Great place to come and ski off-piste as the area is so huge ''You can ski untracked powder for days after a storm''
Top tip-get to the Grand Montets lift at least two hours before it opens on a powder day to ensure a) Plenty of time to talk to your mates b)You get good and cold c) The lift will open late d) You lose your place when they open the chair first.e)You have lots of time to read the misinformation board. NB The Pisters do a fantastic job keeping the mountain safe it's a shame that often the communication in the valley doesn't reflect their good work
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I went to Argentiere for the first time in March 2011, in fact, it was my first time ever to venture to the mountains on a pair of skis. I took a week with UCPA Argentiere and it was brilliant, couldn't recommend it more, in fact, I'm going back for an early week the coming 2011/12 season. For an absolute beginner it's a great place to go, the mountain Le Tour is the perfect learning ground with a couple of nursery slopes and a few easy blues, some tame reds and stunning views of the Chamonix valley, its a' superb place to ski. Our instructor took us up to Les Grandes Montets on the fourth day and we ski'd the blue's and red runs which were great fun and a bit steeper than Le Tour. My favourite run was the long red that goes from Lognan to Argentiere which was when parallel turning really clicked for me and started to get the hang of it so that run in particular will always be a special place for me.
Most will think of Les Grands Montets as a mountain catering for the extreme but that's not the case; there are plenty of tame runs the average skier can enjoy and have a great time. Le Tour is very open mountain with sun all day if it's out and it's a glorious place to be. I can't wait to get back to the mountains for some more skiing, I'm addicted! Argentiere is a really nice quiet town with a few small bars and a few small shops. I'm not so interested in the apres-ski night clubs these days as I want to maximise my time on the slopes rather than in a hot sweaty nightclub as I can do anywhere in the world.... If you want a true ski experience, this is the place to come!
Argentiere skiing is challenging but brilliant. I've been living there for a while now, working on improving my skiing with All Mountain Performance, a local British run ski school specializing in off-piste coaching. I can now ski the whole mountain and can't wait to hit the slopes again this coming weekend.
I love Argentiere, probably my favourite ski-place in Europe. Top tip - do the Pierre-a-ric run over and over in the middle of the day, it's pretty much empty and well groomed, with perfect snow. From the top of the Bochard lift watch the nutters abseil into the Couloir Plomb (the steepest off-piste drop). Brilliant place to sort out your mogul technique!
December 25, 2005
Tom Travis
from
USA - California
I have skied throughout Europe and North America, and the Grand Montet at Argentiere is simply my most favorite ski station in the world. I have skied there 10 times and will keep returning. The skiing from the mid-station on its verticals of 4200' to the summit, 2100' on the La Herse lift, and 2700-3200' from the La Bochard lift, are endlessly fascinating, interesting and challenging, limited only by one's own imagination and capabilities. I adore the off-piste Glacier run from the summit, as well as the runs of Les Pylones and La Pendant. The "off-off" piste Pas de Chevre down to the Mer de Glace is fascinating, if not scary. If after skiing from the summit, one takes the long, intermediate run, the Pierre a Ric down to the valley base, the vertical is 6'600'. Wow! The views from the Grand Montet, especially the summit and the rocks to the right of the Bochard lift are incredible. The Grand Montet receives loads of snow and its north face retains the snow, often well into May. After skiing the Grand Montet for days, one can sample the other ski stations of the Chamonix Valley. I particularly enjoy La Flegere, with its glorious views of the Mont blanc range and one of the sweetest bowls anywhere, the Combe Lachenal; as well one has the opportunity to ski the Vallee Blanche, with its 9200' vertical and 10 mile run, and awesome views.
What can you say about Argentiere? Grand Montets is just fantastic. So much skiable terrain and on a powder day incredible. Night life is mainly pubs but a quiet night can quickly degenerate into an all night feeding frenzy and with Chamonix only 10 minutes away...
So what are you waiting for - If its big mountain skiing you're looking for then get on board!