GRANDS MONTETS
Th Grands Montets is probably the most famous ski area in the world. Whilst Chamonix has the reputation fo world class skiing, in fact its the skiing on the Grands Montets that really puts Chamonix on the map. Quite simply it is a ski area that has few rivals and offers some great on-piste, but even better off-piste. The off-piste having something for everyone, from some relatively simple introduction off-piste that isn't too challenging, right up to death defying slopes - so take your pick!
Argentiere Ski Village
Before we touch on the skiing, the Grands Montets cable car and chair lifts are situated in the 18th Century village of Argentiere. It is still today a pretty ski village although nowadays a well developed ski village that has several restaurants and bars.
With many of the best skiers and seasonaires residing in Argentiere it has a lively and fun feel to it with a good apres-ski nightlife at bars such as the Office, the Stone Bar and Le Rusticana.
At Luxury Chalets Chamonix we particularly like the fact that you are straight off the Grands Montets ski lifts and within 200m you are in the centre of the ski village.
Grands Montets
The top of the Grands Montets lift station is 3,275m and at the top it is just spectacular. Over the back is the off-piste run down to the Vallee Blanche which is a steep off-piste route that is enjoyable in the right conditions, but as far as off-piste skiing is concerned, is not recommended for the faint hearted as it is relatively steep (and should always be undertaken with a Mountain Guide).
Most people will therefore turn left or right. Left will take you via the piste or down th side next to the Argentiere Glaciere. If you are staying on the piste, the black run is challenging and nearly always moguls. So much so that it is often easier skiing off-piste rather than on it as nervous skiers have a tendency to 'cut blocks' across it making any flowing lines difficult when it hasn't snowed for a few days! This said, the top is glacier terrain so if you are venturing off the marked route beware. As with any high mountain excursion away from a controlled area, we strongly advise that you take a qualified guide as Chamonix's terrain.
If you turn right, it is picturesque and challenging, but you will often find some good powder in between the seracs and crevasses to the left and under the Grands Montets. If you go left, it cuts you around and then under the Grands Montets if you are following the piste and then across and towards the Bochard red. Many who are with a guide will avoid cutting under the Grands Montets and instead stay right, hugging the mountain next to the Argentiere glacier, eventually coming out to the right of the Herse. Despite the frequency this area gets skied you will generally get some good snow and a few moguls and it is a really spectacular place to ski, especially with the Argentiere Glacier to your right. If the thighs have been well worked then either a lunch stop or a hot chocolate at the Refuge restaurant (see Mountain Restaurants) comes highly recommended as here at Luxury Chalets Chamonix we consider this restaurant and the Veilles Luge to be undoubtably the two best mountain restaurants in the Chamonix Valley.
Herse
The name is an amusing one with British skiers but you may be relieved to know that it actually translate to 'harrow' and has an agricultural reference. At busy times, here at Luxury Chalets Chamonix we will often use the Herse to explore the areas below the Grands Montets as it saves time taking the cable car. Here you still have a great red run and two excellent black runs, as well as some great off-piste next to the Argentiere Glacier or between the Herse and the Bochard.
Except after poweder falls, much of the off-piste is mogul skiing so good technique and strong 'knees' are beneficial.
Bochard
One of the most popular ski areas around the Grands Montets as it provides great skiing left and right, as well as access into the Lavancher bowl via the Bochard black. Under the Bochard there are several red and blue runs as well as that black into the Lavancher bowl.
The top of the Bochard can be quite daunting although infact it is not as difficult it looks. This said, very nervous skiers are best staying lower down as the initial start can cause one or two skiers to freeze. Lower down the runs are a mix of blues and reds and all lifts are chair.
The Bochard black is itself probably our favourite controlled run. It cuts left and drops skiers into the stunning Lavancher Bowl which is quiet and picturesque. The Bochard itself has some difficulty, but generally the moguls are well shaped and whilst it has steep elements, it is far from the extreme end of black runs.
Lavancher
A stunning bowl with some awesme off-piste skiing. Most expert skiers will cut across and stay high, picking the best lines and powder for a special day in this quiet bowl that feels like you have step into a valley lost in time. Even during the busiest of days, and a lot of people ski here in conditions, it always feels far away from the hussle and bussle of life in the City.
This said, the word Lavancher translates to 'washing' and in this context 'tumbling'. Although not excessively steep, it can in heavy snow and in the wrong conditions be susceptable to avalanche and local expertise in the form of a Mountain Guide is essential at all times to minimise risk.