French Alps: The Biggest Ski and Snowboarding Lines in Europe: The French Alps

⎪EUROPE: The French Alps

I. The Mont Blanc Massif, centered around western Europe’s highest peak and the historic mountaineering town of Chamonix, has arguably the biggest and most accessible concentration of backcountry ski lines on the planet. Due to its unique geology, high elevation, and abundance of glaciated terrain, the lines here are as steep and challenging as they come. Chamonix valley has an extensive lift system, an expansive and efficient public transportation infrastructure, and an excellent network of overnight mountain huts, both guarded and unguarded. It is only an hour and a half’s drive from a major international airport (Geneva), and 30-40 minutes by car, bus, or train from both the Swiss and Italian borders: Italy via the Mont Blanc Tunnel, one of the world’s longest; and Switzerland via the Mont-Blanc Express railway or the Forclaz Pass roadway (both weaving through a pair of deep and equally stunning river gorges). Chamonix’s combination of accessibility, infrastructure, and scale, together with its astonishing natural beauty, is unmatched anywhere in the world. But it does come with a price: expect crowds, even in the backcountry, and especially in the high season of February, March, and April. Don’t let this discourage you however. The high visitor numbers can lend a measure of safety and security not found in wilderness settings. Chamonix’s PGHM, for example, is perhaps the best and most experienced mountain rescue service in the world (summoning help from them requires only a good cell and/or satellite signal, and access to the number here or below), and with so many pairs of boots on the ground at any given moment, the potential for abundant and timely backcountry beta is great, and extremely valuable.

II. The Ecrins Mountains in and around the small rural town of La Grave, France, on the other hand, are more remote, much less populated, and a bit more manageable in scale than Chamonix. La Grave has exactly one chair lift, and no ski patrol to tell you when or where to go, except when the local Bureau des Guides decides to shut down the Téléphérique during a dangerous storm cycle. A local guide is highly recommended here however, even for seasoned ski alpinists, as the terrain is varied and complex, conditions are volatile, and good beta is oftentimes hard to come by. La Grave is a vestige of a bygone era in winter sports recreation: cheap prices, (near) zero luxury accommodations, almost no crowds, no rules, and no boundaries. Throw in some incredible scenery, world-class mountain guides, friendly locals, good wine, and some of the rowdiest ski lines in all of Europe, and you’ve got one of the best backcountry/ski mountaineering destinations anywhere on earth. Get there fast—before growing interest (and global warming) beats you to it.

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I. Massif du Mont Blanc (Chamonix) | Gallery

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Northeast face of the Mont Blanc Massif: Aiguille Blanche de Peuterey, Mont Blanc, Mont Maudit, and Mont Blanc du Tacul (left to right), as seen from the summit of Dent du Geant (in shadow), Chamonix, FR (photo: Wikipedia)

I. Massif du Mont Blanc (Chamonix) | The Biggest Lines

• SYMBOLS KEY: Click on the ⚲ symbol for location on Google Maps; info for trip reports; the ▸ symbol for video links; and STRAVA for Strava link/route info

• RATINGS KEY: Exposure: E1=Low, E2=Medium, E3=High, E4=Extreme Distance: S=Slack, R=Remote, VR=Very Remote, XR=Extremely Remote Max Slope Angle: XX°

• UPDATES: while serious hazards exist on all Biggest Lines ski routes, these route updates provide additional beta from new developments and/or recent trip reports

1. Aiguille du Tacul, Northwest Shoulder, Chamonix ⚲ info ▸ STRAVA E3/VR/46°

2. Angelique Couloir, Aiguille Chanevier/Glacier Talefre, Chamonix ⚲ info ▸ fatmap E4/VR/57°

3. Barbey Couloir, Aiguille du Argentiere, North Face, Chamonix ⚲ info info STRAVA E3+/XR/53°

4. Bellin Couloir, Le Brevent, Chamonix ⚲ info STRAVA E2/S/45°

5. Capucin Couloir, Col du Tacul, Chamonix ⚲ info info ▸ STRAVA E3+/VR/65°

6. Chevalier Couloir, Grand Montets, Argentiere Basin, Chamonix ⚲ info info ▸ STRAVA E3+/R/52°

7. Col de l’Aiguille Verte, Aiguille Verte, Argentiere Basin, Chamonix ⚲ info ▸ STRAVA E4/VR/61°

8. Col des Courtes, Aiguille Verte, Argentiere Basin, Chamonix ⚲ info info ▸ STRAVA E4/VR/57°

9. Col de Beaugeant, Aiguille Rouges, Chamonix/Le Buet, FR ⚲ ⚲ info ▸ STRAVA E2/VR/57°

10. Col du Belvédère, Aiguille Rouges, Chamonix/Le Buet, FR ⚲ ⚲ info ▸ STRAVA E2/VR/57°

11. Col des Cristaux, Aiguille Verte, Argentiere Basin, Chamonix ⚲ info ▸ ▸ ▸ STRAVA E3/VR/56°

12. Col du Diable, Mt. Blanc du Tacul, Chamonix ⚲ info info ▸ ▸ STRAVA E4/VR/57°

13. Col du Plan, Aiguille du Midi North Face, Chamonix ⚲ info info STRAVA E4+/R/55°

(route update: route now requires a minimum of three abseils due to a large chockstone blocking the exit couloir)

14. Cosmiques Couloir, Aiguille du Midi, Chamonix ⚲ info ▸ STRAVA E3/R/50°

15. Couloir Couturier, Aiguille Verte, Chamonix ⚲ info info ▸ STRAVA E4+/VR/56°

(route update: very rarely in condition; serious fall hazard; often unskiable)

16. Diable Couloir, Mt. Blanc du Tacul, Chamonix ⚲ info info STRAVA E4+/VR/57°

(route update: very rarely in condition; serious fall hazard)

17. East Rectilgne/Nant Blanc Glacier, Grand Montets, Chamonix ⚲ STRAVA E3/VR/44°

(route update: very rarely in condition: major rockfall hazard on exit)

18. E.N.S.A Couloir, Le Brevent, Chamonix ⚲ info STRAVA E2/S/47°

19. Eugster Diagonal, Aiguille du Midi North Face, Chamonix ⚲ info ▸ ▸ STRAVA E4+/VR/49°

(route update: very rarely in condition: serious rockfall hazards exist)

20. Gervasutti Couloir, Tour Ronde, Chamonix ⚲ info ▸ STRAVA E3+/VR./52°

21. Glacier Rond/Cunningham Couloir, Aiguille du Midi, Chamonix ⚲ info info info ▸ ▸ ▸ STRAVA E3+/R/50°

(route update: due to a rapidly thinning glacier, entry is now very exposed)

22. Grand Couloir, Mont Buet, West Face, Chamonix ⚲ info ▸ ▸ fatmap E3/XR/43°

23. Grand Envers du Plan, Chamonix ⚲ info ▸ ▸ ▸ ▸ ▸ STRAVA E3/VR/43°

24. The Grand Gervasutti, Mt. Blanc du Tacul, Chamonix ⚲ info info ▸ ▸ ▸ STRAVA E4+/VR/52°

(route update: extreme fall and very serious serac fall hazards on steep and icy terrain)

25. Jager Couloir, Mt. Blanc du Tacul, Chamonix ⚲ info info info ▸ ▸ STRAVA E4/VR/66°

26. Les Courtes, NE Face, Chamonix ⚲ info info ▸ STRAVA E4/VR/52°

27. Mallory, Aiguille du Midi North Face, Chamonix ⚲ info ▸ ▸ ▸ STRAVA E4+/R/57°

(route update: very serious fall hazard; a major rockslide on 8/24/23 has altered the route in unknown ways)

28. Mont Mallet Diagonal/Brêche Puiseux, Mont Mallet, Chamonix ⚲ info info info info STRAVA E3-E4+/VR/46°+

(route update: very serious fall, serac fall and crevasse hazards In Mont Mallet Diagonal; Breche Puiseux couloir requires rope and a rock rack to top out safely)

29. Mont Blanc (summit), Grands Mulets Route, Chamonix ⚲ STRAVA E4/XR/37°

(route update: very serious serac fall hazard)

30. Mont Blanc West (summit), Chamonix ⚲ info ▸ STRAVA E4+/XR/58°

(route update: rarely in condition; very serious avalanche/serac/rockfall hazards. Extreme care, fitness, timing, and preparation required.)

31. Petit Envers du Plan, Chamonix ⚲ info info ▸ STRAVA E2/R/38°

32. Poubelle Couloir/Pas du Chèvre, Grand Montets, Chamonix ⚲ info info ▸ STRAVA E3/VR/46°

(route update: serious rockfall hazard)

33. Couloir Rectiligne, Grand Montets, Chamonix ⚲ info ▸ STRAVA E3/VR/44°

(route update: very rarely in condition: major rockfall hazard on exit)

34. Southeast Couloir, Aiguille du Chardonnet, Chamonix ⚲ info ▸ STRAVA E3/VR/57°

35. Southwest Couloir, Breche Puiseux/Glacier des Periades, Chamonix ⚲ info info ▸ STRAVA E3/VR/46°

36. Traverse of the Aiguille de la Noire, Glacier des Periades, Pointe Yeld, Chamonix ⚲ STRAVA E3+/VR/54°

(route update: serious overhead hazard/seracs)

37. Vallee Blanche, Normal Route, Chamonix ⚲ info info ▸ STRAVA E2/R/31°

38. West Couloir, Aiguille du Chardonnet, Chamonix ⚲ info info info ▸ STRAVA E4/R/57°

(route update: very serious serac fall hazard)

39. Whymper Couloir, Aiguille Verte, Chamonix ⚲ info info info STRAVA E4/VR/54°

40. Y Couloir, Aiguille d’Argentiere, Chamonix ⚲ info info info ▸ STRAVA E3+/VR/57°

(route update: multiple abseils now required on exit)

*IMPORTANT: Exposure Level and Distance ratings are subjective and do not adequately reflect dangers inherent on approach or egress. Use conservatively.

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II. Massif des Ecrins (La Grave)/Val d’Isere/Les Arcs | Gallery

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II. Massif des Ecrins (La Grave)/Val d’Isere/Les Arcs | The Biggest Lines

• SYMBOLS KEY: Click on the ⚲ symbol for location on Google Maps; info for trip reports; the ▸ symbol for video links; and STRAVA for Strava link/route info

• RATINGS KEY: Exposure: E1=Low, E2=Medium, E3=High, E4=Extreme Distance: S=Slack, R=Remote, VR=Very Remote, XR=Extremely Remote Max Slope Angle: XX°

• UPDATES: while serious hazards exist on all Biggest Lines ski routes, these route updates provide additional beta from new developments and/or recent trip reports

41. Le Diagonale, Le Rateau/Glacier du Rateau, La Grave ⚲ info info E4/R/55°+

(route update: serious overhead hazard (serac fall) ; serious fall hazard)

42. Descente des Enfetchores/Glacier de la Meije, La Grave ⚲ info info E3/R/37°

43. Glacier de la Girose: Chirouze Classic, La Grave ⚲ info info STRAVA E3/VR/47°

44. Danaides Couloir/Lavancher, Val d’Isere ⚲ info STRAVA E2/S/40°

45. Pan de Rideau, Pointe Trifide, La Grave ⚲ info info STRAVA E4/R/54°

(route update: rarely in condition; serious fall hazard)

46. Pisteurs’ Couloir, Val d’Isere (Savoie) ⚲ info info ▸ STRAVA E2/S/43°

47. Serac Paradise: Col de la Lauze/Glacier de la Selle/Breche de la Meije/Glacier du Rateau, Ecrins, La Grave ⚲ info info E3/XR/54°

48. Trifide Couloirs 0,1,2,3, La Grave ⚲ info info info ▸ E3+/S/52° STRAVA STRAVA STRAVA

49. Vallons de la Meije, La Grave ⚲ info info STRAVA E3/R/38°

50. L’ Orciere de Gauche ‘La Vaute’, La Grave ⚲ info info STRAVA E4/VR/65°

BONUS ROUTE: Aiguille Rouge, Les Arcs (Vanoise) STRAVA E3/S/45°+

*IMPORTANT: Exposure Level and Distance ratings are subjective and do not adequately reflect dangers inherent on approach or egress. Use conservatively.

⎪EUROPE: The French Alps | Maps

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France

The French Alps are the obvious concentration of high ground along the southeastern border (shaded in dark blue) where France, Switzerland, and Italy meet. The Pyrenees are the east/west line of mountains along the southern border, separating France and Spain. The Massif des Ecrins take up a central location in the midst of the southern French alps (known as the Hautes-Alpes), which follow the arc of the greater alps from the nearby Mediterranean Sea all the way to the Adriatic. As one can imagine, the winter season is shorter here than in the high mountains of the Mont Blanc Massif, which are located immediately south and east of Lake Geneva (the serpentine lake at the shoulder of the arc marking the border between France and Switzerland). The seasonal differences are as much a function of latitude and elevation as climate change. But global warming is rapidly altering this dynamic, along with the recreational opportunities that currently exist here. Click on the image for Google Maps’ interactive version.

Massif du Mont Blanc/Aosta Valley

Topographic map of the central and eastern regions of the Mont Blanc Massif and the northwesternmost corner of the greater Valle d'Aosta region, including: Mont Blanc (far left); the north faces of the Aiguille du Midi leading into Chamonix valley (extreme NE corner of the map), Courmayeur du Mont Blanc where the south faces of Mont Blanc drain into Val Veny on the left and Val Ferret on the right (center left on the map); Courmayeur and Courmayeur valley (lower middle section of the map). The Aiguille Rouges, Glacier du Tour, and the Argentiere Basin are just out of view. (Image: Wikipedia. Click to enlarge).