ChrisC
Well-known member
I headed over to Megève-St. Gervais for the afternoon. My goal was to also ski the Combloux / Les Portes du Mont Blanc sector—an area I haven’t visited yet—, but I didn't make it over there (the short bus ride from Megève to Jaillet proved too ambitious) because I spent more time than planned at Les Contamines once the sun finally came out this morning.
I also intended to ski the expert-focused Côte 2000 section at Megève, but due to deferred lift upgrades, it took much longer than expected to access both coming and going. Hello, vintage surface lifts! Despite hosting World Cup races, one needs to utilize Poma lifts and contend with older fixed-grip quad lifts. Most racers took the bus to the base of the Côte 2000 lift system - obviously, they knew something!
I had previously skied most of the St. Gervais slope system (Mont Joly, Mont Joux, Mont d'Arbois), so I made my way over to Cote 2000.
Mont Joly 2524m / 8280ft. The scenery was nice with Mont Blanc making an appearance behind one of Megeve's top expert zones:
The lifts started out nice - Alpette (6p Chairlift).
Than another: Petite Fontaine (Quad)
Nice high point at the top of the Rochefort surface lift
Looking over to Aiguille Croche 2487m. I am now on the backside of Les Contamines --> Megeve. I skied the other side of this peak in the morning AM.
Panorama: Looking south to Aiguille Croche
Panorama: Looking west to Espace Diamant
Megeve is quite scenic!
Mont Joly
Aiguille Croche. Looking west again, this is why I thought a link to Espace Diamant would be worthwhile and snow-sure.
Great Lunch Spot!
Finally, Cote 2000
Looking down into the valley - Megeve
Lots of great terrain up in the Cote 2000 Sector.
Mostly north-facing, high altitude, and protected/shaded. About 2-3 groomed pistes, and lots of great off-piste. Best snow in Megeve!
I liked this area better than Mont Joly.
After endless Surface Lifts and slow chairs, I made my way back to St. Gervais/Mont Arbois sector.
Rochebrune 1754m
Mont Joux 1964 m.
Lots of fun west-facing terrain!
***Rare in Europe: Moguls!***
Panoram: Mont Arbois 1839m
Mont Joux and Mont Joly
Mont Blanc rises abvove the St. Gervais lifts & pistes.
The Cote 2000 area from across the valley
Panorama of Megeve from Mont Arbois
Megeve from the Mont d'Arbois 10p Gondola
Again, another massive Euro ski complex.
But no matter how upscale Megeve, the resort town, may be, it needs some help! Like a few high-speed lifts to make the Cote 2000-Rocheburne side more skiable and part of the 21st Century.
I understand the argument that Megeve is at a relatively low elevation and investment/ROI must be taken into account, but Côte 2000 is the highest section, with the best snowfall and exposure on the mountain. Allow skiers to get to it! Otherwise, Megeve's business will continue to be eroded by the nearby Tarentaise resorts (3 Vallees, Les Arcs-La Plagne, Val d'Isere-Tignes).
Again - to repeat, and repeat, and repeat again - Megeve is THE STORM DAY mountain for Chamonix! Look at all those trees and terrain that will not avalanche.
There is no need to suffer in Chamonix with wind or snow downtime when the massive "Evasion Mont Blanc" complex (specifically, Megeve-St. Gervais) is just 20-30 minutes away via the St. Gervais entrance/slopes.
To be continued with Megeve Village photos.
I also intended to ski the expert-focused Côte 2000 section at Megève, but due to deferred lift upgrades, it took much longer than expected to access both coming and going. Hello, vintage surface lifts! Despite hosting World Cup races, one needs to utilize Poma lifts and contend with older fixed-grip quad lifts. Most racers took the bus to the base of the Côte 2000 lift system - obviously, they knew something!
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I had previously skied most of the St. Gervais slope system (Mont Joly, Mont Joux, Mont d'Arbois), so I made my way over to Cote 2000.
Mont Joly 2524m / 8280ft. The scenery was nice with Mont Blanc making an appearance behind one of Megeve's top expert zones:
The lifts started out nice - Alpette (6p Chairlift).
Than another: Petite Fontaine (Quad)
Nice high point at the top of the Rochefort surface lift
Looking over to Aiguille Croche 2487m. I am now on the backside of Les Contamines --> Megeve. I skied the other side of this peak in the morning AM.
Panorama: Looking south to Aiguille Croche
Panorama: Looking west to Espace Diamant
Megeve is quite scenic!
Mont Joly
Aiguille Croche. Looking west again, this is why I thought a link to Espace Diamant would be worthwhile and snow-sure.
Great Lunch Spot!
Finally, Cote 2000
Looking down into the valley - Megeve
Lots of great terrain up in the Cote 2000 Sector.
Mostly north-facing, high altitude, and protected/shaded. About 2-3 groomed pistes, and lots of great off-piste. Best snow in Megeve!
I liked this area better than Mont Joly.
After endless Surface Lifts and slow chairs, I made my way back to St. Gervais/Mont Arbois sector.
Rochebrune 1754m
Mont Joux 1964 m.
Lots of fun west-facing terrain!
***Rare in Europe: Moguls!***
Panoram: Mont Arbois 1839m
Mont Joux and Mont Joly
Mont Blanc rises abvove the St. Gervais lifts & pistes.
The Cote 2000 area from across the valley
Panorama of Megeve from Mont Arbois
Megeve from the Mont d'Arbois 10p Gondola
Again, another massive Euro ski complex.
But no matter how upscale Megeve, the resort town, may be, it needs some help! Like a few high-speed lifts to make the Cote 2000-Rocheburne side more skiable and part of the 21st Century.
I understand the argument that Megeve is at a relatively low elevation and investment/ROI must be taken into account, but Côte 2000 is the highest section, with the best snowfall and exposure on the mountain. Allow skiers to get to it! Otherwise, Megeve's business will continue to be eroded by the nearby Tarentaise resorts (3 Vallees, Les Arcs-La Plagne, Val d'Isere-Tignes).
Again - to repeat, and repeat, and repeat again - Megeve is THE STORM DAY mountain for Chamonix! Look at all those trees and terrain that will not avalanche.
There is no need to suffer in Chamonix with wind or snow downtime when the massive "Evasion Mont Blanc" complex (specifically, Megeve-St. Gervais) is just 20-30 minutes away via the St. Gervais entrance/slopes.
To be continued with Megeve Village photos.
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