We arrived just in time for a powder run! Caught the first run up the Grand Montets and hit La Face (D) (Glacier Pendant) for some knee high POWPOW. After a 45 min wait for the tram, it was tracked up so we went down the otherside and skied Combe de Point Géodesique (D). Another 60 min wait and we headed down the Couloir Rectiligne (TD), which is really cool!! This is a 40-45 degree couloir two left from the Pas de Chevre, and really much better. It is rock lined for 300m and between 10-30m wide. The snow was pretty mushy by the time we got there, so you have to watch out for ejecting from your bindings. The line drops onto the Nant Blanc glacier with wide open quasi powder skiing. Finally, there is a down climb and a rocky skid or hike down to the Mer de Glace, which skis across to the Montvers. A slog up 284 steps leads to a 30 min line to get up the Gondola and another 45min line to get on the train back to town. Guides report that something like 4000 people are skiing down to the Montvers at this time of year! We are getting really good at waiting in line!
Next day, we hit the Aguille de Midi at 8:15 (whoops no line?) and skied the Vallée Blanche just to see how flat it really was. Answer: really flat and fozen up hard in the morning. Lots of chatter. Back up to the Montvers train and down to town. A walk over to the Aguille de Midi Tram, and whoops no line? This time we skied the Grand Envers (TD) and really awesome, with several 40-45 degree sections. And finally, the big end of day line epic at the Montvers....
5 runs of 3x1300m and 2x2000m and our legs needed a rest day.... Here are some photos for your viewing pleasure.
After this warm up and a rest day, we continued skiing off the Aguille de Midi for another 4 days, which is illustrated with more photos in TR: Chamonix 4/8-4/11
Starting the piste from the Grands Montets (of course, we went the other way, seen in the next photo), April 5, 2007
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Powder skiing on La Face on the Glacier Pendant off the Grand Montets, April 5, 2007
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Starting the Pas de Chevre, April 5, 2007
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Pas de Chevre is the couloir on the left, with the Couloir Rectilinge two couloirs right, April 5, 2007
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Mont Blanc from the Couloir Rectilinge, April 5, 2007
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Looking down the Couloir Rectiligne, April 5, 2007
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Mont Blanc from the Couloir Rectiligne, April 5, 2007
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Glacier Nant Blanc below the Couloir Rectiligne, April 5, 2007
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Couloir Rectilinge on the left, April 5, 2007
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Glacier Nant Blanc with tracks from the Couloir Rectiligne, April 5, 2007
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Montvers from the Glacier Nant Blanc, April 5, 2007
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Sketchy descent to the Mer de Glace, April 5, 2007
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Slogging up 284 steps to the gondola at Montvers, April 5, 2007
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Descent from the télépherique station, Aguille de Midi, April 6, 2007
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Vallée Blanche and Mount Blanc de Tacul, April 6, 2007
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Aguille de Midi from the Vallée Blanche, April 6, 2007
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Rescue helicopter flying over the Valée Blanche, April 6, 2007
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Mont Blanc de Tacul with the Super Couloir center (1000m ice route M6, 5+) and the Gervasutti Couloir right, April 6, 2007
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Petit Rognon tower half way down the Vallée Blanche, April 6, 2007
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Aguille de Midi, April 6, 2007
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1st steep snow field on the Grand Envers, April 6, 2007
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2nd steep snow field on the Grand Envers, April 6, 2007
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Séracs du Géanton the Vallée Blanche from the Grand Envers, April 6, 2007
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Skiers on the 3rd steep snow field on the Grand Envers, April 6, 2007
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Looking down the last snow field before the Vallée Blanche, April 6, 2007
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Observe the 12x12 foot serac at the bottom of the last snow field on the Grand Envers, April 6, 2007
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Looking up the Vallée Blanche with the Walker Spur in the background, April 6, 2007
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Return to Montvers on the Vallée Blanche, April 6, 2007
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