A mellow ski tour which often holds good snow

Statistics

3 - 4

hrs

797

m

1,618

m

46

max°

Difficulty

FATMAP difficulty grade

Moderate

Description

Starting from the Aiguille du Midi cable car, exit the lift station and walk down the arête.

Ski down the Vallée Blanche, crossing over to the Italian side.

Continue skiing down the skier's right side of the Gèant Icefall until just above the Salle à Manger.

Transition here to skinning.

Be aware of the La Noire serac now overhead which is sometimes active and has been known on occasion to reach the Salle à Manger, so this is no place to stop for a picnic.

Skin up the Périades Glacier towards the Col du Tacul until you reach the steeper slopes below the Col du Tacul.

Turning around here, ski back down the same way before trending skier's right side in the lower half, descending 30 degree slopes on the moraine above the Mer de Glace.

Continue down the rest of the classic Vallée Blanche route.