Compagnie des Guides de Chamonix - Day after day

March 31st : Snow shoeing tour on the Mer de glace. What a magnificent place for a tour in the heart of the Mont Blanc massif : high summits,ice vividly coloured and snow fields ...
Armand is caught!	coming out of the crevice.	Towards the ice blades.

Photos : D. Lavigne March 28th : Helicopter in the Val Veni. A sure choice thanks to the many possible drop zones according to the weather
empty slopes and far away valleys : an unusual feeling...	deep in the powder: No comment !	view on the back of the Mont Blanc : Brouillard, Peuterey...

March 24th -26th : ski tour in the Grand Paradis.a gorgeous raid in Italy, on a mythical summit towering at more than 4000m. And last but not least: you ski in the National Park of the Grand Paradis, so there are lots of animals.
welcome, but careful it is siesta time !	arriving at the Victor Emmanuel refuge	the day after: leaving for the Grand Paradis.	1300m of slope, at top speed !

too bad: the weather is getting foggy !

skiing down in white clouds !

the sun is coming out when reaching the "pastas"!

Photos : S. Frendo March 22nd : Vogler gully at the Aiguille du Midi. A small gully in the west face of the Aiguille du midi. Not too steep but needing a good technique because of the many mixed passages.
a mixed part : a trifle !	a superb atmosphere	Hubert at the relay.	reaching the Cosmiques ridge: phew !

March 18th : héliskiing in the Val Veni. The magic of flying in a grand landscape, wonderful ski conditions: a day to remember !
The DZ in the Val Veni is a fantastic playground.	Our "taxi" drops us at the Aiguille des glaciers	powder snow in the north face: quite a treat !	From the Mont Fortin: only for very good skiers.

Photos : D. Lavigne March 17th : The Breche Puiseux. one of the most beautiful high mountain skiing in the Mont blanc Massif, skiing down slope on the Mont Mallet glacier, at the foot of the Grandes Jprasses north face.
On the way: the Vallée Blanche !	Some climbing to go up the couloir.	On the mont Mallet glacier.

Photos : J. Mottin March 16th : Aiguille Verte, couloir Wymper. the imposing summit par excellence. La Verte: the dream of every climber; a wonderful couloir requiring a very good technique with crampons.
going up to the Couvercle refuge	La Verte and its famous couloir...	in the couloir: perfect conditions	At the summit: superb ridge.

The Verte summit: No comment !

A great time

For the guide too !

Photos : Y. Delevaux March 15th : Glacier de la Brenva. One of the most beautiful ski tours in the Mont Blanc Massif. The conditions are not often good because of the difference in heights (3700m - 1300m), facing south, and with very steep slopes:a high mountain ski tour not to be missed !
climbing up to the shoulder of the Tour Ronde : the Mont blanc in the background	Very steep slopes: the help of the rope is welcomed !	the bottom of the Tour Ronde south face has thawed: happiness
on the Brenva glacier : the view is imposing	some more walking to cross under La Noire.	the day was very full: a fantastic ski tour

March 15th : Skiing at the Marbrés. skiing down the Marbrés. A splendid down slope for excellent skiers, on the italian side of the massif, from the top of the Vallée Blanche.
starting between the Aiguilles Marbrés and the Dent du Géant	a superb even slope in spring snow .	and you can ski down to the bottom thanks to a few snow strips.

Photos : J. Mottin March 14th : Aiguille d'Argentiere, couloir en Y. Aiguille d'Argentière: the Y couloir. A gorgeous snow couloir in the south face, reaching one of the most beautiful lookouts in the Mont Bklanc Massif. Something to be done at this time of the year, combining ski tour, climbing and down slope skiing.
Going up : La Verte in the background.	facing south : No risk of feeling cold !	excellent conditions.	the slope is getting easier : nearly the top.

reaching the top

What a view !

using the rope to ski down : it's tough.

Photos : Y. Delevaux March 13th : Col du plan. One of the itineraries of the Aiguille du Midi north face. Not very technical but interesting ! A great atmosphere.... You need to be very fit.
view of the itinerary: the thin gully on the left of the spur.	a splendid couloir with small shelves	two technical pitches before the last slope.

March 12th : Goulotte Valéria at the petit Capucin.A lovely goulotte in austere surroundings:the neighbouring serac of the pyramide du Tacul.. Fortunately the goulotte is out of its reach and , from the top, the view on the grand Capucin is breathtaking
Xavier in the first pitch	Thin and technical at the top	At the summit, enjoying the sun!	climbing down in the south face.

March 11th : Cascade at Trient. Several itineraries facing north are still in excellent conditions, offering good ice climbing,whereas in spite of good weather in the mountain, the wind is stormy
Above the "amphithéatre" the conditions are good	The ice is well formed and soft ...quite pleasant!	Beautiful stalactites"flutes" for Yann.

March 9th: Ridge of the refuge des Cosmiques. A very nice little climb to get initiated to the high mountain.It is often called "Laurence's ridge" as a salute to the pleasant lady-keeper of the refuge des Cosmiques, where we will stop for a delicious pastry
Magnificent, aerial passage	Impressive frost	a little climbing down...	Overlooking the Mont-Blanc du Tacul.

March 8th: Goulotte Pelissier at the Pointe Lachenal. The weather is getting better,let's take the picks, but mind the couloirs or the steep slopes.. Here is a little goulotte,very nice to climb, partly sunny when reaching the top of la pointe Lachenal.
The goulotte is still in good conditions	Slightly tricky traverse but so lovely!	doing a good track at the top.	the top: what a view on the Mont-Blanc du Tacul.

March 7th : La Vallée Blanche. These last days the rather disturbed weather gave some good snow high in the mountain
The sun and soft snow...	... quite a feast	a superb day..	a wonderful tour

Photos : D. Lavigne March 5th: Cascade in the Val Savarenche (Italy) : Anthares. In a valley before Cogne, on the road to the Grand Paradis , there is an extremely beautiful cascade
a wonderful line...	... a fantastic atmosphere	fortunately the top is less steep	Another excellent climber!

Photos : L. Pernollet March 3rd : Cascade at Cogne, Mondey Money. In Chamonix the weather is still horrible : let's go back to Cogne. A superb cascade,a short way after Patry, is in excellent conditions ...
The pitches ask for a sustained effort...	... But the ice is wonderful	Time to reach the top:Here is the sun! !	Gilles in the last pitch.

Photos : D. Lavigne March 1st: Cascade at Cogne, Patry. In Chamonix the weather is awful, but after an hour's drive in the valley of Cogne, the sun shines and the cascades are beautiful
Charles-Henry warming up	Gilles : the relay at last!	End of Patry (left)quite an atmosphere !	Patry (right) last pitch: Concentration!

Photos : D. Lavigne