Local, Climbing and Skiiing Info

If you like cable cars, you’ll love the Aiguille du Midi.

Originally built in 1955, it continues to hold the world record for the highest vertical ascent cable car, from 1035m to 3842m. It goes from Chamonix centre to the top of the Aiguille du Midi, an overall height gain of over 2,800 m - in just 20 minutes. It is an outstanding feat of engineering.

As tourist attractions go, this one of the best in Chamonix - and gives the non-skier something to do when everyone else has gone skiing.

The views from the top of the Midi are awe inspiring. Do be careful though - emerging at 3800m from Chamonix you could find yourself a little out of breath. Take it easy, and you wont come a cropper! Oh yes, take warm clothing. It can get very chilly up there.

There is a midstation halfway up the ‘Midi which is a nice place to spend a bit of time if you are not in a rush to get to the top - and it’s also the start point for the Grand Balcones walk which takes you over to the hotel at Montenvers, where you can catch the rack and pinion railway back down to Chamonix.

Allow yourself a few hours at the top of the ‘Midi to take in the amazing views of Italy, France and Switzerland. And make sure you take a camera. Views of the Grandes Jorasses and Mt Blanc are out of this world. There is a snack bar and restaurant at the top, and plenty of other things to investigate - including an ice grotto and the option to get a further cable car into Italy (the Helbronner).

Obviously if the weather looks bad it’s not an ideal time to go up the ‘Midi - but bear in mind that cloud inversions can mean that the weather in Chamonix is cloudy, whereas the conditions at the top of the ‘Midi could be very different. You can check at the cable car station to see what conditions are like at the top.

Below is a magnificent photograph taken by delp of a skier returning back up the ridge to the Aiguille du Midi, when there is a handrail in place.