Chamonix Steep & Long Vertical Descents

Steep & Deep Runs in Chamonix

If you like challenging steep runs that seem to go on forever then Chamonix has got plenty to keep your legs working hard. Because the valley floor is low and the lifts rise to over 3000 metres there are plenty of possible runs offering 2000 or more metres of vertical. The largest amount of vertical is offered from the Aiguille du Midi, however the gradient on La Vallee Blanche is flat at times so it won�t offer you the high speed thrills that you�ll be looking for. The following, however, will:

Brevent & Flegere Steep and Long Vertical Descents

In good snow conditions at Le Brevent it�s possible to combine the Charles Bozon run with the Nants run back down to the valley to clock up nearly 1500m of vertical descent. At the start of the Charles Bozon run there are two variants of this run; one that offers very, very steep moguls for those on a mission to prove their skiing credentials, or a one that�s slightly more sedate and zig-zags down the cat tracks for the more cautious skier amongst us.

Both of the variants lead to the Planpraz sking area where skiers can then select from a host of easy blue runs that lead to the bottom of the Parsa chairlift, where the Nants black coloured piste starts. Of all these blue runs our favourite is the leftmost, Blanchots as it�s the least travelled, is slightly shadier and often therefore has the best snow.

In La Flegere you can combine the Lanchenal piste with the Praz piste to have a descent of 1300m. Again it�s only possible to do the lower section when snow conditions allow; late in the season it won�t be covered. Lachenal is a superb piste with a really steep upper section; this run is often very well groomed so you�ll be unlucky to find moguls on it, you�ll generally find it smooth and fast. The lower section flattens out as it approaches the tree line where it joins Evettes; follow this blue run towards the Evettes chair then take a right onto Praz just before the chairlift. Again this is a zigzagging black cat track through the trees, but half way down it opens out into a wide chute where you can head straight down to Les Praz and the cable car at the bottom of the valley. Again it�s good to do when the snow is good and in the morning before the crowds start to make the return journey home at the end of the day.

last updated 3-Mar-2008

Les Grands Montets Steep & Long Vertical Descents

For one of the best options head to the very top taking both cable cars up from Argentiere. From here there are two marked runs that you can take, either: Point de Vue, which heads around the back of Les Grands Montets and skirts by the side of the Argentiere glacier; or across to the front of Les Grands Montets on Pylones. These runs are graded black and are not bashed so can develop moguls if it hasn�t snowed for a while, coupled with the steep gradient they�re guaranteed to give you a good workout. If you fancy a slightly shorter version of this route you can stop at the cable car mid station at Lognan instead of going to the valley floor. However, it�s worth doing the full descent if you want to make the most out of these runs.

If you follow Point de Vue, you�ll have the bonus of some truly stunning scenery as the run takes you very close to the amazing seracs and crevasses on the ice falls of the Argentiere glacier; sometimes you�ll spot ice climbers going up these vertical walls. As the run briefly flattens out on its way back to Lognan take a right turn onto the red run Variante Hotel. If you are following the Pylones run at the front, just as you get to the top of the Herse chairlift, take a skier�s right onto the black run Blanchots (unbashed but marked) which leads to the Variante Hotel red run and the Chalet Refuge de Lognan.

You�ll notice the Chalet Refuge de Lognan (on old stone building that serves fantastically good lunches) on your right, just above the tree line. It�s a good place to stop to rest those weary legs, but if you�re feeling strong carry on down the Variante Hotel run, which is similarly unbashed and again can be home to huge moguls. This run through the trees leads onto the Pierre a Ric, which is the final run down to Argentiere. Pierre a Ric is normally well groomed and will allow you to let rip for the last part of the descent. When you reach the bottom you�ll have clocked up just over 2000 metres of vertical.

Another favourite of ours at Les Grands Montets when we want something steep and fast is the Chamois piste in the Combe de la Pendant. This run begins just off the top of the Bochard gondola; take a left after the top narrow section and head along the cat track and you�ll be standing at the top of the piste. What we love about this run is that it�s often pretty deserted and well groomed so you can really fly down it without too many distractions from other skiers and boarders. The run has one or two quite steep sections that can be a little icy so you�ll need to keep your wits about you. You may find a few moguled sections on this run too to keep you on your toes. Lower down you have two options, either: head under the bridge back to Plan Joran; or carry on in the Combe de la Pendant to Retour Pendant. If you do this run down to the bottom of the Retour Pendant chairlift you need to head onto the blue run Arolles, but if this is too flat for you then head straight down the off piste moguls that you�ll find between this zigzagging piste. If you head under the bridge, keep your speed up as this flat connecting section can leave you walking to the bridge if you don�t go full speed. All in all it�s not as long a descent as the one from the top of Les Grands Montets, but still it�s one the most testing runs in the valley!

last updated 3-Mar-2008

Les Houches Steep & Long Vertical Descents

With a vertical drop of 900 metres, the runs down the front of Les Houches ski area provide the longest vertical descent in the area. The world famous Kandahar run, on the Verte des Houches piste is a steep, hard-packed and sometimes icy skiing challenge for even the most advanced rider. The alternative red run Mur des Epines is the same length and provides a little variety. Both take you down to the Bellevue cable car lift, or you can take three sequential chairlifts to get back up to the top. A quicker option is to cut across half way down the pistes and join the blue Aillouds piste that takes you to the new Prarion gondola lift. The super-efficient gondola will have back at the top in no time at all, where you can join the Table d�Orientation red piste for another long vertical descent back to the village.

last updated 25-Mar-2008