NE Couloir Petit Mt Blanc

The NE couloir of Petit Mont Blanc, also called the Bonatti couloir, is an amazingly esthetic line on the remote side of Mont Blanc, with no lift accessed skiing around. However it is easy enough to get to from the lift system of Courmayeur as a 2-day ski tour. We chose to spend the night in the tiny bivouac hut Rainetto, located on the south east shoulder of Petit Mont Blanc. The couloir it self is similar to the Cosmiques couloir in length, steepness and width. The impressive west face of Mont Blanc dominates your view all the way down on Glacier du Miage. Photos from 19 – 20 Feb 2013, with John Minogue, Paul Lang and Eva Eskilsson.

  • NE couloir on Petit Mt Blanc. From the top cable car in Courmayeur we get a good look at the whole round trip
  • John and Paul skinning into the Tré la Tete basin on split boards
  • Paul taking a short cut up to the south ridge of Petit Mt Blanc where we'll spend the night
  • Me and John getting some afternoon bonus turns down to the little hut instead
  • The Rainetto hut provides a great shelter in a supreme spot. Built in 1963
  • Panorama view over the Italien Alps, from Mont Blanc to Grand Pardiso
  • Mont Blanc is getting the last sun rays of the day
  • The hut has 9 beds, but 3 persons in here is cozy enough
  • Spending the night in the mountains is always magic
  • Mountain beauty
  • Next morning we wait for the wind to clam down a bit before setting off along the summit ridge to Petit Mt Blanc
  • The clouds come and go
  • At the top of the NE couloir with the majestic west face of Mt Blanc opposite
  • Choosing skiers left entrance we need to down climb about 40m before we can start skiing/boarding
  • The snow is firm, but smooth and grippy at the top of the couloir
  • Then we have chalky powder for the remaining 1200 height meters of skiing in the couloir
  • Again not complaining about the view as we ski, admiring the Himalayan face of Mt Blanc
  • The couloir widens up to about 50m, so plenty of room to make plenty of short turns
  • A beautifully homogenous run at around 45° that just goes on and on
  • Paul on the lower 3rd of the run
  • Approaching the Miage glacier
  • Looking back up at the Bonatti couloir
  • Happy team ready to push out Glacier du Miage and ski down Val Ferret back to Courmayeur
Activites: Ski Touring.
Locations: Chamonix.
Seasons: Spring and Winter.