The fact that Courmayeur has a lot to offer freeriders has become increasingly well known in the north of the Alps in recent years (it took long enough). However, Rudy Buccella's guide, which was published in 2013, is relatively unknown. Reason enough to present it in a PowderGuide review. Rudy Buccella is one of the best-known mountain guides of the legendary Società Guide Alpine Courmayeur and probably one of the best experts on the area around his home town and the possibilities there in winter. In his comprehensive freeride guide "Courmayeur Mont Blanc Freeride", he shares his knowledge with readers and presents the freeride options in the Courmayeur-Checrouit (the actual ski area of Courmayeur) and Monte Bianco (starting from the Helbronn gondola lift) ski areas as well as the possible heliski descents (only a few starting points may be approached).
The individual areas are divided into different sectors for the sake of clarity. The various descents are described in Italian, French and English. The texts are supplemented by overview photos with the route marked. The photos were mostly taken from the opposite slope and thus show not only the route but also its character. There is also an information box for each descent, in which the starting point, exposure, vertical meters and difficulty (according to the Volo scale, i.e. ski difficulty, exposure and alpine difficulty) are given. The spectrum of routes presented ranges from easy freeride descents in the Courmayeur ski area to long glacier runs from Punta Helbronner to full-blown steep face descents - all in the face of the highest mountain in the Alps.
Conclusion
A highly recommended guide for the south side of Mont Blanc. Clear, comprehensive and easy to understand.
Information about the book
Courmayeur Mont Blanc Freeride - Le più belle discese al cospetto del Monte Bianco
By Rudy Buccella
176 pages
Published in 2013 by self-publisher
Price 29,- Euro You can buy the book for example here.
