Les plus beaux souvenirs d'une vie d'alpiniste...
Dans ces quelques pages intimistes, Anselme Baud nous relate de savoureux souvenirs de péripéties vécues en montagne, épisodes d'une riche vie d'alpiniste et de guide de haute montagne.
Du Mont Blanc au Népal, on sourit, on s'étonne, on s'émerveille. Souvent on retient son souffle, parfois le coeur se serre, mais toujours on est sous le charme d'un conteur porté par son amour de la montagne et sa passion de l'alpinisme.
Une lecture à partager le soir au refuge, qui témoigne de la fascination des hautes altitudes et invite chacun à méditer sur le profond respect dû à la montagne.
À PROPOS DE L'AUTEUR
Né à Morzine en 1948, Anselme Baud a marqué l'histoire du ski de pente raide dans les Alpes. Guide de haute montagne en 1973, il est l'auteur d'un nombre impressionnant de premières descentes extrêmes dans les Alpes, les Andes, en Antarctique ou encore en Himalaya. Professeur à l'ENSA, il a encadré pendant plusieurs années la formation des guides de montagne en Bolivie et au Népal.
Plus de 400 descentes à ski dans les massifs du Mont Blanc et des Aiguilles Rouges !
Le majestueux Mont Blanc figure parmi les plus grands sanctuaires mondiaux du ski. Il offre une fois l'hiver venu un éventail unique de pentes de rêve. Anselme Baud, guide de montagne et précurseur du ski extrême, nous invite à découvrir ce fabuleux terrain de jeu.
De l'amateur de belles pentes au freerider extrême, les passionnés de grand ski trouveront dans ce guide toutes les informations nécessaires pour tracer des lignes parfaites !
Des classiques en ski de rando aux pentes les plus extrêmes, ce topo réunit la description précise et complète de plus de 400 descentes, pour un maximum de sensations !
EXTRAIT
Si le but et l'intérêt du ski hors-piste ou de randonnée est de chercher l'éloignement et de goûter aux délices de la découverte, il est des cas où il devient opportun ou prudent de suivre certaines traces faites par d'authentiques professionnels ou de fins pratiquants. Copier le bon choix devient utile et formateur. Même si le guide se sent un peu trop suivi, il pourra de temps à autre être fier d'avoir aidé, voire protégé certains adeptes. Veiller cependant à garder ses distances et à ne pas déclencher une avalanche au-dessus de lui et de ses clients?!...
CE QU'EN PENSE LA CRITIQUE
Dans son genre, voici une bible. - Alpinisme & Randonnée
Plus qu'un topo-guide, le dernier ouvrage d'Anselme Baud est un vrai beau livre, agréable à lire, pleins de renseignements et d'idées. - Vertical
Anselme Baud vient-il de sortir la Bible du ski de montagne dans les massifs du Mont Blanc et des Aiguilles Rouges ? - Montagnes Magazine
C'est le topo de ski qui manquait dans nos bibliothèques. - Bulletin des Guides
Une pépite. Un guide complet, pratique et documenté. Petit conseil d'ami : ne sortez pas sans lui. - Ski Français
À PROPOS DE L'AUTEUR
Né à Morzine en 1948, Anselme Baud a marqué l'histoire du ski de pente raide dans les Alpes. Guide de haute montagne en 1973, il est l'auteur d'un nombre impressionnant de premières descentes extrêmes dans les Alpes, les Andes, en Antarctique ou encore en Himalaya. Professeur à l'ENSA, il a encadré pendant plusieurs années la formation des guides de montagne en Bolivie et au Népal.
Trois générations d'une famille, quatre destins de guides ou champions de ski, mus depuis un siècle par une même passion inaltérable pour le ski et l'alpinisme.
Anselme Baud , le légendaire pionnier du ski extrême, nous conte les souvenirs d'une vie intense passée au coeur des montagnes, depuis son enfance dans les pas de son père Jacques Baud, le premier guide-professeur de ski de Morzine, à sa brillante carrière de guide de montagne.
A l'appui d'archives inédites, il témoigne de James Couttet, son beau-père, le grand champion de ski, à l'élégance exemplaire, sur la neige comme dans la vie... Et rend un hommage fort à Edouard, son fils, jeune skieur plein de talent, trop tôt disparu, tragiquement happé par un sérac...
Au fil de ces pages abondamment illustrées, Anselme Baud nous dit avec justesse les bonheurs et les drames d'une vie de guide de montagne et partage nombre d'enseignements tirés de sa longue expérience.
CE QU'EN PENSE LA CRITIQUE :
Ce livre a remporté le prix "Jo Fauchère guide de montagne" aux Rencontres Internationales du Livre de Montagne d'Arolla 2012 ainsi que le grand prix "Mention spéciale" au Salon du Livre de Montagne de Passy 2012
À PROPOS DE L'AUTEUR :
Né à Morzine en 1948, Anselme Baud a marqué l'histoire du ski de pente raide dans les Alpes. Guide de haute montagne en 1973, il est l'auteur d'un nombre impressionnant de premières descentes extrêmes dans les Alpes, les Andes, en Antarctique ou encore en Himalaya. Professeur à l'ENSA, il a encadré pendant plusieurs années la formation des guides de montagne en Bolivie et au Népal.
Discover the skiing downhills of the Aiguilles rouges Mountain in this very detailed and documented book, written by one of the most talented skiers of his generation.
Located at the very heart of the highest mountains of Europe, the majestic Aiguilles rouges massif stands as a reference among the most sacred skiing places in the world. When winter comes, this snow-addict heaven offers a unique range of dream slopes, from the easiest to the most breathtakingly high ones.
Anselme Baud is an extreme skiing leading head and one of the best experts of this mountain. From classic skiing hikes to mountaineering competitions, this guide book presents a precise description of all the biggest slopes this mythic area could offer.
In this volume you can find all the information about the Aiguilles rouges.
Thanks to his charming accounts and instructive advice, Anselme Baud shares with us his precious and wide experience as a high mountain guide and an exceptional skier.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Born in Morzine in 1948, Anselme Baud left his mark on the Alps skiing steep slopes history. As a high mountain guide in 1973, he was one the first to ski on extreme downhills in the Alps, the Andes, in Antarctica or in the Himalayas. As an ENSA professor, he supervised during several years the mountain guides trainings in Bolivia and Nepal.
EXCERPT
The Aiguilles Rouges chain could have suffered from being so close to its illustrious neighbour, the Mont Blanc Massif, but in fact the huge variety of routes on offer here means that the two ranges complement each other. From easy tours to narrow couloirs, from routes with easy access from ski lifts to numerous possible traverses, the Aiguilles Rouges is an integral part of the Mont Blanc region. Thanks to this ease of access and the great circuits that can be done in this area, this is also the starting point for trips heading north: to Sixt, Flaine and Les Portes du Soleil; or to the east and Switzerland: to the high limestone Alps via the Col de la Tour Salière and the Barberine cols; not forgetting, of course, the great routes on the Bel Oiseau, the Dent de Fenestral or Fontanabran between Finhaut and Les Marécottes. Moreover, this chain of crystalline rock (gneiss) also offers superb views of the whole of the Mont Blanc Massif, which are both breathtakingly beautiful and, more importantly, are a great opportunity for getting a look at routes for the future. The other advantage the Aiguilles Rouges has is that you can easily choose the best side of the chain to ski on, as the ski lifts and the pistes are all on the south side and the best descents are to be had on the `wild' north side where the snow stays in excellent condition for a long time. The secondary ranges of the Perrons and Luisin-Emaney don't have ski lifts and usually get skied at the beginning of the season, for road access to the Emosson Dam, as the snow cover is general better here (the area is near the very wet valleys of Haut Faucigny).
Discover the skiing downhills of the Chamonix Mountain in this very detailed and documented book, written by one of the most talented skiers of his generation.
Located at the very heart of the highest mountains of Europe, the majestic Chamonix massif stands as a reference among the most sacred skiing places in the world. When winter comes, this snow-addict heaven offers a unique range of dream slopes, from the easiest to the most breathtakingly high ones.
Anselme Baud is an extreme skiing leading head and one of the best experts of this mountain. From classic skiing hikes to mountaineering competitions, this guide book presents a precise description of all the biggest slopes this mythic area could offer.
In this volume you can find all the information about Chamonix.
Thanks to his charming accounts and instructive advice, Anselme Baud shares with us his precious and wide experience as a high mountain guide and an exceptional skier.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Born in Morzine in 1948, Anselme Baud left his mark on the Alps skiing steep slopes history. As a high mountain guide in 1973, he was one the first to ski on extreme downhills in the Alps, the Andes, in Antarctica or in the Himalayas. As an ENSA professor, he supervised during several years the mountain guides trainings in Bolivia and Nepal.
EXCERPT
We now come to the Chamonix Aiguilles and the final section of the Mont Blanc Massif. You can't miss the Chamonix `Needles' as you arrive in this, the capital of mountaineering. Above and behind them, forming the heart of the Massif, sit Mont Blanc and its surrounding peaks (the Tacul, Maudit and Goûter), which have made the valley famous.
There are two different approaches to skiing in this area:
- classic ski-touring, with its 1 to 2-day climbs and long descents that require mountaineering skills and experience as this is a high mountain environment crossing glaciated terrain;
- the `new wave' of freeriders. Using the cable-cars means you can shorten or completely avoid long climbs up to some of the routes in this area, and the approach to the valley's `mythic' descents, such as the north face of the Aiguille du Midi, can be relatively quick and easy. In fact, from the start of winter a veritable festival of freerider descents is played out before our eyes. Just after a large fall of snow, the slopes on the Glacier Rond, the Cosmiques Couloir and many other routes become almost `snow parks', which would have been inconceivable 30 years ago...
Discover the skiing downhills of the Tour Mountain in this very detailed and documented book, written by one of the most talented skiers of his generation.
Located at the very heart of the highest mountains of Europe, the majestic Tour massif stands as a reference among the most sacred skiing places in the world. When winter comes, this snow-addict heaven offers a unique range of dream slopes, from the easiest to the most breathtakingly high ones.
Anselme Baud is an extreme skiing leading head and one of the best experts of this mountain. From classic skiing hikes to mountaineering competitions, this guide book presents a precise description of all the biggest slopes this mythic area could offer.
In this volume you can find all the information about Le Tour.
Thanks to his charming accounts and instructive advice, Anselme Baud shares with us his precious and wide experience as a high mountain guide and an exceptional skier.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Born in Morzine in 1948, Anselme Baud made a mark on the Alps skiing steep slopes history. He was a high mountain guide in 1973, and was one the first who skied extreme downhills in the Alps, the Andes, in Antarctica or in the Himalayas. As an ENSA professor, he supervised during several years the mountain guides training in Bolivia and Nepal.
EXCERPT
The Le Tour ski station is served by the Charamillon-col de Balme lift systems. The skiing here is accessible, `user-friendly' and good for all the family. For the more committed off-piste skier, there is also the descent to
Les Jeurs in Switzerland on the north face, above Vallorcine. However, as with any area at the head of a valley, Le Tour is subject to frequent changes in the air currents and you should be aware of what they are doing if you are planning to ski the routes here. In fact, although Le Tour has an image as an area for relatively easy `moyenne montagne' skiing, you should not underestimate the ever-present risks. The accumulation of snow that occurs as a direct result of these specific conditions is responsible, each year, for a number of accidents and avalanches. The high mountains that overlook this mixture of forests and pastures form the eastern extremity of the Mont Blanc Massif and it has been quite calm here since the snout of the glacier avalanched.
Discover the skiing downhills of the Swiss Val Ferret Mountain in this very detailed and documented book, written by one of the most talented skiers of his generation.
Located at the very heart of the highest mountains of Europe, the majestic Swiss Val Ferret massif stands as a reference among the most sacred skiing places in the world. When winter comes, this snow-addict heaven offers a unique range of dream slopes, from the easiest to the most breathtakingly high ones.
Anselme Baud is an extreme skiing leading head and one of the best experts of this mountain. From classic skiing hikes to mountaineering competitions, this guide book presents a precise description of all the biggest slopes this mythic area could offer.
In this volume you can find all the information about the Swiss Val Ferret.
Thanks to his charming accounts and instructive advice, Anselme Baud shares with us his precious and wide experience as a high mountain guide and an exceptional skier.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Born in Morzine in 1948, Anselme Baud made a mark on the Alps skiing steep slopes history. He was a high mountain guide in 1973, and was one the first who skied extreme downhills in the Alps, the Andes, in Antarctica or in the Himalayas. As an ENSA professor, he supervised during several years the mountain guides training in Bolivia and Nepal.
EXCERPT
Swiss Val Ferret offers a very special collection of ski descents and tours. The numerous heli-drops of skiers in the winter have little affect on the ski-tourers in the area as the classic tours, such as the Three Cols, and the start of the Chamonix-Zermatt Haute Route don't really get skied until the spring.
There are three big huts that are convenient for early morning starts. A fourth hut (smaller and in a wonderful location) is also used by skiers, although it was built with summer climbers and mountaineers in mind and is similar to the La Maye Bivouac on Mont Dolent.
Discover the skiing downhills of the Courtmayeur Mountain in this very detailed and documented book, written by one of the most talented skiers of his generation.
Located at the very heart of the highest mountains of Europe, the majestic Courtmayeur massif stands as a reference among the most sacred skiing places in the world. When winter comes, this snow-addict heaven offers a unique range of dream slopes, from the easiest to the most breathtakingly high ones.
Anselme Baud is an extreme skiing leading head and one of the best experts of this mountain. From classic skiing hikes to mountaineering competitions, this guide book presents a precise description of all the biggest slopes this mythic area could offer.
In this volume you can find all the information about Courmayeur.
Thanks to his charming accounts and instructive advice, Anselme Baud shares with us his precious and wide experience as a high mountain guide and an exceptional skier.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Born in Morzine in 1948, Anselme Baud left his mark on the Alps skiing steep slopes history. As a high mountain guide in 1973, he was one the first to ski on extreme downhills in the Alps, the Andes, in Antarctica or in the Himalayas. As an ENSA professor, he supervised during several years the mountain guides trainings in Bolivia and Nepal.
EXCERPT
The Italian part of the Mont Blanc Massif (Val Ferret and Val Veni) is home to some of the most imposing 4000m peaks in the Alps. While the Aiguille des Glaciers, Tre la Tête peaks and the Miage on the west face are great for skiing, few of the descents around Mont Blanc itself are regularly skied. Thanks to the relative ease of access to the Col du Géant there are numerous possible routes ranging from the Vallée Blanche to the magnificent, steep faces and couloirs nearby. To the east, on the Grandes Jorasses and on Mont Gruetta, there are a couple of major descents that are often skied. Finally, there is the Mont Dolent sector which forms the border with Switzerland and has a number of routes. Its altitude meant that the Col du Géant sector was a summer ski area until 1988.
Discover the skiing downhills of Contamines-Val Montjoie Mountain in this very detailed and documented book, written by one of the most talented skiers of his generation.
Located at the very heart of the highest mountains of Europe, the majestic Contamines-Val Montjoie massif stands as a reference among the most sacred skiing places in the world. When winter comes, this snow-addict heaven offers a unique range of dream slopes, from the easiest to the most breathtakingly high ones.
Anselme Baud is an extreme skiing leading head and one of the best experts of this mountain. From classic skiing hikes to mountaineering competitions, this guide book presents a precise description of all the biggest slopes this mythic area could offer.
In this volume you can find all the information about the Contamines-Val Montjoie.
Thanks to his charming accounts and instructive advice, Anselme Baud shares with us his precious and wide experience as a high mountain guide and an exceptional skier.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Born in Morzine in 1948, Anselme Baud left his mark on the Alps skiing steep slopes history. As a high mountain guide in 1973, he was one the first to ski on extreme downhills in the Alps, the Andes, in Antarctica or in the Himalayas. As an ENSA professor, he supervised during several years the mountain guides trainings in Bolivia and Nepal.
EXCERPT
There are several reasons why I chose to start the book on this side of Mont Blanc. This part of the Massif generally gets snow early in the season and you get a real sense of its majesty and grandeur from this, its west side. I hope that the skiers and boarders who read this book will understand and agree with this choice. If not, well, it will give them something to talk about during the long winter evenings in the numerous mountain huts around the Mont Blanc Massif!
All the skiing downhills of the Aiguilles Rouges and Mont Blanc mountains are gathered in this unique book, written by one of the most talented skiers of his generation.
Located at the very heart of the highest mountains of Europe, the majestic Mont Blanc massif stands as a reference among the most sacred skiing places in the world. When winter comes, this snow-addict heaven offers a unique range of dream slopes, from the easiest to the most breathtakingly high ones.
Anselme Baud is an extreme skiing leading head and one of the best experts of this mountain. He gives us here the first comprehensive rundown of the Mont Blanc and Aiguilles Rouges skiing downhills. From classic skiing hikes to mountaineering competitions, this guide book presents a precise description of all the biggest slopes this mythic area could offer.
Thanks to his charming accounts and instructive advice, Anselme Baud shares with us his precious and wide experience as a high mountain guide and an exceptional skier.
PRESS REVIEW
- « In its own genre, this is a bible » - Alpinisme & Randonnée
- « More than a rundown guide, the latest Anselme Baud's work is a real nice book, easy-reading, full of information and suggestions » - Vertical
- « Did Anselme Baud just write the skiing Bible of the Mont Blanc and Aiguilles Rouges mountains ? » - Montagnes Magazine
- « This is the skiing rundown that missed on our bookshelves » - Bulletin des guides
- « A gold nugget. A complete and documented how-to-book. Don't leave it away : this is a friend advice » - Ski Français
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Born in Morzine in 1948, Anselme Baud left his mark on the Alps skiing steep slopes history. As a high mountain guide in 1973, he was one the first to ski on extreme downhills in the Alps, the Andes, in Antarctica or in the Himalayas. As an ENSA professor, he supervised during several years the mountain guides trainings in Bolivia and Nepal.
From the amateur looking for the most beautiful powder snow to the mountaineer who is keen on extreme skiing, ski fans will find in this book all the useful information to fulfill their dreams of perfect lines and immaculate marks!
EXCERPT
INTRODUCTION
MONT BLANC
Unique and majestic, basking in glorious light or vexed by troublesome storms, Mont Blanc is the king of Europe. It presides in stately fashion over its glaciers, deep valleys, and delicately crenellated granite ridges. Its summit has always been prized ; its deadly rages terrifying some and fascinating others.
The first to tread on its snowy dome were the Chamoniards Gabriel Paccard and Jacques Balmat on 8th August 1786. Since that time the mountain has enjoyed no respite : first came the caravans of hopeful conquerors, then there were the intrepid unguided parties, those in eager pursuit of discovery, and adventurers of all kinds. Latterly, with the aid of advances in technology, we have witnessed, or indeed participated in, some more irreverent assaults on the mountain's dignity : Jansen's laboratory (financed by Eiffel), a banquet sponsored by a leading brand of champagne, a car on the summit that subsequently remained stranded in a snowdrift on the Petits Mulets Ridge (4690m) for several months, to name but a few...
Discover the skiing downhills of the Argentières Mountain in this very detailed and documented book, written by one of the most talented skiers of his generation.
Located at the very heart of the highest mountains of Europe, the majestic Argentières massif stands as a reference among the most sacred skiing places in the world. When winter comes, this snow-addict heaven offers a unique range of dream slopes, from the easiest to the most breathtakingly high ones.
Anselme Baud is an extreme skiing leading head and one of the best experts of this mountain. From classic skiing hikes to mountaineering competitions, this guide book presents a precise description of all the biggest slopes this mythic area could offer.
In this volume you can find all the information about the Argentières.
Thanks to his charming accounts and instructive advice, Anselme Baud shares with us his precious and wide experience as a high mountain guide and an exceptional skier.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Born in Morzine in 1948, Anselme Baud left his mark on the Alps skiing steep slopes history. As a high mountain guide in 1973, he was one the first to ski on extreme downhills in the Alps, the Andes, in Antarctica or in the Himalayas. As an ENSA professor, he supervised during several years the mountain guides trainings in Bolivia and Nepal.
EXCERPT
The Argentière Basin is quite unique in the French Alps. From piste skiing to off-piste descents and ski-mountaineering tours, there is a fantastic selection of routes for all levels of skier on offer in this area. Freeriders and ski-tourers can take their pick of superb off-piste routes (Pas de Chèvre, Argentière Glacier...), the great couloirs (Chapeau, Poubelles...) and classic tours (Col du Chardonnet, Col du Passon...) and the big `extreme' slopes (Courtes, Verte...). The Grands Montets is the starting point for the classic Chamonix-Zermatt Haute Route and it also allows access to Switzerland, via the Col du Chardonnet. This means that some of the tours can be done in a day or you can do them in two stages by staying at the Argentière Hut. Unfortunately, the popularity of the Grands Montets ski station sometimes distracts a little from the splendour of the surrounding landscape as the crowds of visitors to the slopes sometimes show a certain lack of respect for the environment that welcomes them. Nevertheless, with a little bit of effort you can still find peace and quiet and, more importantly, slopes of untracked snow here.
Discover the skiing downhills of the Talèfre-Leschaux Mountain in this very detailed and documented book, written by one of the most talented skiers of his generation.
Located at the very heart of the highest mountains of Europe, the majestic Talèfre-Leschaux massif stands as a reference among the most sacred skiing places in the world. When winter comes, this snow-addict heaven offers a unique range of dream slopes, from the easiest to the most breathtakingly high ones.
Anselme Baud is an extreme skiing leading head and one of the best experts of this mountain. From classic skiing hikes to mountaineering competitions, this guide book presents a precise description of all the biggest slopes this mythic area could offer.
In this volume you can find all the information about Talèfre-Leschaux.
Thanks to his charming accounts and instructive advice, Anselme Baud shares with us his precious and wide experience as a high mountain guide and an exceptional skier.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Born in Morzine in 1948, Anselme Baud left his mark on the Alps skiing steep slopes history. As a high mountain guide in 1973, he was one the first to ski on extreme downhills in the Alps, the Andes, in Antarctica or in the Himalayas. As an ENSA professor, he supervised during several years the mountain guides trainings in Bolivia and Nepal.
EXCERPT
We are now on the south side of the huge and austere rocky walls that make up the north faces of the Aiguille Verte, the Droites and the Courtes. We leave behind us the vertiginous ice slopes that fall straight down to the Argentière Glacier. But don't for a minute think that things are going to be easier on this side, because that certainly isn't the case! Whichever side you are on, the slopes here are just steep. Neverthless, the history of extreme skiing has made light work of these south and west faces. Whether it's the Charpoua cirque, where Jean-Marc Boivin and others pioneered routes, or the south faces of the Droites and the Courtes, nothing is as it seems. These routes are consistently exposed, and so to the risks of the routes themselves you should add those that their orientation brings (rock fall, avalanches...). Although accessing these routes was made a little bit easier by the construction of the Aiguille du Midi cable-car and the Montenvers railway, few of them can be done in a day. Moreover, some of these areas, such as the Courtes Glacier, are very broken up and crevassed which makes accessing them quite a hit and miss affair... The Talèfre Glacier has receded so far since 2000 that you can now avoid the dangerous and tiresome trudge up the Leschaux Glacier moraine. This convenient gap in the glacier means that, on the climb up, you can easily get to the foot of the Pierre à Béranger via the west face of the old line of moraine. The descent, down the right bank, is even easier still. Don't let this picture of ease and comfort fool you, the skiing is hard here and these are `real' mountains! To ski here you have to be an experienced mountaineer as well as skier. All that said, this area has great routes to ski, to dream about and to remember for a long time to come...
Discover the skiing downhills of the Géant Mountain in this very detailed and documented book, written by one of the most talented skiers of his generation.
Located at the very heart of the highest mountains of Europe, the majestic Géant massif stands as a reference among the most sacred skiing places in the world. When winter comes, this snow-addict heaven offers a unique range of dream slopes, from the easiest to the most breathtakingly high ones.
Anselme Baud is an extreme skiing leading head and one of the best experts of this mountain. From classic skiing hikes to mountaineering competitions, this guide book presents a precise description of all the biggest slopes this mythic area could offer.
In this volume you can find all the information about the Géant.
Thanks to his charming accounts and instructive advice, Anselme Baud shares with us his precious and wide experience as a high mountain guide and an exceptional skier.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Born in Morzine in 1948, Anselme Baud left his mark on the Alps skiing steep slopes history. As a high mountain guide in 1973, he was one the first to ski on extreme downhills in the Alps, the Andes, in Antarctica or in the Himalayas. As an ENSA professor, he supervised during several years the mountain guides trainings in Bolivia and Nepal.
EXCERPT
The Vallée Blanche forms the backbone of this area and it can be accessed quickly from the Aiguille du Midi, the starting point for routes on the Géant Glacier, the Tacul and the Périades. Unlike the routes in the previous chapter, most of the tours here can be done in a day and the height gains are not excessive (maximum of 900m). Also, in this part of the Massif there is a broad range of routes, and you will find steep slopes and classic tours next door to each other. For all these reasons, this is a very popular area. There are lots of people on the easy routes by the Aiguilles Marbrées and the Col d'Entrèves, while the Brèche Puiseux area is less popular, but also more and more amateur extreme skiers are trying routes on the Tour Ronde and the big couloirs on the Tacul (Diable, Gervasutti, Jager). However, these figures pale into insignificance compared with the hordes of skiers and boarders who can be found on the world-famous Vallée Blanche from the beginning of the winter right through to the end of May. Indeed, you feel the contrast most strikingly once, with skins on your skis, you start climbing up towards the less accessible routes...
