J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by Ranchero_1979

If you look for post "Why never to ski Chamonix", you will see both a nice picture of the top of the Midi lift and later on a view of the VB options from Italian side. "Just a little smug' will show you the benefits of a touring setup, which you might want to consider for a few days.

Guide is really going to have to be your call; can recommend a few very good options. My view is that they really increase your options in Chamonix valley. Near piste gets tracked quickly, offpiste can quickly get remote, lot of it is glaciated and avalanche risk just like elsewhere. If weather was in your favor then the tick box would look something like:

Grand Montets off top bin (lift)
French VB Blanche option (lift).
Lift accessed steeps at Brevant and Le Tour e.g. hotel face, Benin, Posettes (lift)
Italian VB option (lift)
Aguille Rouge Tour

Remember your avalanche stuff and you will need glacier gear also (all can easily be rented off guide and or in town for reasonable rate). Will be in town same dates so perhaps we can see if plans are compatible closer to date.

The a look at Chamonix topo to get the ski tour vibes going.
http://www.chamonixtopo.com/skiing/

Can certainly give you some good options, do you intend to bring touring gear with you?

But in answer to your question about VB the answer is probably yes. Why because even assuming you feel comfortable on glaciated terrain, if you follow the tourist track you will probably find it boring. The interesting options require more route finding skills. There is a decent picture on the variety of options from one of my posts in feb last year.

Completed as a male :-). Good for your stats plus you can discuss as potential bias in results.

Suspicious PDS is forecasting 3-4 x amount of rest of N Alps. 10cm will certainly help the north but really need a m to get back on track. Let's hope the long term forecast stays on track and mid Jan dump arrives!

Try courmayeur for the day is supposed to have great conditions.

I would not be so despondent 2 weeks is a lot of skiing, so would sugggest a few days off is normal.

The health of your knees is largely determined by health of the rear chain muscles. Your ass, your hamstring and calves. Spend plenty of time working on these before your next vacation and you will be good to go.

Few lessons here and there will also help. Interestingly one of my first snow experience was in Bulgaria and the ski schools out there are excellent.

It is an interesting perspective, have had a flat there for best part of 10 years and have always thought of it as reasonable.

Croissant and coffee from a bakery like all of France is 1/3-1/4the price of Starbucks etc. in UK.

Admittedly I never eat on the slopes although can be occasionally tempted to eat at the bottom on Vallorcine, Balme or Grand Montets. The food on the mountains is almost exclusively bad and expensive. Late lunches in town are also a great option, 2 courses will be around 15 euro. Is a decent 2 course pub lunch on UK less then 12 GBP?

Beers for apres ski: lot of places have happy hr or buy a pitcher which would make prices close to UK. Overall though 5-6 euro is about right for a beer.

Evening meals you can go from burger and chips in Baluga from 5euro upto Michelin Star. There are however many good restaurants in Chamonix which I would consider far better value than in the U.K. Prices will be much like lunch.

Remember Chamonix has 10,000+ permanent residents, which means if you find where the locals are then prices are some of the best in the Alps.

Next person going to Chamonix please reach out.

Yes heard they are struggling for snow although Courmayeur is reporting great conditions and 20min hop away.

Would be interested to know where you went out to find town so expensive? There are so many choices that you can match any budget.

Am not surprised you found quiet most seasonaires won't arrive until this week to start work.


Apres ski in Chamonix largely centres around chamber neuf, although lots of other places to have 1 or 2 beers. If you want to party best wait until +10:30 as before then people are eating so bars are quiet.

Anywa not good you don't seem to of enjoyed, although timing is very early!