Still the signature mountain in the Chamonix valley, there is enough skiing on this hill to last a lifetime. Indeed many locals never ride anywhere else during the winter. With over 2000metres of vertical dropping from its 3275metre peak and a predominantly north-facing aspect, Grands Montets keeps its snow well into May each year.The top cable car accesses glaciated terrain, so proceed with caution up there, but the sensational pitches are well worth the trip. Throw in the Bochard gondola and Le Hearse chairlift and you have an incredible breadth of terrain and slope to go play with. The pistes are good, but the off-piste is better.The Grand Montets really is like a mountain canvas – nothing is out of bounds and everything is possible. It remains the least beginner-friendly of the lift areas, but, once you have your ski legs, it’s a must for every aspiring skier and snowboarder to add to their snow CV.Top Tip: At busy times, the top cable car needs to be booked in advanced. You can do this through the Internet from your lift ticket the night before you are going. Check out the Compagnie du Mont Blanc for details.