 Poster: A snowHead
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Hi Folks.
I am off skiing with my daughter next Month in Chamonix.
I would love to do the Vallee Blanche while my Daughter has a shopping Day but not sure of the required standard to do it.
I have been skiing for around 10 yrs but only for a week each yr at most.
I would really appreciate advice!
Thanks All 
intra@fsmail.net
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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If you can ski most reds and some blacks comfortably you should be fine - the worst part is the walk down the arette before you even get your skis on. Don't forget your camera !!
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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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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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moscow, Skiing level as per masmith, but you must go with a Guide and be properly equipped, ski with a harness on and not deviate from the route that the Guide takes.
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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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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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The basic Vallee Blanche is very easy off piste - but you do need to have some experience of off-piste since you will be far from any piste and there is no turning back. Any intermediate with some experience of off piste should be OK. But you must, of course, do it with a qualified guide - the place is full of concealed cravasses.
As a first experience of true off-piste, far from any piste or man-made structure, this is a wonderful experience. Anyone experienced off-piste skier wanting ski challenge should do one of the alternative routes.
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Does anyone have any idea how much a guide for the VB would cost a group based in Morzine?
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Swirly, I normally use this lot. Always had excellent and friendly service, at IIRC €280/day last year (+ you pay your own lift ticket of course). Phone up and book a day or two in advance. IIRC they will take up to 8/group for the classic route, 6 for the more advanced level routes or 4 for the Gd Envers (if you're experts and conditions permit) - although the price may go up a little for the larger groups. If you're a reasonably fast group one descent will only take half a day, so you could do it twice in a day, or that plus something else, or if you're into touring you can do one of the many skinning sidetrips. They don't seem to have a price list for this year up though. If it's only a couple of you and you are happy doing the standard route they will put together ad hoc groups, at something like €60/person/descent.
moscow, what snowball said. As said to Swirly the group in the above link put together ad hoc groups. Also the main Compagnie des Guides do the same.
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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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Does anyone know if it's been skied this year? By tourist/ punters, rather than the more off-piste acquainted, I mean!
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rainman, usually doesn't open until the 2nd week of Jan. Compagnie des Guides will be able to advise you.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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I'll try and post some footage of the arrete some time soon....been meaning to put this up for a while, just to show people something of what to expect, but pics just don't the scenery much justice..as good as they may be.
If this is to be a big day in your stay, try and pick the best weather day as you'll want blue skies and no winds on the arrete. It can take a long time to get groups off the ridge and it can be cold, so at least you want to be doing that in the sun, IMV
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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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I agree. You do want fairly impeccable weather for that run, because you'll be enjoying it for hours. It's not a place to be cold or exposed.
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A friend of mine is repping in CHamonix this season, I know he did the Vallée blanche a few times over xmas /new year when his wife was out to visit
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You know it makes sense.
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Nice mountain experience, not difficult skiing. First bit not for those scared of heights.
Last edited by You know it makes sense. on Mon 7-01-08 19:04; edited 1 time in total
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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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David@traxvax, thanks. I'm out there a week on Sunday (hooray!) so will get in contact a few days before.
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Poster: A snowHead
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I'm in Chamonix this weekend (March 12/13). Would love to do the Vallee Blanche (easiest, "classic" route), but I'll be on my own... so don't really want to pay ~300 euros for a private guide. Anyone know of any groups I can join?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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jerrybiscuits, go to either the Bureau des Guides, http://www.chamonix-guides.com/index.php?langue=en&typesaison=1 (near the church) or the Independent Guides bureau (AIGMB, http://www.guides-du-montblanc.com/en.html ) in the Rue des Moulins (I've always had excellent service from the latter) and they'll put you in a group. They do groups most days for the classic route. It's a bit more difficult if you want to do something a bit more adventurous, but for the classic route it's a common occurrence. Probably worth dropping them a phone call or email before you get there to get a place.
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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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jerrybiscuits, Evolution 2 do guided groups down the Vallee Blache for €79 and given the mix of clients they get I expect they only usually do the classic route.
When we were in Cham early feb it wasn't possible to do the bottom half of the classic route, as there had been insufficient snow to fill the crevasses so groups were doing the bottom of the Grand Envers (think this is the one) instead. Not sure how the snow's holding up there now, there's been more snowfall since we were there but not sure how much.
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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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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Thanks all, will follow these up.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Here is the ridge:
Glaciers are quite open at the moment. I was going to take some people down it last week but decided to change the programme.
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Lovely pics. I also have found AIGMB and Evo2 to be very good.
It's pretty open at the moment and I think they are generally only taking people who are good skiers - recent email said people must be able to "make controlled, short turns in all off-piste conditions...to avoid obstacles (you know what I mean)". Probably much better snow and conditions elsewhere as davidof says...
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davidof, nice pic but it doesn't show how long and steep the slope is each side of those people.
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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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just guessing but 400 m on the right (looking down the mountain) and 1000m on the left.
You wouldn't want to fall would you?
During the ski season there is a rope, but the track down gets horribly rutted and icy... whereas when we walked down it was just icy.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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nice picture which prompted a trip down memory lane for my 13 year old who has just dug out all the pics he took when he did it (so he tells me, I was escorting the mother in law round Sallanches instead) a couple of years ago.
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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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Was there last week. They would only let people ski off the top with a guide.
Having children myself to refer to, I would guess the kids we saw getting roped up at the top, with the guides before they walked the ridge to be 8/9 years old.
If you get some fresh as we did, there is plenty off piste accesable from most ski areas in the valley, without to much of a walk.
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the worst part is the walk down the arette before you even get your skis on.
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Personally, the walk at the beginning was cool, I thought the worst bit was climbing out the other end  lol
I did it a couple of years ago - it was an amazing day I'd recommend. There are a number of ways down according to your standard but there are some parts where you absolutely have to be in control and reasonably confident. We went in a group and had one slightly nervous skier - she twisted her knee and had to helicoptered off the mountain - which was amazing to watch but took some time. An interesting fact about Chamonix is you don't pay for a medical helicopter, its considered to be part of the mountain costs covered locally. The guide will also make sure you are capable - they refused one guy who wanted to come with our group.
Also, as I understand a number of people have been killed by falling in crevasses in the Vallee Blanche this year and one was a guide.
Its brilliant to do but investment in a good guide is money well spent.
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You know it makes sense.
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jerrybiscuits,
If you can come back another time to do it maybe think about that. The snow bridges on the crevasses are now very weak so the risk level is much higher than it might be at other times. You can get advice from the office of the high mountain in chamonix to help you weigh up the risks. (Google Ohm chamonix I think)
Alternatively, I skied the glacier at Grands Montets this week and there is some great skiing to be done there (guided)
Hope you enjoy your trip to Chamonix. We may not be having an epic year for snow fall but the weather is fantastic at the moment.
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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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If anyone is worried about that walk at the top you don't do it if you take the lift up from the courmayeur side.
I think we must have started just below the ridge as my memory is of starting off doing a few turns in deep snow. I think there was a point where you had to side slip down as there was a crevasse and no room to turn. That was the hardest bit. I was lucky to be able to ski the vallee blanche on a sunny day with blue skies and the views were amazing. The most enjoyable days skiing I've had.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Hope the OP got back ok since not sure he's been around these parts since...
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kewhoward, if everyone who asks for advice and then doesn't get back either to read it, or to tell us what happened, had fallen down a crevasse, they wouldn't need snow bridges. 
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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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pam w, thanks for that... i now have a pretty grusome mental picture of crevasses piled high with corpses with people skiing over them!!! 
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