Since the opening of the Mont Blanc tunnel on Friday 15 December, many Chamonix skiers have travelled to the Aosta Valley (Courmayeur) to enjoy its ski areas. Some good skiers have even been tempted by a climb to the Skyway Monte Bianco to treat themselves to a first descent of the Vallée Blanche, while waiting for the reopening of the Aiguille du Midi cable car on Saturday, December 23, 2023.
A new technical itinerary
But at the beginning of winter, in addition to the usual crevasses and other traps that can stand under the skis of lovers of this mythical off-piste, it is necessary to keep in mind a change on the ascent route to Montenvers. If the Montenvers Train is operating, the new Mer de Glace gondola will not be in service until mid-January 2024. To climb the moraine of what remains of the largest glacier in France, you have to rely on your legs.
In addition, the old gondola, the old stairs and the old ladders have been demolished or are closed by municipal decree. In the long run, nothing will remain of these developments, since their removal had been one of the conditions set by the Sites Commission when the project for the renewal of the Montenvers was presented to it.
Le Dauphiné
