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Vallée Blanche from Courmayeur

Italy>Western Alps>Mont Blanc

Domenico Giusti, Giorgio Passino

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Vallée Blanche from Courmayeur

Planetmountain

Beauty

Domenico Giusti, Giorgio Passino

Ascent height difference

Descent height difference

2383m

Height

3407m

Difficulty

2.3, E1

Descent exposition

NNE

Vallée Blanche is like Sharon Stone in Basic Instinct: really beautiful, but it’s best not to get too distracted.

Although it might seem a no more than a "scenic walk", never underestimate the Vallée Blanche as it is an itinerary that develops entirely on a glacier with some very delicate sections between the crevasses. It is always recommended to be accompanied by a Mountain Guide or someone that knows the itinerary very well and is able to read the conditions accurately.

Getting there
Reach Courmayeur in Italy. Access

- Mont Blanc Cable Car. Take both sections of the cable car and then go up through the internal stairs that connect the Torino Hut to the former Punta Hellbronner station. An elevator has been installed to help people carrying skis and equipment.

- New Mont Blanc Cable Car. Take both sections of the cable up to Punta Hellbronner.

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Itinerary

1. From the exit of the former Punta Hellbronner station, walk left towards the Col Flambeau: this section is slightly uphill, but also groomed by the snowcat, making it easy to walk with skis on your shoulder.

2. From the Col Flambeau, put your skis on and start descending, heading left towards the Aiguille du Midi. Continue on the left and pass through the big serac (there are usually various lines possible) until reaching a plateau which joins the tracks coming from the Aiguille du Midi.

3. Ski on the plateau staying on the left, until reaching a hollow that leads below the Envers du Plan Glacier until nearing the Requin Glacier.

This is the most dangerous section of the itinerary, as the Geant and the Tacul Glaciers meet and the area is full of crevasses, in particular when the snow pack is poor. Usually you cross the serac on the left hand side, but it is extremely important to pay close attention to the crossing point.

4. In this section, it is possible to deviate towards the Requin Hut making a leftwards traverse under the seracs (beware of breakages), or continue heading right where the glacier becomes less inclined under the spectacular serac ("Salle à Manger").

5. Immediately after the Salle à Manger, you enter the Mer de Glace where you can stop and rest. The view is perhaps less spectacular than at the Salle à Manger, but it is a safer place to stop and sometimes it’s possible to take skis off for a more comfortable break.

6. Continue skiing along the Mer de Glace up to the stairs which lead to the Glacier Gondolas and the Montenvers Train Station, from where you can take the train to Chamonix.

VARIANT

7. In case of favourable snow cover conditions (ask before setting off), it is possible to ski directly to Chamonix. In this case, instead of traversing left to reach the stairs to the Glacier Gondolas, continue straight on and ski all the way down on the glacier, up to the moraine bank on the left.

8. Get off the glacier (be careful on exiting the glacier as it can be tricky) and ascend the mountainside on foot until you reach the Bouvette at the Col des Mottets. From here, put your skis on and take the track that leads to Chamonix.

Gear
Freeride – Glacier. Maps/Bibliography

MONT BLANC FREERIDE

48 itinerari di freeride nelle vallate di Courmayeur e Chamonix

di Domenico Giusti, Giorgio Passino, Idea Montagna Editoria e Alpinismo

Note: Edizione in italiano, francese, inglese

ISBN: 9788897299370