Skiing in Chamonix ~ Le Tour

Nico had planned to arrange for another guide to take us to Le Tour today to ski in Chamonix. Much to our pleasant surprise Nico arrived at the hotel to be our guide for the day. The group he was taking to another French ski resort changed their plans so he was able to accommodate us today...which was great, as he has been a lot of fun and a wealth of local, historic, and regional information. Also, he is very safety conscious and knows what we want from our European ski experience.

Being here now in Chamonix I have a clearer understanding of what this mountain demands. It is not the typical American western resort. The geography and physical layout of this glacial monstrosity does not lend itself to groomed, mogul, tree lined runs. Because of the sheer steepness and the incredible rock formations the mountain is left in it's natural state...there are areas where it would not be possible for a Cat to even get on the mountain. The mountains feel so close to you...the valley is very narrow and deep from the glacial formation and the jagged, rocky peaks jut straight out from above the valley floor. The elevation isn't as high as some parts of the Rockies, but there is a dramatic immenseness with the Alps. Chamonix also is in an area where you are accessible to the French, Italian, and
Swiss Alps...all within minutes of each other. This in itself gives Chamonix a very unique cultural diversity.

Our friend, Margaret Zuccarini, whose husband tore both ACL's joined us today. We headed out to Le Tour which is west of Chamonix. The winding road took us through charming, quaint villages...Le Tour is about 20 minutes from Chamonix proper. A small resort, but completely different in feel from Courmayeur, it is less rigorous than the other three ski areas...Le
Brevant and Le Flegere, Les Grands Montets and the Vallee Blanche. Much of it was above treeline and reminded me of Mammoth Mountain. There is a need for snow, however, Nico took us to areas that were on piste and well groomed. Had a wonderful lunch at a hut on the mountain...Europeans eat a large lunch, enjoy their wine and really take it very leisurely.
The food has been excellent and we have not missed much in that area...great cheese, pasta due to the Italian influence, bread to die for (baguettes and croissants not like at home),and of course all the great patisseries! We need to be skiing moguls and steeper terrain to continue on this regimen of trying everything!

Back to town Nico drove us to the Aiguille du Midi...this is the cable car that takes you up to a second cable car that ascends to about 12,000+ feet. From here you have a magnificent view of Mont Blanc, the highest peak in the Alps...you are actually about 370 feet away from it. The view is spectacular and never ending as you are above much of the Alps. It is from here that the very brave and skilled skiers ski the Vallee Blanche and ski on the Mer de
Glacé. A guide is highly recommended due to crevasses and unstable terrain. Got a view of the long, narrow catwalk one must navigate first in order to get to the beginning of the run. Very, very treacherous looking for our liking...made for a Warren Miller movie!

Decided to get in our PJ's and stay in tonight and finish our French provisions we bought. Another great day.