Vallee Blanche arete now fully equipped
Every year a debate ensues over the extent to which the arête de l'Aiguille du Midi should be equipped to enable mountain professionals and tourists alike to access the Vallée Blanche. Whilst the off-piste route is one of the most popular tourist attractions (and therefore revenue earners) in Chamonix, many mountain professionals feel that by making the route so easily accessible, it detracts from the fact that it is still a high mountain itinerary and as such, still poses certain dangers to those that do it.
There is considerable motivation for the Compagnie du Mont Blanc and the local guide companies to ensure that the arête is made as accessible as possible to maximise the number of people using the Aiguille du Midi cable car and hiring guides to do the route. However, certain purists say that in maintaining the hairy descent to the start of the Vallée Blanche it detracts from the ever present dangers that the glacial environment poses; falling seracs, avalanches and crevasses.
Conforming to the wishes of an ad-hoc committee, this year the arête has been equipped with two fully maintained descent routes since last week. However, even having two routes has still not managed to avoid the bottle necking that occurs during the February holidays.
The exit at the bottom of the Mer de Glace is often cited as a real put-off to would be Vallée Blanche skiers, with the options being a steep climb up the steps to the Montenvers train or the descent back to down to town via mule trail through the woods to Planards which is often icy and rocky. However, the route is currently fully prepared, ensuring a fitting end to the Vallée Blanche experience.
A trip down the Vallée Blanche is never the same the same twice, so if you are returning to Chamonix again this year, take a look at our mountain guide listings and get yourself booked up!
