Warning : We offer you this log book of off-piste ski and snowboard itineraries in the high Tarentaise valley...but please always go off-piste with a fully qualified professionnal guide.
1.Espace Killy
The mecca of the "grand ski" offers various itineraries perfect for all level skiers and snowboarders.
1.1Tigne’s area
-Télégraphe
Dramatic rock formation surrounding interesting narrow chutes that open in wide open space.
Start: From the top of the lift called les Lanches or from the funicular.
Finish: Down at le Val Claret main resort.
Vertical drop: 900m.
Intermediate.
-Téléphone
Almost the same as Télégraphe but easier.
Start: From the top of the lift called les Lanches or from the funicular.
Finish: Down at le Val Claret main resort.
Vertical drop: 900m.
Beginning off-piste.
-Couloirs P1/P2/P3
For fans of steep couloirs, long and challenging to build confidence for the next level.
Start: From the middle of the glacier of la Grande-Motte.
Finish: On the piste of “Double M”.
Expert
-Tour de Pramecou
A little walk in total nature far away from any lifts.
Start: From the top of the funicular or from the gondola of La Grande–Motte.
Finish: Down at le Val Claret main resort.
Vertical drop: 600m
Introduction to Intermediate
-North Face of Pramecou
This is the steepest face of the Espace Killy.
Start: From the top of the funicular or from the gondola of La Grande–Motte.
Finish: Down at le Val Claret main resort.
Vertical drop: 1000m with 300m of steep slope.
Expert, slope of 50°
-North face of la Grande-Motte
Steep downhill between crevasses, Magic pictures!
Start: From the top of the gondola of La Grande–Motte.
Finish: on the middle of the flat part on the glacier.
Vertical drop: 400m.
Expert, glacier area with ice and crevasses.
-Tong of the glacier
Easy to reach after a snowfall.
Start: From the top of the lift “les lanches” or from the funicular.
Finish: Down at le Val Claret main resort.
Vertical drop: 900m
Expert, slope of 45°.
-Chardonnay
Few steps up to reach various couloirs.
Start: From the top of the lift “Gratallu”
Finish: Down at le Val Claret main resort or at le Lac.
Vertical drop: 700m
Intermediate to expert.
-Grapillon
If you hike ¾ of an hour, these various slopes are definitely worth the downhill.
Start: From the top of the lift “Gratallu”
Finish: Down at le Val Claret main resort or at le Lac.
Vertical drop: 700m
Intermediate.
-Vallon de la Sache
This long itinerary is the wildest of the area, what ever the level, everyone can have fun!
Start: From the top of the lift “Aiguille Percée”
Finish: Down at les Brévières.
Vertical drop: 1200m
Introduction to expert.
-Terre Rouge (ski touring)
It’s a short hike up; a good one for an introduction. It allows riding long magnificent slopes parallel to the Vallon de la Sache.
Start: From the top of the lift “Aiguille Percée”
Finish: Down at les Brévières.
Vertical drop: 1200m, 1H15 min hike.
Intermediate.
-Glattier
Not so tracked, the scenery above the dam’s lake is fabulous.
Start: From the top of the lift “Aiguille Percée” or “Chaudannes”
Finish: On the road of Tignes next to the tunnel “Glattier”
Vertical drop: 500m
Introduction.
-Couloirs des Tufs
These numerous couloirs are just above Tignes’s frozen lake. The English calls them the “fingers”.
Start: From the top of the gondola “Aeroski”
Finish: Tignes-le-Lac
Vertical drop: 600m with 300m of couloir.
Expert.
-Mickey’s ears
Can you see this parabolic antenna on the top of Tovière?
Walk along the ridge for 40mn.
Start: From the top of the gondola “Aeroski”
Finish: Tignes-le-Lavachet or down at la Daille Val d’Isère.
Vertical drop: 900m with 400m of couloir.
Expert.
-The Familiale and la Vallée Perdue
A fun ride with natural jumps and a beautiful canyon.
Start: From the top of the gondola “Aeroski”
Finish: Down at la Daille Val d’Isère.
Vertical drop: 900m.
Introduction.
1.2 Val d’Isere’s area
-Tour du Charvet
A long discovery of gentle slopes reaching a little canyon.
Start: From the top of the lift “Grand Pré” or “Borsat express”.
Finish: At le Manchet.
Vertical drop: 700m.
Introduction.
-“Pisteur couloir”
Very steep and very narrow, a challenge for the best one!
Half-hour hike to reach the couloir.
Start: From the top of the lift “Grand Pré”.
Finish: At le Manchet.
Vertical drop: 900m with 300m of couloir.
Expert.
-Cugnaï
It’s a big valley with hips of different itineraries all of them beautiful, we won’t miss the typical chalet of Marie-Pierre on the 2/3 of the way, an excellent break!!
Start: From the top of the lift “Cugnaï”
Finish: At le Manchet.
Vertical drop: 900m.
Introduction to expert.
-Le Manchet
Big and wide gentle slopes.
Start: From the top of the lift “Manchet express”.
Finish: At le Manchet.
Vertical drop: 700m.
Introduction.
-The forest of “Danaïdes”
You need to know this forest itinerary otherwise you will get lost! Good spot when it’s bad weather.
Start: From the top of the lift “Solaise express”.
Finish: At the Laisinant village.
Vertical drop: 700m.
Intermediate.
-The Laisinant couloir
Almost same as Danaïdes but we aim directly for the Laisinant village, there is less trees.
Start: From the top of the lift “Solaise express”.
Finish: At the Laisinant village.
Vertical drop: 700m with 400m of couloir.
Intermediate.
-Super L
Very easy to reach, this slope is a good one to practise ski or snowboard in between the trees.
Start: From the top of the lift “Solaise express”.
Finish: At the Laisinant village.
Vertical drop: 500m.
Introduction.
-Col Pers
Wide and wild itinerary with no lift in view! It could reach the canyon of the “Isère” however the are rarely
Start: From the top of the drag lift “Montet” on pissaillas.
Finish: At the Fornet bridge.
Vertical drop: 1100m.
Introduction to expert.
-Pointe Pers
One of the steepest itineraries of Val d’Isère. Beautiful landscape at the top. 25mn hike.
Start: From the top of the drag lift “Montet” on pissaillas.
Finish: At the Fornet bridge.
Vertical drop: 1400m.
Expert. Steep slopes.
-Pays désert
Easy slopes parallel of the pissaillas glacier, good landscape on the Maurienne valley.
Start: From the top of the drag lift “Montet”.
Finish: At the bottom of the drag lift “Pays désert”.
Vertical drop: 600m.
Introduction level.
2. Paradiski
We shouldn’t need to introduce to the Paradiski. This huge ski area links les Arcs and la Plagne with the most impressive cable car of the world !
For the ones who own a 6 days ski pass at the Espace killy, beneficiate of a free riding day at Paradiski and then can enjoy the mythic north faces of Bellecote and Villaroger.
2.1 Les Arcs area
-Combes des Lanchettes
What a face! However be careful of the snow conditions, could become very dangerous.
Start: From the top of the lift “les Lanchettes”.
Finish: At the village of Villaroger.
Vertical drop: 1400m.
Intermediate.
-the “S” couloir
An impressive and long run in a steep couloir that looks like the letter S.
Start: From the “Varet” glacier.
Finish: At the village le Planay.
Vertical drop: 1800
Expert.
-Combe des Arandelières
The hike on the ridge with a scenic view gives access to big wide open slopes.
Start: From the top of the gondola “l’Aiguille Rouge” then on the right hand side.
Finish: At the Arcs 2000 main resort.
Vertical drop: 1200m.
Expert.
-Grand Col
located between the Aiguille Rouge and the Mont Pourri, this long distance run happens on the Turia’s glacier.
Start: From the top of the lift “Grand Col”.
Finish: At the village of le Planey.
Vertical drop: 1900m.
Intermediate.
-Aiguille Grive
It’s a peak that we have to climb up, and then there is access to few different couloirs. It’s worth the hike!
Start: From the “Transarc”.
Finish: At the village of plan Peisey.
Vertical drop: 1100m.
Expert.
-Col d’Entreporte
A fun ride with the privilege of going by the nice little chapel called “Notre dame des Vernettes”
Start: From the “Transarc”.
Finish: At the village of plan Peisey.
Vertical drop: 1100m.
Intermediate.
-The Muguet’s couloir
It’s a small walk this straight line couloir above Pré St Esprit.
Start: From the lift of “Clocheret”.
Finish: At Pré St Esprit.
Vertical drop: 650m.
Expert.
-The forest of “Les 2 Têtes”
The perfect run to practise forest riding on a long distance slope.
Start: From the drag lift of “Les 2 Têtes”.
Finish: At the village of les Granges.
Vertical drop: 1200m.
Introduction.
2.2 La Plagne area
-The forest of Montchavin
Lucky we can ride through this thick forest.
Start: From the lift of “Les Pierres Blanches”.
Finish: At the village of Montchavin.
Vertical drop: 900m.
Intermediate.
-North face of Bellecôte
With Fogietta in Ste Foy, if you are good rider this is the other north face of the Tarentaise that you must not miss.
Start: From the top of the lift “La Traversée”.
Finish: At the village of les Lanches.
Vertical drop: 1700m.
Expert.
-The Dérochoir des Inversens’s couloir
On the way to the north face of Bellecôte, a small couloir which is worth it.
Start: From “La Roche de Mio”.
Finish: At the lift “Chalet de Bellecôte”.
Vertical drop: 500m.
Intermediate.
-Pointe du Friolin
This is the easy way to ride down the north face of Bellecôte in direction of les Arcs.
Start: From the top of the lift of “La Traversée”.
Finish: At the village of les Moulins.
Vertical drop: 1900m.
Introduction to intermediate.
-The glacier of the “Cul du Nant”
High mountain scenic view.
Start: From the drag lift of “Le Col”.
Finish: At the village of Champagny-le-haut.
Vertical drop: 1700m.
Expert.
3. Sainte Foy
It’s a small ski resort but a huge freeride paradise!
Sainte Foy counts only 4 lifts, but various off-piste with long vertical drops and an easy access to ski touring in high altitude mountains.
The north face exposition makes the snow always powder and the place is so quiet that it’s most of the time untracked.
We love to go there in bad weather, the forest is always the best option to have a good day and for sure the highlight is called Foglietta, the famous north face of 1800m vertical can not be missed.
-le Monal
It’s a long and pleasant ride opposite the huge glaciers of la Gurraz, along the way we cross the magnificent village named le monal, probably the village the most visited of France during summer!
Start: From the top of the lift “l’Aiguille”.
Finish: At the village next to the road “les Pigettes”.
Vertical drop: 1250m.
Introduction.
-L’Echaillon
A wild itinerary where we can often see Chamois, on the programme: forest and couloir.
Start: From the top of the lift “l’Aiguille”.
Finish: At Sainte Foy main resort.
Vertical drop: 11O0m.
Expert.
-North face of Foglietta
It’s said to be the most beautiful north face of the Tarentaise valley. It offers a long downhill, powder snow all winter long and various itineraries.
The start is located at 3000m high, the hike is about an hour, we finish it in the forest by crossing typical village along the way.
Start: From the top of the lift “l’Aiguille”.
Finish: At Sainte Foy chef lieu (town).
Vertical drop: 20O0m.
Expert.
-The Granier’s pass
This pass reaches half way of Foglietta run, useful when the weather is not that good!
Start: From the top of the lift “l’Aiguille”.
Finish: At Sainte Foy chef lieu (town).
Vertical drop: 1650m.
Intermediate.
-The forest of chapelle St Guérin
One more time, it’s a long vertical drop between trees and pastries.
Start: From the top of the lift “l’Aiguille”.
Finish: At Sainte Foy chef lieu (town).
Vertical drop: 1550m.
Introduction.
-The Argentière’s pass (Ski touring)
This one is an easy ski touring trip. Thanx to the hike, it always offers virgin powder snow for a long run.
Start: From the top of the lift “l’Aiguille”.
Finish: At Sainte Foy chef lieu (town).
Vertical drop: 2000m.
Expert.
4. Espace San Bernardo
La Rosière is located just above Bourg St Maurice. We say that it’s a balcony resort because of its south face exposition.
La Rosière has the advantage of being linked with La Thuile, which is an Italian resort.
Since heliskiing is allowed in Italy, this is the departure point.
Otherwise this family resort gives access to gentle off-piste, rarely tracked, without missing the delicious Italian pasta for lunch!
-The Ecudets forest (French side)
Just above Bourg St Maurice, this huge forest is a good way to spend a perfect on a snowy day.
Start: From the top of the lift “les Ecudets”.
Finish: At the bottom of the same lift.
Vertical drop: 700m.
Intermediate.
-Combe des Moulins (French side)
At the top of the lift, we need to hike a little bit on the ridge to gain more vertical drop.
Start: From the top of the lift “la Traversette”.
Finish: At la Rosière main resort.
Vertical drop: 600m.
Easy!
-The Suches forest (Italian side)
An easy forest ride down to the Italian village, It’s worth a good pizza!
Start: From the top of the gondola of La Thuile.
Finish: At the village of La Thuile.
Vertical drop: 700m.
Intermediate.
-Mont Chazdura (Italian side)
This itinerary is a mix of wide slope and open forest, leaving one’s tracks is a real pleasure!
Start: From the top of the Chazdura.
Finish: At the village of La Thuile.
Vertical drop: 1100m.
Intermediate. |
