Chamonix in France is world known for its off piste skiing and if there is one run that is its signature then it is the Valle Blanche. 17 km of ski terrain atop a glacier in the shadow of Europe's tallest mountain, Mt Blanc. Nothing ever comes for free though. First there is a ride up a cable car that journey's along the longest single span cable in the world . That's a long piece of cable, very long, that stretches from the base station to the peak without a supporting pylon in the middle. You exit atop the Aiguille di Midi from which on a clear day affords you not only great views of Mt Blanc but most of the French and Swiss Alps. Then the real fun begins. With harness on and rope attaching you to your fellow skiers and guide you walk down a narrow ridge (Arete) with a 3,000 ft drop to one side and a 4,000 ft to the other. Oh, with crampons on your boots and whilst also carrying your skis over one shoulder and one hand gripped very tightly to the barrier rope. Gripped very tightly. Very tightly. But everything has a reward. Survive that and get safely past the many hidden crevasses on your journey down and you will have one of the great ski experiences of your life.
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| Valle Blanche Glacier |
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mSimTEmPlDs
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| Waiting station at the base of Aiguille di Midi...note temperature at the top |
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| Friends wait to take the longest single span cable car ride in the world to the top of Aiguille di Midi. |
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| View form atop Aiguille di Midi looking down the Arete that takes you to the Valle Blanche Glacier. Look hard enough and you can see the Matterhorn on the horizon. |
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| Looking back up the Arete towards the top of the Aiguille di Midi. You might be tempted to think the worst is over. |
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| The Valle Blanche Glacier at its very best. Untracked powder, blue skies and crevasses. Plenty of crevasses |
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| Life doesn't get too much better. |
Bored of France and its overpriced coffees ? Then simply take the 11km tunnel through the heart of Mt Blanc and 25 mins after leaving Chamonix you find yourself in Italy at Courameyer ski resort. Not only is the snow seemingly better (on this day) but it's also infinitely cheaper.
Breakfast in France, lunch in Italy and dinner in England.
Oh Europe, I love you.
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| Courameyer - Italy |
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| Piercing through the clouds in Courameyer. I wonder if there was a heaven if this is what the view might look like. |
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| Toys for the boys. Courameyer. |
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| Boys on boys toys. Courameyer. |
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Not a bad view to have from your back garden. Chamonix. France.
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I love these photos, especially the one of "piercing through the clouds". Courameyer.
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