 Poster: A snowHead
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I have been once, going again.
Last year I skied les houches, brevent/flegere and balme/le tour. I really like them all, though would like to try something new this year. I think I will definitely give les houches a pass this year. I am going for three days. I am an intermediate skier going with another intermediate. I can do easy blacks and am happy to tackle an easy challenge (i.e. an easy black). The only thing I don't want is being stuck somewhere where the only way down is a hard black.
Any suggestions? I haven't done grand montets, which I guess is next on the list. Oh, I won't have a car and will be staying in chamonix centre. so, easy access to suggested areas is key.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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you need to do the v.blanche for sure. The only place that you might get a bit stuck for routes down is from the top of brevent. its moguls are pretty deep and steep at the moment, you'd probably be alright though, you might just get down and think to yourself that you dont want to do it again!
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Argentiere was my favourite place in Chamonix, good range of slopes and some great off piste, with nice red runs near if you need to get back on-piste. Good moguls too. You can get the bus there.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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amps, in principle, you've now done everything in teh Chamonix valley apart from the Grands Montets other than venturing off piste, the obvious first step to which would be the Vallee Blanche. As long as conditions are reasonable it's no worse than an easy red (other than the path (which you can avoid) down from Montenvers which can (although I hear it's being pisted this year) be what north facing paths are often like, icy with hairpins). Take the train instead.
Grands Montets absolutely fine, no blacks necessary unless you want them.
You can of course nip through the tunnel and have a day (or more) in Courmayeur which is very different, often has entirely different weather and definitely has gerat food.
As a left field alternative, and I don't know how the costs stack up but don't buy a weeks pass and explore St Gervais/Megeve and/or Grand Massif too?
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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or Les Contamines - not much further, and very different.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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do i need a guide to do vallee blanche? or is it obvious how to get down safely?
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amps, you need a guide. Well you don't but unless you are experienced in navigating glaciated terrain, it's known to be fatal.
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ok. how do you go about getting a guide?
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Hmmm. Les contamines looks interesting. Do chamonix buses go there?
as for exploring st gervais or grand massif, I would love to, but it looks like a faff getting there from chamonix. No?
isn't argentiere the same grand montets?
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argentiere is the same yes.
buses dont go to contamines no. without a car its a pain to get too. st gervais is easier and quite nice. just get the train down to la fayete and then get a bus up from there. take probably 40-50 minutes i suppose to get to the lift.
try dream guides for the VB. You really do need one if your going up there....
there's a bus service on wednesday i think to go to italy, and there another on thursday i think to go verbier.
munchie in town does the best stake, jeckyl does a rack of ribs on sunday for a tenner and comedy night on monday, monkey does half price burgers on monday and its tequilla tuesday at the terrase on tuesday 
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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FAQ
I've skied it to death having run a few Army events there but my kids love it so we keep returning. I'm always surprised how quiet it is, especially given the guarantee of late snow that Megeve et al don't seem to have!! There's even a Telemark rental shop (Simonds) in town 