First Ski Trip in Europe - Chamonix April 12-16, 2019

My wife and I visited Chamonix on our first trip to France 10 years ago in late September and ever since its been a dream to return and someday ski there. Finally made it happen last month! Working at a ski area, its hard to get away during the season, so we made mid-April plans and it all worked out as our area closed on April 8th. I knew we'd want to tour and not having glacier travel experience that we'd want a guide. As it happens, my wife's childhood friend and classmate became a mountain guide and has been based out of Chamonix full time for 4 years or so now, so we had that angle covered. We flew in to Geneva and got a shuttle to Chamonix on the 10th and took the 11th to settle in and recuperate from the flights.

Day 1 -April 12
Started at Brevent and rode up the Planpraz gondola to mid station, skied down to Cornu lift and rode that to start the tour. Low clouds in the valley gave way to brilliant bluebird in the alpine as we skinned above the Cornu top station.
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Found some nice soft snow on a firm base up top as we dropped over to the other side of the Aiguilles Rouges
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From there we skinned up a valley to another saddle and then a descent down to the Le Buet station to catch the train back to Chamonix
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Super fun first day in the books!

Beautiful day!

Looks like you had fun!

Day 2- April 13
Col du Passon
Another nice day with plenty of sun as we started skinning from Grand Montets up next to the Argentière Glacier
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Transition to a short bootpack
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more skinning and great views
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another longer, steeper bootpack
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topping out
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down to Le Tour
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some combat skiing at the end
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great 2nd day and a beautiful evening sunset back in town
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Dope TR. Cham looks incredible every time. Keep 'em coming.

You're a lucky man

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Originally Posted by Mike Pow

You're a lucky man

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I was thinking the same thing

Awesome. We did something similar to your day one.........because we ended up at the same spot for beers :D It's fun to look see photos and be able to know exactly where it is.

So when are we going back?

Day 3- April 14
My wife took a rest day, so our guide Kris and I made a plan for something a bit sportier and headed up the Midi with the Cosmiques couloir in mind. It turned out to be a bit sportier than intended, but I guess that's Chamonix! The Midi is amazing in it's own right and makes the Big Sky tram look like the Bridger Snowflake chair.
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Rappelled into the Cosmiques hoping for chalky buff...
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After the 50 meter rappel, which was kinda scary in its own right, I waited as Kris followed after me and we regrouped and he took me off the rope. Conditions turned out to be very, very firm...slide for life and steep. The steep was fine, the surface conditions not so much! After a puckering 15 meter or so of inch by inch side stepping down to a reasonably enough levelish spot to regroup, we decided it would be safer for us to abandon our skiing plans and climb out. Off with the skis and on with the boot crampons and out with the ice axe!
Climbing out..."Hey, I'm really ski mountaineering, now!"
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Happy to not be as gripped...Welcome to Chamonix!
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With that excitement over with, it was a pleasant ski down the iconic Vallée Blanche, another lifelong skier's dream
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The beer sure tasted good at the Montenvers train station after the day's exploits and the climb up the stairs to the gondola. A memorable day in the mountains in a truly amazing place!

Nice pictures. Chamonix best skied in your 30's. Just got back from my fifty second ski trip to Europe, hope to go again.

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Originally Posted by RudiMatt

Nice pictures. Chamonix best skied in your 30's. Just got back from my fifty second ski trip to Europe, hope to go again.

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Well, I didn't make it over to ski until I turned 50, but better late than never. It won't be 10 years before we return!

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Originally Posted by easyrdr

Awesome. We did something similar to your day one.........because we ended up at the same spot for beers :D It's fun to look see photos and be able to know exactly where it is.

So when are we going back?

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I enjoyed your TR as we were there at nearly the same time and you got me inspired to go through our pictures! I'd love to go back sooner rather than later, that's for sure!

Awesome pics is some classic places! This should be reference for the "do I need a guide in Cham?" question. Could you self guide from Brevant to Buet if the weather closed in? Could you find, rap in and climb out of the Cosmiques?

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Originally Posted by Foggy_Goggles

Awesome pics is some classic places! This should be reference for the "do I need a guide in Cham?" question. Could you self guide from Brevant to Buet if the weather closed in? Could you find, rap in and climb out of the Cosmiques?

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No, and no, which made the guide question an easy one to answer in the affirmative.

Most excellent!

Nice dude!

Nice!! Between you and easyrdr, I'm getting randy for Chamonix...

Okay, since I've written off this trip partly due to age, I have to ask: How old are you?

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Originally Posted by GoldMember

Nice!! Between you and easyrdr, I'm getting randy for Chamonix...

Okay, since I've written off this trip partly due to age, I have to ask: How old are you?

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50. You can do it!

Cham, Bam, Thank you Ma'am! Glad you had a great trip and I hope to ski with you more.

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Originally Posted by BobbyBill

50. You can do it!

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Yeah, maybe.... But not if my wife has anything to say about it.

Day 4 - April 15
Morning light on the Mont Blanc massif from our rental near the Brevant Planpraz gondola station
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Up the Midi again
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Stunning alpine grandeur
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Some clouds building over the Italian border where we are headed
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Completely socked in by the time we crossed the "border" and had lunch at the top station of the Skyway Monte Bianco. No views but a great lunch of lasagna and tartiflette with some awesome pie and coffee. Very civilized in these parts!
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Bellies full, we skinned off lunch to access the Valle Noire variant of the Valle Blanche as the sun reappeared.
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Touristy photo in the Ice Cave
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Up the stairs to the gondola and the train from Montenvers back to town for sunny apres beers...all smiles!
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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Foggy_Goggles

Awesome pics is some classic places! This should be reference for the "do I need a guide in Cham?" question. Could you self guide from Brevant to Buet if the weather closed in? Could you find, rap in and climb out of the Cosmiques?

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Things are easier with a guide, but expensive. Find a local to show you around, buy them beer, or wine, it is France. Brevant to buet, probably others on same ski so follow them. Though some don't like that.

Nice, everyone seems to be getting Euro trips in this year.

Nice, Dude.

Great TR, and great conditions. Chamonix at any age is wonderful...I was just there at 60. Third time skiing, third time failure. Plan was to do the Haute Route but guide jacked his knee the day I arrived. Plus liike my last trip weather turned to shit. The week before was fantastic spring with a bit of fresh just like you had, but upon my arrival the fohn set in and conditions sucked...oh well, thats Chamonix.

Glad you get the goods, looks like a near perfect trip.

As to the guide question, no you don't "need" one if your skill levels are adequate, but they sure make the trip a whole lot easier. Most of us have a very limited time on such a trip, and a guide can help maximize the time spent skii g and not trying to find a local to hook up with, or trying to figure out the train or bus links often needed, not to mention the network they can tap for instant beta.

Thank for your post

Sweet post! Just booked a flight for ~ the same time this coming April, Cham and what not followed by guided La Grave/huts in Ecrins Mountains stoked! and not getting a ton of work done today

Did a similar tour 09 february, fresh snow nearly every day. Love to go back. Thanks for the memories.

Looks awesome! Cham in the spring - so dreamy

Awesome Hoping To Get There Someday.:)