Grands Montets above Argentiere is a steep, serious mountain rather than a big piste network, with 29 kilometres of marked run across 16 runs. It drops 1,513 metres from 2,765 metres to the 1,252 metre base. Sanity grades it at 21% beginner, 31% intermediate, 40% advanced and 8% expert, so advanced skiers outnumber everyone else by some margin. Lifts are few, just two gondolas, two six-packs, a triple and two T-bars, and queues build on powder days. This is a mountain where the off-piste matters more than the groomers.

The Pierre a Ric piste is the long way home to Argentiere, while Point de Vue runs beside the Argentiere glacier and its seracs. The real draw is beyond the markers, where Combe de la Pendant and the tree runs of the Magic Forest draw freeriders from across Europe. Treat all of it as guide-only terrain unless you have avalanche gear and experience. Strong intermediates can enjoy the marked runs, but beginners should look elsewhere in the valley. Come here if you want steep lines, big vertical and a proper alpine setting.

The 2025-2026 season runs from 29 November 2025 through 3 May 2026, delivering a 155-day operating window that consistently outlasts other Chamonix areas by several weeks. Grands Montets typically opens in early December and extends into early May thanks to its exceptional altitude range and predominantly northwest exposure. The resort holds the distinction of being both first to open and last to close in the Chamonix valley each winter.

Snow reliability stems from the 3,300-metre summit elevation and north-facing glacial terrain, which preserves powder quality when lower resorts deteriorate. Average seasonal snowfall totals 461 centimetres, with summit snow depth averaging 2 metres at mid-season and base depths maintaining 1 metre through spring. March delivers peak accumulation, averaging 224 centimetres at the top and 109 centimetres at base elevations, though the shaded slopes receive limited afternoon sun from December through February.

January through March offers optimal powder conditions and full terrain access, whilst December requires patience as early-season coverage builds over rocky glacial sections and open crevasses. Late-season skiing from April into May attracts freeriders seeking corn snow and extended daylight, with temperatures warming but snow quality preserved at altitude. The resort's climate creates extremely cold morning temperatures during mid-winter, maintaining exceptional snow quality whilst other areas thaw.

The area hosts the Chamonix Unlimited Festival at season's end, typically staged as a major freeride closing party in late April. Limited programming exists compared to larger resorts, with the focus remaining on pure mountain terrain rather than events calendars. Artificial snowmaking covers lower slopes including the Pierre à Ric piste, ensuring valley-level access throughout the season regardless of natural accumulation.

Daily snow reports at Grands Montets (Chamonix) go back to 1996, 31 winters on the books. Open the record to compare winters, lifts and piste.