Visit the Alps and Chamonix

Chamonix, or really Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, is a village situated in the Rhone-Alpes region in the eastern part of France. Chamonix is well known mainly for its world class skiing and snowboard opportunities. Two areas in Chamonix famous for their off pist riding are Aiguille du Midi and Grands Montets. Not only winter activities take place here as Chamonix also is quite active during the summer months, being a well visited place for mountain bikers and sport climbers as well as regular tourists. Chamonix is also the place for the world's first winter Olympic games, which took place in nineteen hundred and twenty four.

The Chamonix valley runs from northeast to southwest, and is followed by the Arve, which begins in the village of Le Tour. The Arve joins the torrent l'Arveyron, which is formed by the famous glacier Mer de Glace just above Chamonix. The summit of Mont Blanc, which at four thousand eight hundred and eight meters is the highest in Europe, towers in the southeast and dominated the skyline from Chamonix. To the northwest, not quite as high at two thousand five hundred and twenty five meters, the chain of Le Brevent rises. The slopes and cable car are clearly visible from the town and here the less difficult and more family suitable slopes are located.

Chamonix is an obvious destination for advanced skiing and snowboarding. The Vallee Blanche glacier runs down from below Mont Blanc du Tacul and the Aiguille du Midi to the Chamonix valley. This spectacular but difficult route can be skied or snowboarded, though a guide is recommended because of the many crevasses. For the less experienced riders, the valley has about six separate ski areas, including Le Brevent (a steep but short walk from the town centre), La Flegere (at Les Praz), Les Planards (ski area for beginners and early intermediates), Les Grands Montets (at the town of Argentiere) and Domaine de Balme (at Le Tours). Many of these provide challenging terrain, especially off-piste, with runs down to Switzerland.

The spectacular cable car up to the Aiguille du Midi Chamonix is quite famous. It was when it was built in nineteen fifty five the highest cable car in the world. Wonderful off pist skiing and snowboarding can be accessed from here. It is recommended, however, to have a mountain guide present as the route down and over the glaciers is very hazardous at times.

Chamonix is also a mecca for alpine mountaineers in the summer months, drawn here by challenges like the north face of the Dru, the Frendo Spur on the Aiguille du Midi, traversing the Alps on the legendary GR Five footpath or more accessible challenges like summitting Mont Blanc (by a number of possible routes).

Apart from high-mountain summer sports, Chamonix is also a well visited place for the hardcore mountain biker. A tip for finding the hundreds of kilometres of challenging hidden singletrack trails, in addition to finding the obvious lift-assisted areas for Freeriders, is to hire a guide.

The town of Chamonix has a generally cosy feel and walking around sightseeing is quite enjoyable. Most of the clothing stores are of a rather expensive nature, however, but there are a few normal prices ones as well. Restaurants and cafes are in abundance, why not try out a classic French Raclette - cheese which is melted and eaten together with bread, different kinds of meats and other condiments - dinner while you visit? Works well with a nice Cote Du Rhone red whine.