Ski touring Tour Glacier

Duration: 3 days

Level:

Advanced

Beginner: You have no experience.

Intermediate/Confirmed: You have had at least one previous experience.

Advanced/Expert: You practice regularly.

Price from: 595€

For more information, contact Pôle Ski :

+33 (0)4 28 70 28 92

Information Request

The unique setting of the Mont Blanc massif, with its rocky peaks and glaciers, has made the reputation of the Chamonix valley and its mountains. The Compagnie des Guides de Chamonix has developed a series of ski tours & trips to discover this unique universe.

-Night on the Vallée Blanche, 2 days: in the heart of the Mont Blanc massif in an outstanding setting
-Night at Lognan, 2 days: panoramic crossing between the village of Argentière and le Tour, by the Col du Passon
-Night in the Argentière Basin, 2 days: vertiginous settings in a unique environment
-Ski tour between Argentière and Le Tour, 3 days: the forgotten slopes of the Mont Blanc Massif

At the northern end of the Mont Blanc Massif, the mountains between the villages of the Tour in France and Trient in Switzerland, offer wild and unusual descents in easy reach from the Glacier du Tour. Thanks to this cleverly designed itinerary, you can make the most of this forgotten side of the massif. We ski on the Argentière Glacier, then on the Glacier du Tour, before spending our last day on the remote Bron and Grands glaciers. During this trip, we will access some unusual, outstanding viewpoints on the mountains of the Chamonix Valley. We will also discover a few slopes renowned for their snow quality.

Group session associates several people who don’t know each other. It allows for a planned program to benefit from an attractive price on fixed dates. This formula is ideal for people looking for the friendliness of a group.

Dates : Find all the dates available in the drop-down list below

Price 2024 : 640€ per person based on minimum of 4 participants

Included in the package :
- IFMGA English speaking mountain guiding service
- half-board in mountain huts (dinner, breakfast and night)
- ski lift access as per programme
- rental of full safety kit (avalanche transceiver/DVA, shovel, probe)

Not included in the package :
- take out lunches and daily snacks
- personal drinks in huts and other personal expenses (we recommend you bring Euros)
- cost of getting to meeting point
- personal technical equipment

A private booking is the historical relationship that binds a guide to his/her client. It allows you to be alone, or in a constituted group, with your guide that meets your specific needs. It is undoubtedly the ideal formula to realize your projects because it guarantees you a maximum of comfort. You are free to choose your departure date (depending on the availability of the huts) and the itinerary can be adjusted, according to your specific expectations.

Prices 2024 :

2 people : 1270€ per person
3 people : 935€ per person
4 people : 765€ per person
5 people : 665€ per person
6 people : 595€ per person

Included in the package :
- IFMGA English speaking mountain guiding service
- half-board in mountain huts (dinner, breakfast and night)
- rental of full safety kit (avalanche transceiver/DVA, shovel, probe)

Not included in the package :
- take out lunches and daily snacks
- personal drinks in huts and other personal expenses (we recommend you bring Euros)
- cost of getting to meeting point
- personal technical equipment

In this section, find all the information about this activity. For further information, please contact our advisor (contact details above).

Meeting point : Meet at 09:00 in front of the Grands Montets (Argentière) ticket office. In order to limit traffic in the valley, we recommend using public transport (bus or train).

Ability level : An appropriate choice of destination is essential for you to properly enjoy your holiday. To get the most out of your trip we recommend you take regular exercise throughout the year and, where necessary, undertake specific training a few months before you leave. Try to avoid last minute training that can lead to injury. It is important you do not overestimate your abilities and you understand that the weight of your backpack, the altitude and the snow conditions can negatively impact on your normal skiing ability.

Fitness level : For people who regularly exercise/take part in sports and who have good ski touring experience. Vertical ascent of up to 900m per day. Five to six hours of exercise per day. Backpack potentially includes mountaineering equipment (crampons and ice axe). Altitudes of under 3500m.
Technical level : For advanced ski tourers. Wide slopes with short sections of narrow passages (up to 35°). Ability to ski in all snow conditions required. Several ascents with crampons, experience with crampons needed. Ease with kick turns required.

Guiding policy : 4 to 6 people. The Compagnie des Guides de Chamonix's guiding policy is one of the strictest in the mountain guiding business. It guarantees the most balanced groups as possible as well as high-quality personalised advice.

Accommodation : During the trip: Half-board in huts. No drinking water.

Before & after the trip: We have some hotel partners in Chamonix with special prices for our customers.

Documentation : Participants must have mountain sports insurance with repatriation cover. We strongly recommend that this also includes cancellation cover. You can take out insurance offering both of these types of cover when you sign up. Participants must also take valid ID with them.

Documents available for download

We recommend you to pay particular attention to the choice of your equipment. It contributes greatly to the success of your stay. Weight is decisive: you always have to evaluate the ratio weight/comfort, to find the best compromise. In a general way, it is better to pile up several light coats rather than wear one big clothing.
As for your touring skis: for ski touring, the optimum width of your skis is between 85mm and 95mm depending on your height and weight. Below 85mm, skiing in powder snow can be difficult. Above 95mm, the weight of your skis can make ascents even more difficult and you'll tend to slide more easily.

Equipment
- Comfortable frameless rucksack of 35l on which you could fix your skis & ice-axe
- Ski touring skis & shoes, rentable
- Adhesive climbing skins & ski knifes adapted to your skis, rentable
- A pair of poles with large discs, rentable
- A pair of light crampons & an ice-axe, rentable
- A security pack including harness, DVA, shovel & probe - this pack will be lend by your guide

Clothing
- Waterproof and windproof, non-insulated parka with hood (Gore-tex or equivalent), rentable
- Waterproof and windproof, non-insulated pants, rentable
- Thick polar-pile fleece jacket or equivalent
- A light down jacket
- 1 long-sleeve shirt
- Medium weight thermal underwear (top + bottoms, silk or polypro, double as pyjamas)
- Warm ski socks
- Warm ski hat and light sun hat with brim
- Warm ski gloves or mittens
- A pair of adjusted gloves (in leather or fleece)
- Neck protection
- Spare thermal underwear (for sleeping and change)

Accessories
- High-altitude sunglasses (grade 4 is recommended)
- A goggle
- 1.5 quart water bottle
- An isotherm bottle
- A mini toilet bag including: sun block for face and lips, aspirin, elastoplast, 2nd skin kit, earplug, toilet paper
- A headlamp with spare batteries
- A cotton or silk sleeping sheet: compulsory in every hut. - Hut provide blankets, slippers or clogs
- A plastic bag contains your ID card & Euros for extras

Our Rental Partners : You can rent your equipment with our rental shops partners and benefit from special price Sanglard Sports, Ravanel & Co & Concept Pro Shop
Our Equipment Partners : Millet, Dynastar, Julbo, Grivel & Monnet

Itinerary

Day 1
Following the fire that hit the cable car of les Grands Montets in 2018, the classic itinerary is modified. We start from Bochard lift (2 766m), we join Lognan glacier (2 700m). We skin up to Rognons glacier (3 050m) through the Rachasses pass. We ski down to Argentière glacier. The Argentière glacier is mostly flat at this stage, making the ski tour to the refuge short and easy. We stay overnight at the Argentière hut (2 771m). The view over the impressive north faces rising high above Argentière glacier is stunning!
Vertical asent : 575m / Vertical descent 750m

Day 2
Our day starts with a short descent to the Passon moraine (2 380m). We cross the moraine on foot and we may require crampons. The climb continues on skis. The slopes here are wide up until the col, which we reach using crampons and roped together via a couloir about a hundred metres high. The views from the col (3 028m), over not only the Argentière basin but also the Le Tour basin, are simply breath-taking. Then, we will ski under the North face of Chardonnet. We put skins back on to cross the gorgeous Glacier du Tour to Col Supérieur du Tour (3 100m). Then, we ski down a gentle slope following the Glacier du Tour, all the way to the refuge Albert 1er (2 700m), through a short uphill slope. We spend the night at the mountain hut.
Vertical asent : 800m / Vertical descent 700m

Day 3
From our mountain hut, we ski up to the overlooking crest (3 094m) that we will climb with crampons. On the other side, the sunny, gentle slopes of the Glacier des Grands will welcome us. We will ski down in a wild landscape through the Grands and Bron glaciers, all the way to the Combe de la Chaux des Grands (2 400m), at the foot of the Grandes Autannes (2 680m). We will reach the summit by ski and then by foot. We will then hit the famous north side descent to the Herbagères (2 033m). Finally, we go up to Col de Balme (2 200m) which gives us access to the Tour-Vallorcine ski area, that we will follow to the village of Le Tour. Return to Argentière by public transport in the mid-afternoon.
Vertical asent : 850m / Vertical descent 1750m

Booking

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CO2 emitted per person for the activity: 32 kg. Learn out more about the footprint calculation of this activity

CO2 emitted per person for this activity & journey(s) = 0 kgIn order to limit global warming to +2°C by 2100, the COP-21 agreement stipulates that each human should emit no more than 2t of CO2 per year. According to the French Ministry of Ecology, today European citizens emit an average of 11t per year, and American citizens emit an average of 21t annually., or 3.2€The price for a ton of CO2 is currently 100€ in the European Union to offset.

Find out more about our zero impact strategy.