Winter Activities

Chamonix is probably quite unique as it offers much more than the typical ski resort as it really is a town in it’s own right.

Skiing & Snowboarding
There are 5 ski areas around Chamonix, each with it’s own character, they are not particularly joined up by skiing, but they do join up by the local resort bus. Each ski area has plenty of scope for a good full days skiing, it is best not to waste time in the middle of the day travelling between different areas. 

Skiing/ Mountain Resort Stats:
Top Elevation/Lift: 3,842m/ 12,678'
Base Elevation: 1035m/ 3415'
Vertical Drop: 2807m/ 9263'
Longest Run: 21km/ 13mi
Total Runs: 170km/ 106mi
Beginner: 23%
Intermediate:31%
Advanced: 33%
Expert: 13%
Cross Country: 42 km

Snowboarding:
1 Terrain park
2 Halfpipes

Ski Lifts:
Total Lifts: 49 (Cham'ski pass)
Gondolas/cable cars: 13
Chair Lifts: 16
Surface Lifts: 19
Uplift capacity: 52,660 per/hour
Mont Blanc Unlimited ski pass includes Chamonix plus Courmeyeur, Italy

Brevant – accessible from the town centre, and with a shiny new access lift this year. Generally quite wide slopes with beginner and intermediate grades, along with a couple of good steep runs suitable for off-piste & advanced skiers. The ski area faces south so is excellent for sun early season, but late season can get a wee bit slushy in the afternoons.

Flegere – accessible from Le Praz and also linked to Brevant. Wide slopes, with quite a few grades – nice reds, blues & greens. Lots of possibilities to ski in amongst the trees, so an excellent place for advanced / off-piste skiers in bad weather. Scene of chest deep powder skiing during 2007/8 season ! The cable car access can get quite crowded so it is well worth getting there before 09:00 in the morning. South facing so good for sun, but high enough that snow stays really quite good. Access to some great ski touring in the Aiguilles Rouge via the Index lift.

La Tour (La Balme) – offers a huge area, great for all levels. There are good beginners slopes at the very bottom as well as high up. Intermediates appreciate the wide open runs – cruisy blues & reds. Advanced skiers have access to some excellent off-piste, although some areas are highly avalanche prone.
The area links into Vallorcine, with some really nice tree runs on that side.

Grands Montets – if probably the best off-piste skiing in Europe, possibly the World. There are huge areas accessible from the Bochard Lift (Lavancher Bowl) and of course from the Grands Montets top lift skiing down the Grand Mur or onto the Argentiere Glacier. Many parts of this area are on glaciers and / or have significant avalanche risk.
Within the marked & patrolled pistes there are excellent reds & blacks well suited to intermediate & advanced skiers.
On a powder day then get up early to get an early bin – we can also help you make reservations for the top lift.

Les Houches – last year was included in the Mont Blanc Unlimited pass and is excellent for beginners & intermediates. Generally wide, open pistes, with plenty of green, blue & red slopes. Also home to the Kandahar Downhill course – easy enough to ski with plenty of turns, but straight line after it has been iced for the race it is best just to spectate !

For latest ski conditions check out
www.compagniedumontblanc.fr

For latest weather conditions check
www.chamonix-weather.com

Off-Piste

Chamonix has some of the best off-piste skiing available anywhere. We want you to make the most of it, have adventure and to come back safe.

We strongly recommend using a local guide for 2 reasons:-
Safety – it is very, very rare for guided clients to get injured or killed whilst skiing with a guide. The guides can read the avalanche risk, know the underlying terrain and know what the weather & snow pack has done the weeks previous. The vast majority of accidents & rescues off-piste involve unguided skiers / boarders.
Enjoyment – a guide knows where and when to find the best snow. He or she can help you push your limits without crossing into outright danger. They have priority in the lift queues so you can maximize your day.

If you want to ski off-piste without a guide then:-
Carry a transceiver, shovel & probe & learn how to use them
Get knowledge of avalanche risk and get local advice on conditions and current risk factor.
If you plan to ski on a off-piste glacier then wear harnesses, carry crevasse rescue gear (rope, ice screws, pulley, belay & prusiks) and know how to use it.

Learn more about avalanche risk from Henry’s Avalanche Talks held each week in Chamonix

Off Piste Ski Areas
Grand Montets – perfect after a big dump, huge areas to put down tracks. Be warned though it does get tracked out amazingly quickly by the Chamonix locals.
Le Tour – wide open slopes on the way down to Vallorcine are quite avalanche prone – best to wait a day or so, some excellent tree runs.
Flegere – best place to be when it’s snowing hard – great tree runs, minimal people.
Aiguille du Midi – access the famous Vallee Blanche, 22kms off piste. A variety of routes varying from strong intermediate (stylish on a red, get down a black) through to steep & deep for experts only. Highly recommend going with a guide as it is very crevassed in places.

In the chalet we have a variety of off-piste guide books & maps available, plus are happy to advise on routes, conditions and of course organise guiding.

Ski Touring / Randonee
Chamonix is a superb place to use as a base for Ski Touring, either day tours or hut to hut later in the season. If you have little experience of ski touring then it’s best to get some instruction / guiding – just let us know and we can easily book this for you.
If you have already experience in ski touring then there are several excellent guidebooks on touring in the Chamonix area - check out www.cicerone.co.uk for link.

Snow Shoeing
Snow shoeing is an excellent way for non-skiers, or intermediate level skiers to experience the back country in winter. You can snow shoe at many different levels – easy trails through the forest, along the valley or full on high altitude glacier trekking.
We use www.tracks-and-trails.com who offer a variety of levels, and in fact have some all-inclusive trips based from the chalet.

Cross Country Skiing
There are 2 cross country ski tracks in the Chamonix Valley. Cross country is a great way to experience the skiing without throwing yourself downhill. It is very low impact and can be practiced by all ages and abilities. Hire kit is easily available and lessons are available from www.tracks-and-trails.com.
For athletes cross country offers a chance to gain a full body workout, with little risk of injury.

 

Hot Springs
After all these activities we have the luck to be within fairly easy access of some hot-springs !
Les Bain de Lavey – is about 50 mins drive away into Switzerland over the mountain pass. It is a large complex with hot tubs, saunas, large pool, whirl pool, water jets, Turkish steam rooms – this links quite well with skiing at Le Tour / Vallorcine then driving directly to the springs. www.lavey-les-bains.ch
Terme di Pre Saint Didier – is about 40 mins drive into Italy through the Mont Blanc tunnel. It is much smaller than Bain de Lavey, with a more luxurious feel – bathrobes, free snacks, candles and excellent mountain views all adding to the experience. It is made up of a series of linked outside pools with water jets and separate saunas. Inside there are a variety of steam rooms, salt caves and relaxation areas. This trip links in really well with skiing in Italy for the day. www.termedipre.it

 

Panda Club
For those of you with children www.evolution2-chamonix.com run the Panda Club for children aged 3 to 12, with a variety of options of half day or full day lessons. The package includes collection from the chalet each day. Full details on the EVO 2 website above.

Italy
We can drive from the Chalet to Courmayaeur in Italy in about 20 mins. Skiing in Courmayaeur is included in the Mont Blanc Unlimited ski pass. The skiing there is on wide sunny slopes, excellent for intermediate level skiers. Mountain restaurants are very reasonably priced in Italy – so make the most of it and have a leisurely lunch in the sunshine.
We often make a day trip from the chalet, ski at Courmayaeur, après ski in the town, onto the hot springs at Pre St Didier and followed off with a pizza before driving back to Chamonix – a full on day of excitement & contrasts.

Others
Museum, Montenver, Aiguille du Midi, ice rink, swimming pool, climbing wall, wine tasting