GRANDS MONTETS - BRÉVENT - FLÉGÈRE - AIGUILLE DU MIDI - COURMAYEUR - HELBRONNER
Ski the high mountain itineraries of the Mont Blanc massif.
Chamonix is THE place to go if you are an off-piste / powder skier and high mountain enthusiasts. In the streets of this famous “city of high mountains” you can hear all languages being spoken. The summit of Mont Blanc, which dominates the streets of Chamonix with its 4810 meters of snow, ice and rocks, gives its city center a unique atmosphere.
Nestled between the Mont-Blanc massif and the Aiguille Rouge massif, the Chamonix valley opens onto an immense ski area divided into 5 resorts: Les Grands Montets, Brévent/Flégère, Domaine de Balme, Les Houches and L’Aiguille du Midi/Vallée Blanche.
Two days and one night at the Torino hut in Italy allow you to discover the “Himalayan” side of Mont Blanc and to cross the sumptuous glaciers of the Mont Blanc massif in order to ski back to Chamonix.
What you will do during your trip
You will ski off-piste for six days, discovering the Mont Blanc massif and its high mountain landscapes as you have never seen them before.
Performing descents of 1,500 to 2,000 meters of vertical drop between granite peaks and gigantic glaciers.
Spending a night at 3375 mts high in a mountain hut on the Italian side of the Mont Blanc massif.
Frequently asked questions
The 9V guides use and recommend backcountry skis from 95 mm to 120 mm wide, depending on your size. Fitted with pin-type touring bindings with ski stops, these skis are fairly light, allowing you to ski with ease and save your legs in all types of snow. We recommend 4-hook freerando boots with 60° of travel.
Nop, we rather be slackcountry skiing. Slackcountry or sidecountry skiing is a mix of classic freeride/powder skiing with one or more short walks on foot or with skins from the top of the lifts. The aim is to quickly reach the beautiful powdery, trackless slopes, even when it hasn’t snowed for a long time. The emphasis is on the pleasure of the descent rather than the effort of the ascent.
Slackcountry skiing is THE powder guarantee!
TRAVEL BAG AND SKI BAG
As we travel by plane, boat, car or minibus, space is often at a premium. So it’s best to keep your luggage small and easy to carry. We advise you to travel with a soft duffel bag with wheels, a soft ski sleeve without wheels and a separate ski boot bag.
BACKPACK (25 / 35 liters with carrying strap for skis) for the day’s essentials:
– warm down jacket at the bottom of the bag,
– goggles with a screen for bad weather,
– neck warmer against wind, cold, powder and sun,
– high-protection sun cream for face and lips,
– spare gloves if you fall down a lot, or mittens if you’re afraid of the cold,
– thermos flask if it’s cold or camel bag if it’s mild,
– dried fruit, chocolate, energy bars,
– survival blanket, shovel and probe.
CLOTHING
You’ll spend a lot more time in ski clothes than in après-ski gear.
At any time of year, the weather can be fine and mild, or extremely cold, snowy or rainy.
Make sure you wear weather-appropriate clothing: During a snowstorm, skiing is fantastic in the forest. Pack an extra layer of clothing in your daypack to adapt to any changes in temperature. Temperatures vary with altitude, on the order of 10°C per 1000 meters. As a result, the difference in temperature between the valley and the summit can vary by 20° or more with the effect of the wind.
If you’re properly equipped, you’ll enjoy skiing whatever the weather. We ski in all weathers.
If you have an avalanche transceiver, we advise you to bring it with you. If it’s an old model, it’s a good opportunity to check that it’s working properly, and to practice with it. If it’s brand new, it’s important to use it as often as possible to familiarize yourself with its operation. Regular training is the only way to be efficient when you need it! If you don’t have a transceiver, please let us know on the registration form and we’ll provide you with one when possible.
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Program
DAY 1: Meet at hotel L’Aiguille du Midi
Meeting at 6.30 p.m. – Meeting with the guide, checking of everyone’s equipment and distribution of the safety equipment provided. Meal and overnight at the hotel.
DAY 2: La Balme / Le Tour
We go to Le Tour, this small ski area located 15 km from Chamonix offers ideal off-piste itineraries to warm up.
DAY 3: Brévent / Flégère
Direction le Brévent just above Chamonix. We will ski on the sunny side, facing the Mont-Blanc: a breathtaking panorama! The junction with La Flégère the ski area will allow us to ski in a multitude of snow and slopes. When there is enough snow, it is possible to ski down to the center of Chamonix on skis.
DAY 4: Les Grands Montets
A superb day’s skiing at the foot of Mont Blanc thanks to the Grands Montets ski lifts, the most famous off-piste skiing area in the valley. At the top of the cable car, the snow sheltered by the north face of the Aiguille Verte remains very fresh. From the top of the glaciers to the bottom of the valley, the ski itineraries accessible from there are among the most beautiful on the “ski planet”.
DAY 5: Courmayeur – Torino mountain hut
Off-piste day in Italy, on the other side of the Mont Blanc tunnel. We will ski the Toule glacier, which rises to an altitude of 3462mts, to descend its 1000mts of vertical drop before reaching our refuge for an evening up high in the mountain.
DAY 6: Punta Helbronner – Glacier de la Vierge – Chamonix
After a good Italian-style breakfast, a short sealskin ascent on the virgin glacier will give us access to a long and beautiful descent to Chamonix.
DAY 7: Aiguille du Midi – Vallée Blanche
You can’t come to Chamonix without descending the famous Vallée Blanche: 24 km of glacier skiing in a majestic setting. Here again, you will be in the heart of the largest glaciated area in the French Alps. Start at 3842 mts high at the top of the Aiguille du Midi, to finish some 2800 m lower in Chamonix valley …
DAY 8: Breakfast – End of Ski Safari
The program is subject to change depending on the conditions on the ground and the fitness of the participants.
Hotels and Huts
Hotels and Huts
HOTEL AIGUILLE DU MIDI While enjoying the tranquility of the village of Bossons, the hotel is connected to the city center by a local bus every half hour. The center is just 3 km from the center of Chamonix.essible by a local bus every half hour, is only 3 km from the center of Chamonix. For more than 100 years, the hotel has perpetuated its values: the mountain spirit, the passion for hospitality, the sense of taste and the pleasures of the table. The dinner served by the hotel is a true moment of gustatory happiness. The hotel also has a sauna and jacuzzi to relax after a good day of skiing.
RIFUGIO TORINO The Torino mountain hut is located at the arrival of the modern panoramic helbronner gondola lift, straddling the communes of Courmayeur in the Aosta Valley and Chamonix-Mont-Blanc in Haute-Savoie, in the Mont-Blanc massif, at an altitude of 3,375 meters. The Torino rmountain hut will host us in dormitories. Shared bathroom. Due to the frequent shortage of water, we cannot guarantee the service of showers and we recommend using the toilets in moderation.
Included
Included 9V GUIDES
Full-time supervision for 6/7 people by a fully qualified UIAGM / IFMGA mountain guide.
LIFT PASSES
6 days ski pass for all the ski resorts we cross.
ACCOMMODATION
7 nights half board on a double room basis.
– 6 nights at the Aiguille du Midi hotel, with buffet breakfast and gourmet dinner.
– 1 night at the Torino mountain hut, with breakfast and dinner.
SAFETY GEAR
RESCUE EQUIPMENT
Not included
Not included RESCUE INSURANCE
TRIP INSURANCE
SINGLE ROOM
BACKCOUNTRY / SIDECOUNTRY SKIS
AVALANCHE AIR BAG RUCKSACK
LUNCHES
DRINKS
Often group members will pool their money for wine at the dinner table.
