 Poster: A snowHead
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Hi first post here in snowheads so apologies if this has been covered before.
I've booked a holiday to chamonix for mid April and see that it's only really Les Grand Montets still open. I've been skiing a few times and the last time I spent two weeks concentrating off piste and on touring. I want to challenge myself I hear GM is some of the best off piste around but I'm starting to wonder what it will really be like with my experience. I'm confident off piste, on black runs and moguls but it sounds like GM is a whole different level. Any replies appreciated thanks!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| petermcmichael92 wrote: |
| I'm confident off piste, on black runs and moguls |
Welcome to 
If the above it true you'll have no problems!
We had a great May Day bank holiday at the Grand Montets a few years ago, hopefully mid April will still have plenty of snow for you
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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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Thanks for the reply, another quick question - any idea on the cheapest place in the area to rent a transceiver, probe and shovel? Not sure how far off track I plan on going but the kit's always handy to have just in case. Thanks
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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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petermcmichael92, if you are on your own, then don't bother with renting the kit. (you will have no need to search+dig, and if you get buried then you are dead in 15 mins anyway.)
If you are in a group, then yes...and also seek out a training area and give the kit (and yourself) a through test. There is Much Much more to saving a buried colleague than casually following a beeping gadget and dusting the snow off.
If an avalanche occurs, the buried person will almost certainly be outside the 35m range of your transceiver. So you need a plan before you even start moving on the hill.
Take your skis off and go for a walk about in deep snow on a steep slope for a few minutes. Its very hard work to get anywhere. Now imagine doing it under severe time pressure, trying to read a transceiver, with other people floundering about shouting, who you may be following because they have forgotten to switch their transceiver over to search...then finding the buried person is uphill from you...
Depending on your experience, it may be a good idea to get a local guide for the off piste. They will show you the best areas, and hopefully give you some idea about using the transceiver, shovel and probe.
There is a Avalanche Transceiver Practice Park in Grand Montets somewhere - give it a try - you will be better prepared (and it is fun!). Unfortunately I find it hard to convince my ski buddies to stop skiing for a couple of hours to do this - but I want them trained so they can rescue me if the other avalanche avoidance techniques don't work out. (look for the warning flags...chat to piste patrollers...look at the snow....the slope shape....other slides on similar facing and altitude....etc...
Have a good ski 
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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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Thanks for the info, there's only 2 of us heading out and having never been to GM I'll likely look into a guide if I can afford it, they seem pretty expensive. Is there any need for a guide if sticking to the marked routes there? I've done training in the past but as you say finding a person is probably very different to finding a transceiver the instructor has buried in the snow.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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"Marked routes" and "off piste" are mutually exclusive on GM (and most other places).
There may be more than just GM open depending on snow conditions; the other areas can stay open longer.
The guides are pretty much the same price as most other resorts, if not a bit cheaper. About €350-400/day which for an experienced professional working seasonally in a high risk occupation (check out the argentiere cemetery...) strikes me as exceptionally cheap.
The SCGB in Argentiere tend to do a lot of the off piste and also arrange a guided day where you might be able to split the cost.
Or, you could just follow tacks and see where they lead you 
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petermcmichael92, you might be able to join an organised group doing some off-piste. The UCPA will probably be doing it (but presumably you're not staying there) but there are others too - you could try the ESF - a week in their top group would cost a lot less than hiring your own guide between two of you.
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petermcmichael92, I went to Chamonix for the first time in january and had a great time. I love skiing off piste but am not a great skier and not the most confidant either but we skied off piste about 90% of our time there as there was just so much that was really easy to see. Following peoples ttracks is stupid but the layout of GM means you can spot routes from the lift or from the top of the piste. Like you I was a little intimidated by Chamonix's reputation and while there is obviously loads of gnarly stuff there is also loads of really fun off piste that any reasonably confident skier would love. We had planned to hire a guide but didn't end up doing that as we found plenty to ski on our own and to be honest I wouldn't really have wanted a guide for what we skied. If you want something a bit more exciting and that isn't obvious from the lifts then a guide would be great but I doubt you would run out of routes to ski if you didn't. Safety wise I was happy with what we skied and I am pretty cautious. The only thing which I found steep was directly under the top GM cable car, I would have guessed this as being in the low 30 degrees so in the avalanche prone slopes but we skied it a few days after a not so heavy snowfall and again I was totally happy with this. As long as you are not a complete off piste noob, which it sounds like you aren't then I would say go out there, be cautious, but you should find plenty to ski on your own.
Oh and if Flegere is open go there as well as again loads of obvious off piste.
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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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| Quote: |
if Flegere is open go there as well as again loads of obvious off piste.
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due to close mid-month, I think.
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There is fabulous touring opportunities off the aguille du midi with a guide - given the height there is definitely no problem with the snow at that time.
Just to add - higher spots in Chamonix have crevasse risk in addition to avalanche and having see someone rescued from a crevasse in Zermatt commands a great deal of respect from me!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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petermcmichael92, there's lots of great skiing which is probably technically off piste (e.g. Skiers right off Hearse chair) but is very much skied as though it is a piste. Easily enough to do for a few days without a guide.
That said, it's kind of hard to explain. Absolutely fine for an April week, you will probably want to take a guide for a couple of days. Should be lovely.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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How is Montets pronounced?
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| FullyTucked wrote: |
| How is Montets pronounced? |
Mon taa
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You know it makes sense.
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Cheers.Me and my mate had been calling it Mon tets 
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Thanks for all the replies folks, been givin a lot to think about here. Is say I'll definitely get a guide for Aguille du midi and as for GM I'll grab a piste map, and if I get a bit adventurous feeling try and get a few skiers together and get a guide sorted. It sounds like there's plenty to ski without a guide anyway I'll just see when I get there, all part of the fun I suppose! Oh and I was calling it "mon tets" aswell, I speak German better than french. I'll call it "mon taa" on the day
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Poster: A snowHead
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| jbob wrote: |
| FullyTucked wrote: |
| How is Montets pronounced? |
Mon taa |
Not mon tey?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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The Tay the Tay, it flows by Dundee everyday, the Tay.
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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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capability, yes, it is montay (though of course it's French so the "n" isn't quite there, and neither is the "d"). FullyTucked, he's having you on. Don't believe everything you read on the interent....
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FAQ
