004
    Location
    1 mile from N. America's biggest chairlift
    Posts
    706
    MEGA NATURE!!!

    I have to get over there...

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Dec 2003
    Location
    Jackson, WY
    Posts
    5,642



  5. #5
    Join Date
    Nov 2004
    Location
    Seattle/Snowbird
    Posts
    1,007
    The place is just out of control. Others have posted, but your pics really give some perspective.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Posts
    1,027
    you do have a way to put things in perspective... don't know what to say, but your way of capturing the terrain is just stunning and unusual.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Feb 2004
    Location
    Eurozone
    Posts
    2,726

    Thumbs up

    Awesome shots, well done.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
    Location
    Bozeman
    Posts
    1,302
    Great Euro TR's jumpturn. Were you skiing the glaciers solo?

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
    Location
    Chamonix/Franconia, NH
    Posts
    1,492
    Quote Originally Posted by mtcham View Post
    Great Euro TR's jumpturn. Were you skiing the glaciers solo?
    The basic runs are no problem when there are lots of tracks and thick snow bridges, like around Easter. Might be another story earlier in the season or right after fresh snow fall. Good mountaineering sense, however, remains indispensable -- and one should rent it if you ain't got it.

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