Geant - Mont Blanc and the Aiguilles Rouges - a Guide for Skiers (eBook)

Discover the skiing downhills of the Geant Mountain in this very detailed and documented book, written by one of the most talented skiers of his generation.Located at the very heart of the highest mountains of Europe, the majestic Geant massif stands as a reference among the most sacred skiing places in the world. When winter comes, this snow-addict heaven offers a unique range of dream slopes, from the easiest to the most breathtakingly high ones.Anselme Baud is an extreme skiing leading head and one of the best experts of this mountain. From classic skiing hikes to mountaineering competitions, this guide book presents a precise description of all the biggest slopes this mythic area could offer.In this volume you can find all the information about the Geant.Thanks to his charming accounts and instructive advice, Anselme Baud shares with us his precious and wide experience as a high mountain guide and an exceptional skier.ABOUT THE AUTHORBorn in Morzine in 1948, Anselme Baud left his mark on the Alps skiing steep slopes history. As a high mountain guide in 1973, he was one the first to ski on extreme downhills in the Alps, the Andes, in Antarctica or in the Himalayas. As an ENSA professor, he supervised during several years the mountain guides trainings in Bolivia and Nepal.EXCERPTThe Vallee Blanche forms the backbone of this area and it can be accessed quickly from the Aiguille du Midi, the starting point for routes on the Geant Glacier, the Tacul and the Periades. Unlike the routes in the previous chapter, most of the tours here can be done in a day and the height gains are not excessive (maximum of 900m). Also, in this part of the Massif there is a broad range of routes, and you will find steep slopes and classic tours next door to each other. For all these reasons, this is a very popular area. There are lots of people on the easy routes by the Aiguilles Marbrees and the Col d'Entreves, while the Breche Puiseux area is less popular, but also more and more amateur extreme skiers are trying routes on the Tour Ronde and the big couloirs on the Tacul (Diable, Gervasutti, Jager). However, these figures pale into insignificance compared with the hordes of skiers and boarders who can be found on the world-famous Vallee Blanche from the beginning of the winter right through to the end of May. Indeed, you feel the contrast most strikingly once, with skins on your skis, you start climbing up towards the less accessible routes...