Comments on: Vallée Blanche http://www.sterling-adventures.co.uk/blog/2008/04/13/vallee-blanche/ The latest reports of world wide rock & ice climbing (and other extreme) fun and adventure! Sat, 11 Feb 2012 20:37:48 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Laetitia http://www.sterling-adventures.co.uk/blog/2008/04/13/vallee-blanche/#comment-6368 Laetitia Wed, 24 Dec 2008 13:05:09 +0000 http://www.sterling-adventures.co.uk/blog/?p=1601#comment-6368 I agree with Pete - snowplough doesn't quite do it on the valle blanche. You wanna try some other off piste skiiing without the risk of falling down a crevasse first. There's plenty to be had in the Chamonix valley. I agree with Pete – snowplough doesn’t quite do it on the valle blanche. You wanna try some other off piste skiiing without the risk of falling down a crevasse first. There’s plenty to be had in the Chamonix valley.

]]> By: Pete http://www.sterling-adventures.co.uk/blog/2008/04/13/vallee-blanche/#comment-6343 Pete Tue, 23 Dec 2008 19:53:12 +0000 http://www.sterling-adventures.co.uk/blog/?p=1601#comment-6343 Brian, you should know in yourself if you are good enough to do the VB. Really the skiing isn't that hard, or at least doesn't have to be if you choose an easy route. But the high mountain terrain demands respect! If you are a mountaineer it'll come easy, if you are not (and only in your your third year skiing) it may kill you!!! Brian, you should know in yourself if you are good enough to do the VB. Really the skiing isn’t that hard, or at least doesn’t have to be if you choose an easy route. But the high mountain terrain demands respect! If you are a mountaineer it’ll come easy, if you are not (and only in your your third year skiing) it may kill you!!!

]]> By: Brian http://www.sterling-adventures.co.uk/blog/2008/04/13/vallee-blanche/#comment-6341 Brian Tue, 23 Dec 2008 14:55:22 +0000 http://www.sterling-adventures.co.uk/blog/?p=1601#comment-6341 I seen a message you left online. I am going to ski Chamonix for my 3rd year skiing.....I have a good snowplough, can side slide and parralell ok .........should I do the Valle Blanche? Brian.....Ireland ..........Happy Christmas. burns4b@yahoo.co.uk I seen a message you left online. I am going to ski Chamonix for my 3rd year skiing…..I have a good snowplough, can side slide and parralell ok ………should I do the Valle Blanche?

Brian…..Ireland ……….Happy Christmas.

burns4b@yahoo.co.uk

]]> By: Sterling Adventures Blog » De Mer de Glace à le Fayet http://www.sterling-adventures.co.uk/blog/2008/04/13/vallee-blanche/#comment-3420 Sterling Adventures Blog » De Mer de Glace à le Fayet Mon, 05 May 2008 19:28:39 +0000 http://www.sterling-adventures.co.uk/blog/?p=1601#comment-3420 [...] path down the arete was deeper than a few weeks before, the skis strapped on to Pete’s packs were catching on the side walls of the trench giving [...] [...] path down the arete was deeper than a few weeks before, the skis strapped on to Pete’s packs were catching on the side walls of the trench giving [...]

]]> By: Sterling Adventures Blog » Montenvers Cragging http://www.sterling-adventures.co.uk/blog/2008/04/13/vallee-blanche/#comment-3406 Sterling Adventures Blog » Montenvers Cragging Sat, 03 May 2008 20:11:33 +0000 http://www.sterling-adventures.co.uk/blog/?p=1601#comment-3406 [...] Le Palais des Glaces There were loads of people skiing the Vallée Blanche still. Hopefully we gave them something interesting to look at as they skied [...] [...] Le Palais des Glaces There were loads of people skiing the Vallée Blanche still. Hopefully we gave them something interesting to look at as they skied [...]

]]> By: Anna http://www.sterling-adventures.co.uk/blog/2008/04/13/vallee-blanche/#comment-3276 Anna Wed, 16 Apr 2008 20:22:47 +0000 http://www.sterling-adventures.co.uk/blog/?p=1601#comment-3276 I agree with u Tish, if only the snow regularly went down to the town these days!! I agree with u Tish, if only the snow regularly went down to the town these days!!

]]> By: Laetitia http://www.sterling-adventures.co.uk/blog/2008/04/13/vallee-blanche/#comment-3265 Laetitia Tue, 15 Apr 2008 16:57:07 +0000 http://www.sterling-adventures.co.uk/blog/?p=1601#comment-3265 Oh, and I think next time we go we should do it when we can ski down to the valley. That not only saves a bit of money, but extends the trip. I was quite sad when we'd finished. Although I did enjoy the beer before the train ride :yum: :yum: Oh, and I think next time we go we should do it when we can ski down to the valley. That not only saves a bit of money, but extends the trip. I was quite sad when we’d finished.
Although I did enjoy the beer before the train ride :yum: :yum:

]]> By: Laetitia http://www.sterling-adventures.co.uk/blog/2008/04/13/vallee-blanche/#comment-3264 Laetitia Tue, 15 Apr 2008 16:55:04 +0000 http://www.sterling-adventures.co.uk/blog/?p=1601#comment-3264 Some people were actually bottom sliding down some of the aréte. Bloody insane! They weren't being adventurous, just scared of slipping. I tried to explain that they should turn around and walk backwards, but they didn't understand my English or French, or even me showing them what to do. Thankfully there were two lines that could be taken, and three in some places, so they were easy to avoid. Some people were actually bottom sliding down some of the aréte. Bloody insane! They weren’t being adventurous, just scared of slipping. I tried to explain that they should turn around and walk backwards, but they didn’t understand my English or French, or even me showing them what to do. Thankfully there were two lines that could be taken, and three in some places, so they were easy to avoid.

]]> By: Pete http://www.sterling-adventures.co.uk/blog/2008/04/13/vallee-blanche/#comment-3263 Pete Tue, 15 Apr 2008 13:08:29 +0000 http://www.sterling-adventures.co.uk/blog/?p=1601#comment-3263 Anna, we went what I think is probably the easier side of the Rognon. As for taking the skins "just in case", we thought it best to find our way carefully... Next time, now that we know the route (and the 'quality' of the fixed ropes), we'll likely be a lot more adventurous! :razz: Map. What do you mean? Pete, yeah, I find the aréte quite scary. I guess it's my imagination running wild - it's a clear line of sight all the way down to Chamonix, over 2500m below! Anna, we went what I think is probably the easier side of the Rognon. As for taking the skins “just in case”, we thought it best to find our way carefully… Next time, now that we know the route (and the ‘quality’ of the fixed ropes), we’ll likely be a lot more adventurous! :razz: Map. What do you mean?

Pete, yeah, I find the aréte quite scary. I guess it’s my imagination running wild – it’s a clear line of sight all the way down to Chamonix, over 2500m below!

]]> By: Pete D http://www.sterling-adventures.co.uk/blog/2008/04/13/vallee-blanche/#comment-3262 Pete D Tue, 15 Apr 2008 10:53:09 +0000 http://www.sterling-adventures.co.uk/blog/?p=1601#comment-3262 Many moons ago it took repeated prodding from behind with the pointy bit of an ice axe to get me out of the tunnel and onto that arete :shock: Many moons ago it took repeated prodding from behind with the pointy bit of an ice axe to get me out of the tunnel and onto that arete :shock:

]]> By: Anna http://www.sterling-adventures.co.uk/blog/2008/04/13/vallee-blanche/#comment-3261 Anna Mon, 14 Apr 2008 21:24:55 +0000 http://www.sterling-adventures.co.uk/blog/?p=1601#comment-3261 Yes it's a great descent isn't it? Which side of the Rognon did you go, look fwd to seeing the map. I'm sure I did not take skins (there isn't any "up", and I didn't own any in those days anyway). I don't think we used crampons either. Only took crevasse rescue stuff. I wouldn't mind doing it again (= would love to, except for the cost of the 'pherique). Nice to see the pics. Yes it’s a great descent isn’t it? Which side of the Rognon did you go, look fwd to seeing the map.
I’m sure I did not take skins (there isn’t any “up”, and I didn’t own any in those days anyway). I don’t think we used crampons either. Only took crevasse rescue stuff. I wouldn’t mind doing it again (= would love to, except for the cost of the ‘pherique).
Nice to see the pics.

]]> By: Pete http://www.sterling-adventures.co.uk/blog/2008/04/13/vallee-blanche/#comment-3259 Pete Mon, 14 Apr 2008 13:19:41 +0000 http://www.sterling-adventures.co.uk/blog/?p=1601#comment-3259 Yeah, we couldn't have planned the weather better - pouring with rain when we arrived and pouring when we left - sunny in between! :grin: Although I did miss not getting a route done... Can't wait to do the "VB" again Ian, ignoring the cost of another lift pass, we almost went straight back up right there and then! So, even though it may be next year now before we get another chance, we could make a mass descent together? Yeah, we couldn’t have planned the weather better – pouring with rain when we arrived and pouring when we left – sunny in between! :grin: Although I did miss not getting a route done…

Can’t wait to do the “VB” again Ian, ignoring the cost of another lift pass, we almost went straight back up right there and then! So, even though it may be next year now before we get another chance, we could make a mass descent together?

]]> By: ian http://www.sterling-adventures.co.uk/blog/2008/04/13/vallee-blanche/#comment-3255 ian Sun, 13 Apr 2008 18:45:44 +0000 http://www.sterling-adventures.co.uk/blog/?p=1601#comment-3255 Wow!! :cool: :cool: :cool: looks like you had a fab day! :mrgreen: :mrgreen: I've wanted to do the Vallee Blanche for ages. And it looks like you got great weather aswell!! :grin: Wow!! :cool: :cool: :cool: looks like you had a fab day! :mrgreen: :mrgreen: I’ve wanted to do the Vallee Blanche for ages.
And it looks like you got great weather aswell!! :grin:

]]>