 Poster: A snowHead
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We are a few intermediate snowboarders who would love to "do" the VB in early March. We have a few questions and would really appreciate any advice:
- is early (2nd weekend) March a good time to do this? Or is a bit late and would likely snow quality at that time increase dangers due to crevasses?
- what guides do you recommend? Or is it pretty much just go the the Mountain Guides hut in town and get someone from there?
- is it OK to attempt this with fairly limited off-piste experience? We are all competent on most slopes, but off-piste experience is mostly "between the pistes" stuff.
- where to stay? Specific suggestions would be great. We'd be going for a long weekend (Thursday-Sunday) so I am guessing none of the usual Saturday-Saturday hotels/apartments/etc will really want us (particularly at that time of year - I think it is the end of French school holiday month). We're probably talking "mid-budget"; don't want to go to cheap and dirty but also as it's a bit of an "indulgence trip" (an extra, really) don't want to break the bank.
- any other tips?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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March is prime time for the VB
Check out Les Aiglons as a place to stay. Might be a bit toppish price wise but pretty good value for the standard of accommodation and close to the Aig du Midi lift
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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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Great time to do it, and yes you'll need a guide, suggest one from the main ski school etc. Take plenty of water and sunscreen, and avoid a big night the evening before, it's a great day but full on. Take plenty of pics. Can't really help re accom but plenty options on the Cham website, suggest you fire a few speculative emails off. Have fun, it's a great day.
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March is a good time to do it. Vallee Blanche classic sees lot of traffic so typically won't feel drastically different from piste so you can do without massive off-piste experience. Bring poles with you as a fair bit of it is flat. Guides de Chamonix is a very good company, you can book either in advance or upon arrival. For accommodation it really depends on your budget. We often stay in Alpina and it's about 100 euros per night per double (twin) room, i.e 50 euros per person, very nice hotel right in the centre. You can also check with booking.com what they can offer. Book soon.
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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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Book your slot on the cable car ahead of time (or the guide will do it for you). If you are good intermediates you might possibly be able to do it a second time by one of the steeper routes (ask the guide if you are up to it). If you started very early you could even fit both in one day!
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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I would try and go in the largest group you can to defray the cost of the guide (i.e. find another small group to go with). I wouldn't recommend going without one (don't think you can anyway) but I could have done the route more or less blindfold (again, not recommended) after the second time. If you want to check out the school holidays then check elsewhere on the site, some kind snowhead posted them recently.
And remember to take collapsible poles - believe me, you will need them. And the 'no drinking' thing that the Markster said - trust him. I avoid booze for 24 hours beforehand and make sure I am carrying a camelback with something a bit isotonic in it. At the top, any alcohol in your blood stream will create a disproportionate effect compared to the effect of the same amount at sea level - not recommended given the other factors at play.
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RattytheSnowRat, you can do it without a guide but, as you said, not a good idea.
The guide will also rope you up to walk down the famous arete at the top (easily the most scary part).
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Thanks guys & girls.
Wouldn't think of going without a guide - question is just which ones. I'd been to the top of the arete before and didn't think it warranted being roped up. Ms Boardiac and I went along to the top when some friends did it in January 2009, but I was a relative beginner at the time so didn't want to go down the VB. It has been a "must do" for me ever since.
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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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An alternative is to take the tunnel and ski the Italian side and then ski the Vallee Blanche from there (though that way you miss the arete)
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| Quote: |
didn't think it warranted being roped up
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Woah, one look down over the edge.........3km vert down to Cham and I was glad of it for piece of mind. 
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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We've done VB first weekend of March before. Stuart MacDonald took us, and I can highly recommend him http://stuartmacdonald.org/ I can also vouch for Les Aiglons. Decent hotel, close to buses and walkable into town.
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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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Lars at www.moutainpenguins.com specialises in guiding boarders. You will want to aski him what kit you need, Arvas, harnesses, etc.
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Normally the guide can lend or hire you the kit himself.
Sharing the cost of the guide is important - any chance of taking some friends along? Surely you'd think some guiding company must arrange groups. Finding a boarding group of your standard might be hard, though (the idea of poles is important - the long flat glacier can get sticky sometimes.)
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You know it makes sense.
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Thanks.
We're talking to some mates but we will probably end up being a group of 3 or 4.
Both the Mountain Penguins (the link was broken but www.mountainpenguins.com seems to work) and Stuart MacDonald looks good, though no specific mention for VB (though I am guessing it is a matter of a phone call away).
Any other tips?
Last edited by You know it makes sense. on Tue 11-09-12 10:50; 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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| Quote: |
RattytheSnowRat, you can do it without a guide but, as you said, not a good idea.
The guide will also rope you up to walk down the famous arete at the top (easily the most scary part).
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Actually being roped to a bunch of fubble footed dweebs with no idea about arrest techniques trying to puppy crawl down that arrete backwards is what scares me most about the whole experience. I take my own rope and light crampons and pair off with the lightest person I can just because the guide insisted you have to rope up. Next time I'll go guideless (prob Jan or March 2013 subject to work commitments) just for the craic but I'm mad (ie. don't do what I do). I also have used Stuart and he's worth his fee if you can get him talking. much knowledge there - is he still wearing those ratty multi-underlayers of Scottish wool or has he joined the C20th? Mind you, he was the one who said VB would not be prob on old style GS 210cm skis .....
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Poster: A snowHead
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RattytheSnowRat, I was going to say the same. Crampons give more confidence than being roped.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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boardiac, crampons or a rope, or both if you like belt and braces. If you don't have the crampons then let the guide rope you.
I'll pm you the number of a guide, he's a good lad used by a few snowHeads. We had to abandon his car in Italy once when an early start down the Toule glacier proved too hideous and we rode back up the Monte Bianco to do the Vallee from the Italian side, then twice more off the Aquille before the day was done. Slept well that night.
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FAQ
