Thursday, March 06, 2008

Chamonix

Chamonix

Chamonix

Chamonix is best for expert skiers and snowboarders, non-skiers and night-owls. The area is not recommended for beginners to lower intermediates, families, fair-weather skiers, nervous skiers or those wanting skiing convenience.

Chamonix is not so much a single resort as a chain of unconnected ski areas set along both sides of the valley dominated by Mont Blanc. The Chamonix town itself is based around a core of hotels and villas that were built near the end of the nineteenth century.

The top of the area is the Aiguille du Midi, a 3842m (12605ft) peak serviced by a cable-car. The base altitude is 1035m (3396ft). Chamonix is different from other ski resorts. It is thought of as the climbing and extreme skiing capital of the world...