Europe 2025/26

[jamesdeluxe]

And I’m about to turn 54 and I’ve never gone on an overseas trip without skiing. The time is right to break that one dimensional streak.

Props to Sbooker for going ahead with this. I'd love to do it too; however, with a constrained amount of money (that therefore only allows a certain amount of time on said trip) I can't trade skiing for warm-weather activities, which I can pursue here in very pleasant but not world-class scenery. Hopefully at some point in the future.

 

[Sbooker]

Went for a walk up to Glacier Blanc refuge today. Pretty spectacular.

^Marmots out and about.

^The spaghetti was great, The coffee was perhaps the worst I’ve ever had.

^The bottom of the glacier is on the left.

^ Rock hopping the snow melt.



Kylie after 2300 vertical with about 700 of that in snow. She’ll sleep well.

 

[jasoncapecod]

That looks amazing !!!

 

[berkshireskier]

Nice pics! Looks great. I love Orangina.

 

[Sbooker]

Nice pics! Looks great. I love Orangina.

There was a set of four Orangina glasses in the window of a second hand shop in Briancon. Kylie was desperate to buy them but the shop was closed for the time we were there.

 

[Sbooker]

We had always intended to go to Cham because Kylie hasn’t stayed here so we took the opportunity come while the weather forecast was sunny.

How that for a view for about $70USD per night?

 

[Sbooker]

We went for a walk up to Aiguilette Des Houches yesterday. About 3200 feet up. The views were stunning. As is often the case pics don’t do them justice. Unfortunately there was a bit of haze so it wasn’t 100 percent perfect. Close though.

^About a third of the way up overlooking Les Houches.

^ He didn’t seem concerned by our presence.

^The trees broke to meadow about half way up. A good place for the first cup of tea and croissant.

^Wild flowers are out.

^That’s me. Kylie walks a bit slower.

^The ridge runs roughly east west. The south face completely devoid of snow.

^ We came down a different way and saw a few small waterfalls.

Went for a pre dinner drink at Big Mountain brewing just around the corner from our digs. Nice little place with a pretty good view. @jamesdeluxe I had their ‘French NEIPA’. It was good despite the confusing label.

 

[jamesdeluxe]

@jamesdeluxe I had their ‘French NEIPA’.

Do French IPAs have a different pine-needle taste than those from other parts of the world?

 

[Sbooker]

For anyone that is interested I can report work is well underway on the new Grands cable car. I’m somewhere above Le Tour having a cuppa.

 

[ChrisC]

For anyone that is interested I can report work is well underway on the new Grands cable car. I’m somewhere above Le Tour having a cuppa.

Yes, it's been under reconstruction for almost a Decade.

Thread 'Chamonix / Les Grands Montets Cable Car Fire and Replacement'

Jan 5, 2019

I was reading some Chamonix snow reports, and it looks like Les Grands Montets was never able to recover from the fire, and its cable cars are permanently offline/out of commission. It's like skiing Jackson Hole without the tram.

https://snowbrains.com/chamonix-area-ca ... fire-open/

They took the trams off the list on the snow report and put a big yellow construction sign on the trams on the live map.

https://www.chamonix.com/snow-report,89,en.html

And some up-to-date info:

https://www.facebook.com/16302577205759 ... 31?sfns=cl

• ChrisC
• Replies: 17
• Forum: Europe & Asia

The replacement of the Grand Montets cable car is a massive infrastructure project estimated to cost €155 million. Designed by architect Renzo Piano, the rebuilt, state-of-the-art 3S tricable ropeway is scheduled for a December 2026 completion

December 2026 - Finally, I felt Chamonix lost its elite status for lift-served expert skiing during this period.


However, it should be magnificent once finished:

Grands Montets project | Reconstruction of the area

December 2026: a new page opens for this estate whose reputation is well established

www.montblancnaturalresort.com

Grands Montets: 3S cable car to Aiguille des Grands Montets

NEW! YOC 2026, planned, Grands Montets: Circulating ropeway/gondola lift at the ski resort Grands Montets – Argentière (Chamonix), 24pers. Tricable ropeway

www.skiresort.info