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Guides
As much as it may seem a cliché, after living here full-time for three years, I can confirm that Chamonix truly is the "Mecca of extreme skiing." The place is packed with world-famous steep skiing freeride, classic ski tours, and endless backcountry. Everyone knows about the Vallée Blanche and les Grands Montets, but if you’re looking to get off the beaten track and explore the steeper side of Chamonix, this guide is for you. There’s no shortage of lines to discover.
The expert skiing scene in Chamonix is unmatched, and the terrain speaks for itself - but we should briefly address the dangers of steep skiing here. For those without significant glacier skiing experience, hiring a guide may be the pragmatic choice. Much of the Chamonix backcountry lies on glaciers tumbling down from the Mont Blanc massif, with significant hazards like crevasses, seracs, bergschrunds, and avalanches. Having a reliable partner in the backcountry is highly recommended - if not required - and finding the right person can be challenging, especially if you’re new to the area or traveling. Read on, though; I’ve got a good solution for that.
So, let’s get straight to the point - and be sure to stick around for some additional insider tips at the end.
Description: Nothing better than a video from Dave Searle to help demonstrate the magnitude of this line. Quite frankly, the Passerelle Couloir is one of the most iconic lines in the area. The 60 metre rappel direct from the bridge to enter is scary enough, without the added spook of a cable car arriving and 50-something tourists coming out to watch you do so. This line follows the West face of the Aiguille du Midi, before traversing over the Glacier Rond and taking the West facing exit couloir onto the Glacier des Bossons.
Instructions: Take the Aiguille du Midi cable car. As of November 2024, the rappel from the bridge is banned and rappels must now be done from the Vent du Dragon. More information concerning the new access should be available shortly. Descend into the couloir (pre Nov 2024: 2x60m ropes, 2-4 rappels), ski the fall line. Traverse the Glacier Rond face to meet the col at the West-facing Rond exit couloir. Ski down this couloir until you reach the Glacier des Bossons, then traverse skiers' right (up and down moraine walls) back to the Plan de l'Aiguille mid station or ski down through the trees to Chamonix if snow cover allows.
Difficulty and Terrain: 5.2 E2. 45 - 55 degrees.
Equipment Required: Harness, crevasse rescue gear (microtraxion, tibloc, slings, carabiners, ice screws) 2x60m rope, avalanche kit (transceiver, shovel, probe), boot crampons, rappel/belay device.
Insider Tips: Be wary about doing this line in the afternoon, the sun is often strong on the West faces and can mobilise a slide. The line can also often be icy, and a fall here in these conditions could end up fatal. Pay attention about the traverse of the Glacier Rond, it's a very popular skiing route and skiers may be on top of you. For the exit couloir, be equally cautious about the aspect, snowpack conditions and weather, as avalanches have unfortunately killed people here over the years. At the bottom of the exit couloir, be careful about falling into the bergschrund(s) onto the Bossons. Avoid the few crevasses until you get back onto rocky terrain and be attentive of traversing too close to the north face of the Aiguille du Midi, as there are often avalanches and rockfalls from there. A solid mountain partner is indispensable for this line, if not a guide. If you need either of those things, you can find partners and guides in the Oak app - try to find someone who has filled in their profile so you know their past history in the mountains.
Description: A line with an elevation difference of 2000m vert - it's true Chamonix sidecountry. Although it's steep, depending on the conditions, you may be able to leave the jump turns at home for this one, instead opting for big GS style powder turns. It's around 40 degrees (max 45) and South/South East facing, so better not be too late in the day. Another quirk about this line - you start in France, and end up in Italy, so you can get off those south slopes by lunchtime for a pizza.
Instructions: From the Aiguille du Midi - follow the traverse of the Glacier du Géant, being very attentive to the huge crevasses, and skin up to Helbronner. This might take 1 hr / 1 hr 30.
Alternatively you can drive through the Tunnel du Mont Blanc and taken the Skyway Monte Bianco lift.
At Helbronner, head East and go round the back of the Aiguilles Marbrées, skins are needed here for around 10-15 minutes. You can enter the couloir from the East of the Marbrées ridge, but be careful in the case of cornices and windslabs.
Once descended the first steep pitch, you arrive on the glacier, don't ski in the middle as you must avoid the seracs here.
Around 2300m, traverse to the left (where there is often avalanche debris... limit your exposure under this area), and then reach the forest area. Find the road and walk back to the Skyway Monte Bianco station.
Difficulty and Terrain: 4.2 E1. 40-45 degrees.
Equipment Required: Harness, crevasse rescue gear (microtraxion, tibloc, slings, carabiners, ice screws), at least two ropes per party (if you need to find a reliable partner with a rope, have a look at the Oak app which works well in Chamonix) avalanche kit (transceiver, shovel, probe), boot crampons highly advised, climbing skins.
Insider Tips: South face, steep, be careful! Be very careful of windslabs, especially on the first pitch and especially after fresh snow. In terms of pizzas, the best in Courmayeur is probably Pizzeria del Tunnel.
Description: A Chamonix classic - and glacier free! 400m of narrow couloir followed by 1000m of freeride terrain. The couloir is narrow and windy with beautiful rock formations.
Instructions: From the top of the Brévent lift, descend West (the backside). Be aware of small cliffs or drops, sometimes route finding can be hard here, particularly in bad weather. Find the quite obvious cut in the cliffs which is the entrance. Sometimes, a rappel is needed for the first steep step. Otherwise, ski the fall line and descend all the way back to the bottom of Planpraz lift.
Difficulty and Terrain: 4.1 E2. 42 degrees.
Equipment Required: Avalanche kit (transceiver, shovel, probe). Rappel entrance may be necessary when there is limited snow cover.
Insider Tips: Another south face, so just be aware of what time you do this. Make sure there's enough snow to get back down to Chamonix town, otherwise there's a long walk back. Alternatively in lower snow years like recently, you can use skins to skin back up the walkers' route up to Planpraz (around 250m up).
Description: A very steep couloir in a beautiful area of the massif, well worth the effort for the views alone. This is a great adventure with some technical jump turn skiing.
Instructions: Descend the classic vallée blanche. When descending the Glacier du Géant, you would want to be on the right side of the ice fall. Start the ascent when you reach the Périades glacier, as for the classic Brèche Puiseux. Instead of continuing up the Périades glacier, make a left to aim for the Col du Tacul/Aiguille du Tacul. Skin up the west facing slope until you start bootpacking for a few hundred metres. Once at the col, a rappel (30m-60m, depending on conditions) is often needed as the entrance is often rocky and at 50-55 degrees. Ski the fall line, being wary of the exposure you have above the often open bergschrund below. After this, ski down avoiding the crevasses in the centre, then ski onto the Leschaux glacier (which can often be tricky depending on the conditions) and then the Mer de Glace to reach the lift up to Montenvers.
Difficulty and Terrain: 5.1 E2, 40-55 degrees. Around 800-900m of upwards travel.
Equipment Required: Harness, crevasse rescue gear (microtraxion, tibloc, slings, carabiners, ice screws), at least two ropes per party, avalanche kit (transceiver, shovel, probe), boot crampons, ice axe, rappel/belay device.
Insider Tips: Be wary of the west facing aspect on the ascent, on days with fresh snow cover, particularly late in the season, there can be avalanches. Also, don't ski into the bergschrund... The exit onto the Leschaux glacier can be tricky, be cautious about your route. As a side note, I think you can spot some really interesting cracks in the terrain/moraine on the other side of the Leschaux glacier as you descend this couloir... if anyone wants to join me to ski one of them for a laugh, let's set up a trip on Oak :-)
Description: The easiest way down the Aiguille du Midi north face is far from easy; in fact, it's an extremely engaged line in a crazy environment. A fall here really can be deadly. Pick your descent time according to good conditions and you will be rewarded with an unforgettable time. I actually skied this line in May 2024 with Lukas who I met on Oak, the app to meet trustworthy mountain partners. He was in Chamonix in his van for a week, enjoying the late season powder up high whilst most other Alpine ski resorts were closed up for the winter. Obviously I was apprehensive committing to such a line with what would be a stranger, but he had a complete profile on the app with his experience, and it helped ease my worries. We also shared a descent of the Vallée Blanche and got to know each other the day before. I wouldn't believe I would meet these types of skiers on Oak, but I was wrong...
Instructions: Descend the Aiguille du Midi ridge, continue following the ridge by sidestepping and skiing until you find an obvious entrance to the skier's left, before it drops off for the Grands Envers line. Ski this short pitch, keeping in mind there are crevasses here. Traverse slightly into the next face, skier's right (Tournier). The top of the face is steep and might have very thin snow cover, be aware of ice. Ski down the hanging glacier where the angle becomes friendlier, all whilst trending right. Find a rappel station under a large rock, then set up a 60m rappel into the exit couloir. Trend abseiler's left to reach the next anchor (info correct as of 2024) where you can make the decision to ski the couloir or rappel it. Ski out the exit to Plan de l'Aiguille, paying attention to the often large bergschrund.
Difficulty and Terrain: 5.3 E4. 55 degrees
Equipment Required: Harness, crevasse rescue gear (microtraxion, tibloc, slings, carabiners, ice screws), 2x60m ropes (if you need to find a reliable partner with a rope, have a look at the Oak app which works well in Chamonix) avalanche kit (transceiver, shovel, probe), boot crampons, one or two ice axes, rappel/belay device. Plus the material to make your own anchor in the off-chance case that there are none in situ.
Insider Tips: Make sure when you are descending on rappel, descend hard diagonally in the direction of descender's left. This will allow you to just make the next anchor (as of 2024) when using 60 metre ropes. Doing this descent in icy conditions is extremely committing and could result in a fatal fall.
If you’re in need of a trustworthy partner or guide, the Oak app is a solid resource to connect with others who know the terrain and share your approach to safety.
Oak is very well adopted in Chamonix, there are people putting up backcountry skiing tours of all different skill levels, every day on the app.
You are able to check out the profile of other skiers to ensure they are a good fit for your planned tour, which is especially important when talking about steep skiing. But like I mentioned, I met Lukas through Oak where we did the Col du Plan together, so for me it worked very well, including the safety aspect.
Equip yourself, choose your line and partners carefully, and take on Chamonix’s steep skiing together. And if needs be, you can always request a guide.
You can download on the App Store, or Google Play.
Disclaimer: conditions, mountains, and glaciers all change over time so please ensure to do your own research and be pragmatic; this details in this guide may have changed over time.
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