Evasion Mont Blanc, France (Ski Areas: Megeve-St. Gervais): February 3, 2026

[ChrisC]

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!

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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.

 

[jamesdeluxe]

I am now on the backside of Les Contamines --> Megeve. I skied the other side of this peak in the morning AM.

What's so tough about putting a lift ^^ here?

ChrisC providing convincing evidence of how big and varied this region is. I've skied there three times, in excellent conditions and less than fabulous conditions (1) and (2) and despite Fraser and Tony's drumbeat about "worst/most unreliable snow of any major interconnected resort in the Alps (along with Gstaad)!", I recommend it.

 

[ChrisC]

Megeve Village.

One of the more lively ski villages in the evening, especially for an upscale resort.

Map showing a decent-sized Pedestrian Core

I love collecting Vintage Ski Posters (primarily from Europe).
Megeve made the cut for the collection.

Megeve Town Square

Lots of atmospheric side streets

Nice Bookstore

Streams flowing through villages are always good....

Backtracking....

Love the Office of Tourism. Especially the old Rocheborne Cable Car.

 

[ChrisC]

What's so tough about putting a lift ^^ here?

I see no issue!

The upper reaches of Cote 2000 are too steep, too beautiful, too treacherous to mess with....like a cable car.

ChrisC providing convincing evidence of how big and varied this region is. I've skied there three times, in excellent conditions and less than fabulous conditions (1) and (2) and despite Fraser and Tony's drumbeat about "worst/most unreliable snow of any major interconnected resort in the Alps (along with Gstaad)!", I recommend it.

Megeve would not be my focus, but it definitely always merits consideration (1-2 days). Its location between Valais/Chamonix and the Tarentaise Valley puts it in a geographic crossroads for almost any skier.

But Note: February 1st 2024. Megeve was nearly all grass except for a few trails on its highest, northern exposures.

Evasion Mont Blanc is included in the Unlimited Mont Blanc Pass. And until more recently, so was Verbier versus Crans Montana.

If a US Ski Tourist is in Chamonix for a full week (5-7 days), the worst thing you can do is use only the very local Chamonix ski areas (Brevent-Flegere, Grands Montets, Balme). Always upgrade and add

• Aiguille du Midi - Enough said. On a clear day, visit at least as a pedestrian. Or, better yet, join a guided group for the Vallee Blanche.
• Évasion Mont Blanc - Megève/St. Gervais for storm day skiing. Or the best intermediate skiing near Chamonix - by far!
• Évasion Mont Blanc - Les Contamines. Best for extensive, low competition powder skiing. Yes, Grands Montets has the terrain, but Les Contamines lacks the crowds. Fleger-Brevent has great terrain, but faces south. Les Contamines is a good Day 2 option as well.
• Courmayeur. Scenic, fun cruising, and great cruising. If one is truly afraid of heights, the Arete of the Aiguille du Midi, the Skyway Monte Bianco avoids this, as well as the requirement for crampons, ropes, etc.
• Verbier. Enough said.

The only ski area I will never return to is Les Houches. It's old, poorly laid out, at a low elevation, with ancient lifts, and it just pales in comparison to Megeve for storm skiing/size/lift system/everything.

And I do think Balme/Le Tour is worth a day: beautiful setting, lots of off-piste potential, good snow, etc.