With the early season snow high up things are looking very good. The runs from the Aiguille du Midi here in Chamonix normally start becoming skiable in the early New Year. However this winter is starting off differently. I ventured up the cable car to have a look how things were shaping up, I took my gear along 'just in case' there was some skiing to be done.

The start of any run from here begins with the infamous 'walk down the ridge'. There were no deep footpaths as in later season, but plenty of soft snow to make it a viable if very scary experience. With 500m of exposure to one side and almost 3000m of exposure to the other this is not a place to be taken lightly.

I was almost completely alone in my choice of skiing. A couple were skiing the Valley Blanche and another skier headed of to do the versant Rognon. I myself headed down the Envers du Plan. My route started with a wide open powder field with 20cm of fresh. The route winds its way in and out of seracs and crevasses and ends in sheepish couloirs before joining the normal route. Towards the end the snow had changed to wind pack and finally wind scoured snow on the Mer de Glace section.

Right at the end there was a real sting in the tail. With it being early season the Ice Caves tourist attraction is not open, hence the gondola accessing it is not. The only route up to the Montenvers railway and home was up 200m of ladders, rather harsh in ski boots. The train contained 20 sightseers and 2 skiers, a nice quiet day.

Words and Pictures from Tom Greenall - Natives Special Correspondent

More First Impressions...

of Touring
of Val Thorens
of Early Snow in the Alps
of Mt Cheeseman
of Mt Hutt
of Porter Heights

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