Comments on: Chamonix Beta http://pullharder.org/2010/01/23/chamonix-beta/ A Culmination of Experiences Earned in the Pursuit of Climbing Sat, 04 Feb 2012 03:10:38 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Nate http://pullharder.org/2010/01/23/chamonix-beta/comment-page-1/#comment-2233 Nate Tue, 16 Feb 2010 00:08:07 +0000 http://pullharder.org/?p=1148#comment-2233 Awesome, thanks for the beta dude! Good idea on getting extra passes from tourists in the afternoon. About the telepherique pass, I didn't buy one because it's simply more flexible not to, and the savings didn't seem to be that substantial. For example going up one day and coming down the next will cost you 2 days of pass use, while that is only 1 single ticket. Basically, it's super expensive to go to Chamonix however you slice it. You gotta pay to play. Awesome, thanks for the beta dude! Good idea on getting extra passes from tourists in the afternoon.

About the telepherique pass, I didn’t buy one because it’s simply more flexible not to, and the savings didn’t seem to be that substantial. For example going up one day and coming down the next will cost you 2 days of pass use, while that is only 1 single ticket.

Basically, it’s super expensive to go to Chamonix however you slice it. You gotta pay to play.

]]> By: granjero http://pullharder.org/2010/01/23/chamonix-beta/comment-page-1/#comment-2232 granjero Mon, 15 Feb 2010 06:39:42 +0000 http://pullharder.org/?p=1148#comment-2232 some further beta (i lived in les praz for three months in Camping Mer de Glace during may-july 2008)... speak of the devil! Camping Mer De Glace is located just up valley and offers awesome! camping in the trees below the Dru right by Snells Field and the legendary boulder for a fair price (about 12 euro/day) which includes 24hr access to internet computers, covered cooking area, 1/0 hot showers with all hours access, a train pass for the whole valley (bus included), will order bread and other items for you for delivery the following morning, a coffee machine with really good coffees for 1.25 euro, and two days a week the pizza guy will come and make you custom pizzas. For shopping, once you have a train pass, it is totally worth your while to shop around for good food prices. Meat may be a better price in Chamonix but veggies can be better priced in Argentiere. Les Houches had the best overall prices, and I would even take the train to Lausanne to get the chronic chocolate and other random goodies. Search it out, sales are random but do happen. Get bread earlier for more selection, my favorite place was in the Casino below the Alpin hotel by the river. If you plan to ride the telepherique more than 5 times, buy a pass. OR you can be super dirtbag and accost tourists midday for their passes (which work all day up and down) to score a late day ride up. You can sleep in the upper station if need be but the bathrooms have the heater and you better love ammonia in that case. often we would take the last box up and bivy at the basin below the south face (with frying pan, laptop computer for movies, and boombox) this gives you the whole day to watch weather forecasts and reality, prepare supplies and mental fitness, and is pretty fun! Beware of the chamonix monsoon, which will ground you for days but change the face of the mountains once the clouds clear...train by running the trails on the north side of the valley. Do not trust the extended forecasts too much, HUGE mountains boost the chaos factor quite a bit...learn to watch the clouds and winds...the ECMWF is the local european weather model but also use the University of Utah GFS forecasts for what you can... don't let the french cut you in line, they will try and they will back down if you get in their face about it 33 beer is cheap and awesome, its downstairs at the main casino Visit the church before and after every trip to the mountains, local custom will explain this. If you stay at any camping, don't hesitate to bug departing folks for their unused supplies, you may end up with some really tasty treats or just some extra pasta or eggs. Mer de Glace has blow dryers in the bathroom which work great to dry boots, gloves, etc. Wait till late and have at it! Technique extreme 'had' the best prices on white gas and has tons of silly clothing if you want to boost your ascent style. finally (At least for now) you can browse the many coffee table books in the local bookstores for photos of notable mountains which can be surprisingly helpful in improving perspectives of potential routes. Hope this helps! some further beta (i lived in les praz for three months in Camping Mer de Glace during may-july 2008)…
speak of the devil! Camping Mer De Glace is located just up valley and offers awesome! camping in the trees below the Dru right by Snells Field and the legendary boulder for a fair price (about 12 euro/day) which includes 24hr access to internet computers, covered cooking area, 1/0 hot showers with all hours access, a train pass for the whole valley (bus included), will order bread and other items for you for delivery the following morning, a coffee machine with really good coffees for 1.25 euro, and two days a week the pizza guy will come and make you custom pizzas.
For shopping, once you have a train pass, it is totally worth your while to shop around for good food prices. Meat may be a better price in Chamonix but veggies can be better priced in Argentiere. Les Houches had the best overall prices, and I would even take the train to Lausanne to get the chronic chocolate and other random goodies. Search it out, sales are random but do happen. Get bread earlier for more selection, my favorite place was in the Casino below the Alpin hotel by the river.
If you plan to ride the telepherique more than 5 times, buy a pass. OR you can be super dirtbag and accost tourists midday for their passes (which work all day up and down) to score a late day ride up. You can sleep in the upper station if need be but the bathrooms have the heater and you better love ammonia in that case. often we would take the last box up and bivy at the basin below the south face (with frying pan, laptop computer for movies, and boombox) this gives you the whole day to watch weather forecasts and reality, prepare supplies and mental fitness, and is pretty fun!
Beware of the chamonix monsoon, which will ground you for days but change the face of the mountains once the clouds clear…train by running the trails on the north side of the valley.
Do not trust the extended forecasts too much, HUGE mountains boost the chaos factor quite a bit…learn to watch the clouds and winds…the ECMWF is the local european weather model but also use the University of Utah GFS forecasts for what you can…
don’t let the french cut you in line, they will try and they will back down if you get in their face about it
33 beer is cheap and awesome, its downstairs at the main casino
Visit the church before and after every trip to the mountains, local custom will explain this.
If you stay at any camping, don’t hesitate to bug departing folks for their unused supplies, you may end up with some really tasty treats or just some extra pasta or eggs.
Mer de Glace has blow dryers in the bathroom which work great to dry boots, gloves, etc. Wait till late and have at it!
Technique extreme ‘had’ the best prices on white gas and has tons of silly clothing if you want to boost your ascent style.
finally (At least for now) you can browse the many coffee table books in the local bookstores for photos of notable mountains which can be surprisingly helpful in improving perspectives of potential routes.
Hope this helps!

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