chamonix off piste conditions

[getdown]

(hi all, first real post. been lurkin for a while.)

i'm headed to chamonix this weekend and am toying with the idea of springing for a guide. i'm jonesin for something soft and don't know the area well enough to ride off-piste myself.

i'm wondering what's going on off piste right now (i'm thinking north facing, off Grand Montets). do the conditions warrant the expense of a guide (i can swing it, just barely)?

thanks in advance for any beta.

[hcubed]

I have a buddy who's a guide there, his name is Pete Mason. He's the second American to ever get certification in the French system and he just opened his own guide shop. He works at Sanglard Sports too. Website at www.chamonix-heights.com. I have no idea what his rates are. For cheap lodging check out Chalet Ski Station right next to the Brevent telepherique. There's some great backcountry above l'Index at Flegere. Don't go alone. Bring an avy beacon.

[Idris]

The inbounds ish stuff is wind thrashed hadpack and bumps on the GM...sorry. A few km walk beyond is nice though. As is some of the steeper stuff off the Midi

[verbier61]

val d'aosta has a lot of snow right now, and more is in sight for the weekend. the storm might hit cham or not, still uncertain. But if there's no storm in cham, just take the tunnel and go south. Right now is probably the best time of the year for the south-west facing part of the alps

[Mrs Roo]

If you want a guide, I know a good one. I'll PM you his details.

[getdown]

thanks for the tips, folks.

it looks like i'm gonna go for a guide on sat (assuming weather and snowpack cooperate), but will check some other stuff on sunday.

how far is val d'aosta? is it possible to get there easily from cham without a car?

[verbier61]

courmayeur is 30-40 minutes by bus from cham. Maybe you can go there by car with the guide, though

[getdown]

oh, and i'm rolling by myself-- i'm in euroland for work.

and would totally be up for meeting some folks. i have bc gear, but not a touring setup (kuckledragger), and of course, beerz on me.

fingers crossed for snow.

-d