If you’d like to get away from the crowds, Chamonix is the perfect place for ski touring. There are many wonderful day tours, suitable for all levels, accessible from the lifts, taking you into the wild backcountry away from the pistes. Some particularly well known ones: Lac Blanc via the Belvedere, or the Col de Berard — you’ll often see people setting off for these up past the lifts at Flegere. They both head over the back of Flegere into the Berard valley, finishing up at Le Buet, near Vallorcine.
In February 2012, Les Houches opened a beginner’s ski touring route from Les Chavants, near the base of the Prarion lift, to the top of the gondola. The route is well signed and has been chosen for safety and accessibility. I’ll try and sample it soon — it seems like a great idea.
Heading for La Tour Noire
Another good one is La Tour Noire from the Grands Montets, or the Col du Passon, which is also suitable for snowboarders.
Your guide will be able to suggest what’s in the best condition at the moment. Guides normally provide avalanche beacons and harnesses, and can suggest where to rent any equipment you need. Touring skis and skins can be rented at plenty of places in Chamonix — try Snell Sports or Ravanel. Snell also rent ABS avalanche bags.
Longer tours are possible of course! The classic is the seven day Haute Route, which we did in April 2009, skiing from Chamonix to Zermatt — you can read about it and see the photos on our site: The Haute Route
Highly recommended for inspiration — guide and filmmaker Seb Montaz’s touring videos.
