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News > Around the Chalets des Liarets in Chamonix

Around the Chalets des Liarets in Chamonix

In an exclusive series for Chalets des Liarets, Caroline Houal, a photographer and journalist, is exploring unusual places in and around Chamonix for Chalets des Liarets.

Forging carabiners, ice-axes and crampons on the Chamonix valley floor.

The Simond family of blacksmiths have been working metal since 1820. Their first customers were farmers and livestock breeders as well as rock cristal seekers and Alpine adventurers. With the advent of tourism, the company started specialising in mountaineering. By being based in the valley, it could confer with climbers in person, improving designs to meet their ever stricter technical requirements. Today, from a foundry in Les Houches (Chamonix valley), Simon still gives form to metal for amateur and professional climbers to use in their mountain expeditions.