Le Brevent, Chamonix
Le Brevent is an imposing and statuesque snow drenched mountain ascending up from the charming valley of Chamonix that lies below. For skiers and snowboarders who wish to reach the summit of Le Brevent, there are two options available to them. First, there is a monstrous 6-person lift which whisks them through the green forests at the base of the mountain up to the mid station. The second option is a large gondola that begins its ascent over an area that initially seems void and barren, but then quickly rises alongside the towering dark peaks of Le Brevent. And the summit offers up a restaurant fit for even the most finicky gastronome. There is also a snack bar and terrace areas from which to take in the most spectacular views from 2525m high of Mont Blanc, Le Buet and all of the snow covered mountains in the valley below.
When the Chamonix valley becomes drenched in sunlight, skiing and snowboarding at Le Brevant becomes a memorable experience, indeed. The sunlight lasts for quite a long period of time there, so don’t be surprised if you have a nice tan by the end of the day. From the summit of Le Brevent, weather conditions permitting, it is quite possible to ski or board from there and descend down all the way to the Chamonix valley. Which all makes for an amazing and unforgettable experience of descending down a total of 1500 metres of vertical drop. As you begin your journey above the treeline, you quickly descend and are provided sensational views of the surrounding mountains that take your breath away. As you end your journey, you will have to navigate your way through the thick, green trees that come upon you quickly. There is also a vast array of trails at the summit of Le Brevent which, for the most part, start out easy enough. This is quite deceptive though, because once you come around the corner of the first cliff, you are immediately faced with difficult skiing and boarding. As long as you stick to the marked area on your right hand side and avoid the cliffs below you, everything should work out fine.
The Col Cornu area of Le Brevent provides visitors with some great on and off-piste skiing, couloirs, and a very large bowl area which is ideal for boarders or skiers. On the opposite side of that bowl is a gondola that can take you to the La Flegere resort if you wish. The beginners area, located around the mid station area, is accommodating to all levels of skiers and boarders. This is because it features a variety of gentle slopes for all the newbies and beginners as well as slopes for moderately experienced individuals. A word of caution regarding skiing or boarding in the open bowl located below the mid station. Don’ t do it. This is where paragliders take off from and unless accompanied by a guide or the ski patrol declares the conditions safe, you would not want to traverse those avalanche prone cliffs.
When you are hungry and exhausted from a hard day of skiing or boarding, Le Brevent offers you a variety of dining options.
First, you could dine at the mid station in the Col Cornu area of Le Brevent. The restaurants located there serve descent food at a reasonable price. But if you decide to bring your own lunch with you, seating may not be available to you (other than sitting in the snow). If you prefer mountain top dining, then look no further than Le Panoramic. Located at the peak of Le Brevent ski resort, this wonderful restaurant serves up traditional Savoyard fare while providing its customers with breathtaking views of Aiguille du Midi, Mont Blanc and the Bossons glacier. It is the perfect locale for skiers and boarders alike to have coffee, snacks, drinks or lunch. It is accessed by first taking a gondola and then transferring to a cable car that runs up the mountainside. Le Panoramic provides high quality home cooked meals using local ingredients that you can enjoy while sitting outside on their sun soaked terrace dining area.
