Vallee Blanche Arete, Mont Blanc Massif

A black and white photograph capturing the Arete on the Valley Blanche in the Mont Blanc Massif.

The Arête on the Vallée Blanche is a famous and dramatic snow ridge that serves as the starting point for one of the most iconic off-piste ski routes in the world, the Vallée Blanche in the French Alps. Located at 3,842 meters above sea level, it extends from the Aiguille du Midi in the Mont Blanc Massif, offering breathtaking views and an exhilarating start for skiers and mountaineers.

Key Features:

• Exposure & Difficulty: The Arête is steep, narrow, and highly exposed, requiring careful navigation. In winter, a fixed rope is installed to assist skiers, while in summer, it is commonly traversed by climbers heading toward routes like Mont Blanc du Tacul or Mont Maudit.

• Gear & Safety: Proper equipment, such as crampons, harnesses, and ropes, is recommended, especially for those unfamiliar with high-alpine environments.

• Route Access: The ridge leads to the glacier of the Vallée Blanche, a 23 km off-piste descent that winds through stunning ice formations, crevasses, and seracs down to Chamonix.

Because of its exposure, weather conditions can make the Arête extremely dangerous. It is never the less a dramatic, if adrenaline inducing start, to this famous off piste route.

The print is sized as shown including a white border and is Giclee printed to the highest standard on 308gsm museum quality Hahnemühle Photorag fine art paper. This paper gives muted blacks with even colour reproduction and shows excellent detail. The surface has minimal texture with a chalky smooth cotton feel creating smooth colour gradients. 

Available as a limited edition print only