Ski Vallée Blanche – Pre Course Information

Many thanks for your booking on our guided Ski Vallée Blanche programme.

Please find more details regarding the day and Chamonix logistics listed here.

Skiing The Vallee Blanche

This is a superb journey, but also a physical undertaking at high altitude.  You need to be in good health, with good fitness, with a good level off piste skiing.   Please carefully read all the details on our Ski Vallée Blanche course page here:

Ski Vallée Blanche

Ski Vallee Blanche Equipment List

Please check all the equipment requirements on the list below and let us know if you will need to borrow any technical equipment in particular with regard to the following items:

• Harness
• Transceiver
• Crampons (if required)
• Ski pack which skis can be effectively attached to

Vallee Blanche Equipment List

Please also pay particular attention to the cold weather items like face mask, goggles, warm gloves, warm jacket etc.

If you need to rent equipment then we recommend you hire from Sanglard Sports in Chamonix use this link to make a booking https://uk.rentski.com/rental/

It is advisable to book in advance to guarantee you can get the equipment you want.

You will automatically get a 15% discount on their touring kit rental if you book in advance online; alternatively, if you go directly to the shop in either Chamonix or Argentiere you will get 15% off rental prices in-store.

Chamonix Venue Information

Please check the link above for information on Chamonix accommodation, Travel & transfers from Geneva airport,  logistics etc

Geneva Airport – Chamonix Transfers

Discount with ‘Mountain Drop-offs‘

Promo code (case sensitive): HMGCHX

The code gives prices of 30€50 super saver, 35€ flexi and 190€ private vs 33€50, 38€ and 199€.  The discounts are available in high season mid-December to mid-April then mid-June to mid-September.  There is a supplement for very early and late travel.

Your Guide

We will be in touch with details of your Guide close to the date of your guiding.   Please do revert back to us should you have any questions in the meantime.

Meeting Time & Place

We will also confirm the exact time and place for meeting the guide that day.  It is often at 0830 at the Aiguille du Midi base station in Chamonix but this will be confirmed according to prevailing weather and conditions and your preference nearer the time.

Lift Pass & Other Expenses

A Mont Blanc Unlimited pass costs around €65 and this will cover both your ascent of the Midi and descent of the Montenvers railway.

If conditions are good and you are fit and skiing well a single pass on the Midi can be bought and save around €20.

Please make sure you have arranged your own ski hire and note that any other expenses like insurance / lunch / drinks along the way are not included in the guiding fee.

Ski Insurance

You need rescue and medical insurance covering you for off-piste skiing and ski touring.  Also for trip cancellation.  For UK residents we would recommend using the British Mountaineering Council (BMC) policies.  For other nationalities and residents, please refer to our Insurance FAQs below.  Insurance is a personal issue and we can’t advise on an individual’s policy details.

Please read our FAQs about arranging your mountain insurance here

Ski Fit – BeFit Apps

We highly recommend you undertake a pre-ski season / trip preparation programme, ideally starting early in the autumn season to give plenty of time to build strength in your core, glutes and various other important ski related muscles!  Our friends at BeFitt Apps have produced a really excellent pre season preparation which you can follow online, on your phone etc for a very cheap subscription.

Further Details

We will send you more specific details closer to the time in our Joining Information about 1-2 weeks before you travel.  This will including the meeting time and place for starting the course as well as the name and contact details of your guide, an update on conditions, and any other relevant information.   The day normally starts at around 0800 – 0830 hrs where the guide will meet you at the Aiguille du Midi for the ski day.

Ski Vallée Blanche Conditions

We keep a regularly updated blog on Vallée Blanche & Chamonix off piste ski conditions which you can check on either our ski Vallee Blanche page or our mountain news page via the link above.

Emergency Procedure

We are not planning on having any accidents or incidents in the mountains…people never are!  But in the event of an incident taking place, and your guide not being available to respond on behalf of the team, please note the following rescue numbers and procedures.

ADD THESE NUMBERS TO YOUR PHONE NOW!

Chamonix Mountain Rescue PGHM) – +33(0)4 50 53 16 89

France Emergency Number – 112

Courmayeur Emergency Number – 118

Swiss Valais Helicopter Rescue (REGA) – 1414

Swiss Valais Emergency Number – 144

During an emergency call, calmly & clearly give the following information:

• Who?  Your name & phone number you are calling from
• What?  Type of accident, number of victims, seriousness & type of injuries
• Where?  Your location, including the route you are on & elevation in metres
• When?  Time of accident
• Weather?  Include wind speed (Km/hr), wind direction & visibility

Thanks for your booking for guiding and we look forward to meeting & climbing with you soon.

In the meantime, best wishes & good training,

Rob

Robin Jarvis IFMGA MIC Mountain Guide

Chamonix Weather Forecasts

Chamonix.com Weather

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Meteo France