3.5 km away
Gervasutti Couloir, Tour Ronde
An accessbile steep line, a great 'warm up' to the more extreme descents of the Massif
Extreme Ski Touring
- Distance
- 227 m
- Ascent
- 0 m
- Descent
- 250 m
The 'Himalayan' face of Mont Blanc
Also in Haute-Savoie, France
Ski Touring Extreme
Also known as the Himalayan face of Mont Blanc, this is as big as big mountain skiing gets in the Alps. Don’t expect good snow on this incredibly long and complex line. A descent of the West Face is sure to be a true adventure for bonafide connoisseurs of steep and remote skiing. Due to the complex and long nature of the face it is almost always skied onsight and can be approached from either the 3 Monts route or the Grand Mulets/the North Ridge of the Dôme de Goûter. Getting the right conditions and nailing the route finding will be the cruxes of the descent.
The West Face of Mont Blanc can be scouted from the upper reaches of Val Veny or from the Tré la Téte basin. To date there are four known variations that have been skied on the West Face. Starting with Saudans’s first descent of the face in 1973 some of extreme skiing’s best-known names have left their mark here. The most popular route is the De Benedetti couloir which takes a direct line down the face.
From the summit of Mont Blanc ski down initially mellow slopes trending rightwards where the slope angle starts to steepen. Pass through a couloir on the right and continue down broad and open slopes sustained at 45-50 degrees. Locate another couloir on the right and pass through the rock band. Continue down the massive face, usually crossing the bergschrund on skier’s right and then skiing the fall line from the skier’s right side. Cross over the Glacier du Mont Blanc heading west and skin up a briefly past a rock spur towards the remote Quintino Sella hut.
From here it may be possible to descend directly on the Glacier du Mont Blanc. However, this is becoming less and less feasible due to the deteriorating state of the glacier. It is more common in late spring or early summer to ski down the narrow west facing couloir just below the Quintino Sella hut. Cross over the Glacier du Dôme to the Gonella hut and follow the summer trail down onto the Miage Glacier. You might appreciate bringing a lightweight pair of shoes for hiking down the endless rubble of the Miage in late season.
Extreme
Extreme skiing terrain above 45 degrees. These routes are reserved for experienced experts.
3.5 km away
An accessbile steep line, a great 'warm up' to the more extreme descents of the Massif
Extreme Ski Touring
3.5 km away
One of the areas classic steep north faces. Only 300 meters high, but the top slope is extremely serious
Extreme Ski Touring
3.8 km away
The most straightforward way to ski the Tour Ronde out of its four skiable sides.
Extreme Ski Touring
3.8 km away
A wild and committing descent. When conditions are good, this is as good as adventurous ski touring gets!
Severe Ski Touring
4 km away
A wild setting sets the tone for an incredible descent, steep and committing.
Severe Ski Touring
4.4 km away
One of the best and longest extreme couloirs in the Mont Blanc Massif
Extreme Ski Touring
4.5 km away
Scenic alternative exit from the West Face of the Midi
Severe Ski Touring
4.7 km away
Not to be confused with its bigger brother, the Diable Couloir. A great intro to the bigger lines on the legendary East Face of Mont Blanc du Tacul
Extreme Ski Touring
4.7 km away
Another gem of a steep line on the East Face of Mont Blanc du Tacul
Extreme Ski Touring
4.9 km away
A mellow ski tour which often holds good snow
Moderate Ski Touring
4 routes · Ski Touring
10 routes · Freeride Skiing · Ski Touring
3 routes · Ski Touring