This is a shot in the dark, but I'm traveling to Chamonix, France in a couple weeks. My wife isn't quite up for skiing Valee Blanche (which makes my heart cry a little bit, okay, a lot) but I'm looking for a full day snowshoe trip that we can take instead. Skiing ability is the limiting factor on the Valee, but we're up for something that justifies an early start, ditches the crowds and gets us up high. Any recommendations?

You won't get away from the crowds unless you climb something epic (Beyond Good and Evil, Pinnoccio...), the last spring I went there I climbed the Gabarrou/Albinoni and it was crowded. You will never get away freom the crowds, period.

The Valee Blanche is easy, so get a guide (it is exposed in spring)and go for it.

Thanks, Khader! I was afraid of that for the crowds... Unfortunately my wife won't "go for it" with Valee. :) Maybe be I'll see what they recommend when we get there.