Chamonix

Chamonix - Piste Ratings
Beginner	Intermediate	Advanced	Snowboarders	Off Piste

Chamonix

Chamonix is set at the foot of Europe's highest mountain, the Mont Blanc, which stretches an awesome 16,000 ft into the air.  This resort is part of the Mont Blanc region that covers 13 resorts with five main ski areas. One of these resorts, Argentiere, lies just 8kms further up the valley from Chamonix and is linked by an efficient bus service that is free with your lift pass.  The key feature of this area is the 24km Vallee Blanche run, which starts at 3842m and delivers you all the way back down to the resort.  Access to the top of the slope is somewhat treacherous; therefore it is essential that you take a guide with you.  This being said, the Vallee Blanche is not famous for its difficulty, it is well within the capabilities of any competent intermediate.  Its popularity is due to its being the most accessible ice wilderness in the whole of the Alps.  For more exciting variants on a theme try l’Envers du Plan and la Vraie Vallee Blanche. 

The main skiing is on the other side of the valley.  Plan Praz and la Flegere are great for beginners who want to progress beyond the nursery slopes which are based at le Savoy in the centre of the town.  Some good red runs are found just further up the mountain from le Savoy whilst several blacks descend steeply immediately below and as a result beginners would do well not to stray too far from their patch.  As the whole mountain is basically a snow park, boarders do not really need a man-made one, but someone built one anyway and it features a half-pipe and a variety of jumps.

The resort is a couple of hundred years old and its history is chronicled at the local museum.  Heritage tours of the local area are also available.  Less cerebral activities can be found at the sports centre which has a pool, gym and fitness suite.  Or for something a bit different head to Huskydalen and learn how to run a dog team.  The nightlife is one of the busiest in France and caters admirably to a range of punters, although the emphasis as ever is on the more hardened revellers.

Ski lift and piste statistics apply to Mont Blanc region. 

Check out our Chamonix Summer page

Snow Forecast

Recommended Runs

Col de Balme-Vallorcine
900m vertical

Grands Montets-Agentiere
'Pylones' and 'Piste a Ric' - 2'000m vertical

Grands Montets-Montenvers
'Pas de Chevre' and 'Vallee Blanche' - 1'350m vertical

Snow Forecast

View detailed snow forecast for Chamonix at:
snow-forecast.com