Ski Mountaineering Chardonnet, Chamonix Mont-Blanc

by: Justin Gural

The renown Chamonix Valley stretches through a division of the western Alps called the Graian Alps, which has an elevation range between 3,264-15,780 feet and includes a dozen mountain resorts along the border regions of France, Switzerland and Italy.

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While the five Chamonix Mont-Blanc resorts in the French range offer activities and terrain for any skill level, some of the world's best off-piste terrain can be easily accessed via resort cable cars.

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Les Grand Montets is situated high above Argentiere, France, and it's from the resort's 10,750-foot cable car peak where Sebastien Montaz-Rosset -of Je ne sais quoi Films- started this ski mountaineering approach to the summit of Aiguilles du Chardonnet along the France/Switzerland border.

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Accompanied by fellow ski mountaineers Vivian Bruchez and Geraldine Fasnacht, they documented this two-day trek to the summit of Chardonnet. Starting at the cable car, they skied down the backside of Les Grand Montets resort, skinned across Glacier d'Argentiere, and climbed and skied the south face of Chardonnet.

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Enjoy these images, courtesy of Sebastien Montaz-Rosset. Watch their video at Sebmontaz.com, for guide service check out locals ChamonixGuiding.com, and for accommodations in the region visit Chamonix.com.

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