Ski the classic descents of the Chamonix Valley with UIAGM guide Michael Silitch and World Extreme Champion Chris Davenport next March
You have heard the hype about Chamonix. Well, it is all true. The birth place of alpinism offers some of the world greatest and most classic skiing descents. Follow veteran Chamonix skiers Mike Silitch and Chris Davenport on a personally guided tour of these incredible mountains and make your skiing dreams a reality. This week long experience will focus on skiing, with important instruction on snow safety, terrain and route selection, and glacier travel included. We will endeavor to ski some of the lines that have made Chamonix famous, with safety and fun being our goals. Join us in this amazing alpine playground for the ski trip of a lifetime. Routes and descents may include:
Vallee Blanche
Starting from the Aiguille de Midi, the famous Vallee Blanche run allows you to ski directly through the heart of the glaciers and granite rock spires of Mont Blanc. There is even a stone hut half way down with a sunny terrace where you can eat and drink Savoyard Specialties…fondue and wine of course. This one run takes all day and allows you to glide on snow for over 12 miles with 10,000 feet of vert. With its many variations, this run is suitable for all levels of skier. Being on glacier, it is the perfect place to instruct in glacier travel techniques.
Pas de Chevre
This historic line descends faces and couloirs for over 4000 feet onto the Mer de Glace glacier. This off piste run which starts of the summit of the Grand Montets ski area actually gives you over 7000 feet of skiing—you’ll click off your skis in downtown Chamonix where you can have a beer and hang with the Swedes at Chambre Neuf, the most happening après ski bar in town. Before dropping into this run, we’ll review beacon use.
ENSA Couloir
One of the many easily accessible descents on the Aiguille Rouge side of the valley. You start at the sunny Les Brevent ski area and have access to many moderately steep slopes such as the ENSA, the Pente d’Hotel, and the Col de Belvedere. This is the perfect place to fine tune your steep technique and learn new tools such as rappelling.
Skiing Ability
Participants should be expert skiers, with moderate ski touring experience and a desire to learn. This trip will be a progression, and will find descents within the capabilities of the group as a whole.
Necessary Equipment
Avalanche transceiver, probe, shovel, harness and locking carabiner, skis with touring bindings or Alpine Trekker adaptors, helmet, and 30 Liter ski pack. You can purchase these items from Mountain Gear, one of our partners. They are available for rent in Chamonix as well. A full gear list will be sent to you when you upon registration.
Accommodations
We can arrange a very comfortable stay for you at a moderately priced chalet style hotel, centrally located, yet quiet. Each night, we’ll choose a “locals” favorite restaurant and toast to another successful day as the alpenglow shimmers over Mt. Blanc.
Chris Davenport, of Aspen Colorado, is considered one of the world’s most accomplished big mountain skiers. A former alpine racer, Chris has made his mark in the freeskiing community by winning both the 1996 and 2000 World Freeskiing Championships. In addition to his competitive prowess, Chris has been featured in over a dozen feature ski films, including those from Warren Miller Entertainment and Matchstick Productions. He is a commentator for ESPN and ABC Sports.
Chris has climbed above 8000 meters in the Himalaya, and has numerous first ski descents to his credit in Alaska, Canada, New Zealand, and Argentina. When not traveling around the world seeking big descents, Chris recreates around Aspen and Snowmass with his wife Jesse and son Stian. Chris is sponsored by Salomon, Red Bull, Aspen/Snowmass, Smith, Giro, Da Kine, Swix, and Clif Bar.
Michael Silitch is a certified UIAGM/IFMGA mountain and ski guide who lives and works in the Chamonix area. Although focusing his last 5 years guiding in the Alps, his experience is broad including numerous ascents of Denali in Alaska and big walls in Yosemite. Besides the Alps, he has skied extensively in the Chugach of Alaska, the North Cascades of Washington State and throughout Colorado searching out unskied slopes where ever he travels.
Michael is an avalanche and snow safety educator for the American Institute of Avalanche Research and Education (AIARE) and is level 3 certified. He has been trained as a wilderness EMT and is currently certified in WFR and CPR first aid. Michael is a certified alpine, rock and ski guide by The American Mountain Guides Association (AMGA). He also sits on the technical committee and is a guide’s trainer of the AMGA. Michael is one of a handful of Americans with this level of training and certification. His sponsors include Patagonia, Petzl/Charlet Moser, Backcountry Acces, Mountain Gear, Kayland, Fiveten, PowerBar.
