OFF PISTE SKIING IN THE PORTES DU SOLEIL

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1 OFF PISTE SKIING IN THE PORTES DU SOLEIL Anyone wishing to venture off piste does so at their own risk and should not under-estimate the increased risks and dangers that this entails. However, the Portes du Soleil region offers a variety of off piste opportunities which are easily accessed from the lift system and which do not require a guide when visibility is good. Skiers wishing to venture off piste should always be mindful of both snow and weather conditions, should never ski alone and should make a realistic assessment of their own and their party s fitness and ability levels. For those venturing further afield a shovel, probe and avalanche transceiver should also be carried as a minimum of safety equipment. It is also a good idea to let people know where you are going and when you a planning to return. COL DU FORNET The Col Du Fornet Region above Avoriaz offers probably the best opportunities for those wishing to venture off piste for the first time. As some of the highest altitude terrain in the region it is snow sure and the variety is enormous. As it is all in plain view from the piste and lift system there is no requirement for a guide in good visibility or for any additional equipment over and above what might usually be carried for piste skiing. Les Choucas The top section of the Les Choucas lift is a good place to start with a variety of open undulating terrain to both left and right of the chair. Choose your line as you travel up the lift and again at the top before you set off and use the lift itself as your route marker to ensure you do not get disorientated as you descend. Return to the

2 piste above the open air bar (clearly visible but not marked on the map below) where all the pistes converge about 2/3 rds of the way down. Le Fornet Skiing under the Le Fornet lift is more challenging than Les Choucas as there is greater potential to run down into a big cliff drop if you lose your bearing. As before choose your line as you ascend on the lift. The safest line is to remain in the gulley to the left of the chair as you descend, but this quickly tracks out and the moguls can get fierce. However, it is possible to stay to the right of the lift and descend along a series of ledges. Plan your route carefully and do not get disorientated or attempt this in poor weather conditions as there are some serious drops if you get this wrong. It s also possible to go out wide left under the imposing cliff face that runs parallel to the lift but this tends to become nothing more than a long traverse and can get bumpy quite quickly. Chavanette and Cubore The Chavanette double tow and the Cubore lift (on the Avoriaz side) also offer plenty of opportunities to depart the marked piste. The runs are shorter but are no less demanding and picking a line is easy enough.

3 POINTE DE VORLAZ Cubore The other side of the Pointe de Vorlaz offers exceptional off-piste skiing in the right conditions. While it is all visible from the gentle blue that runs along the valley floor from the foot of the Cubore chair lift into Les Brochaux it is more remote than Col du Fornet and should not be attempted without appropriate equipment or in poor conditions. There are a number of lines to take from the top of the Cubore lift, some of which require a lengthy traverse but which are rewarded with a tremendous ski back down to the valley floor. However, be aware that you will need to find a crossing over the stream at the bottom and some poling may be necessary to re-join the blue run back into Les Brochaux. It s also best to stay in the open terrain and avoid the trees above Les Brochaux. The best way to study the terrain and pick a line is by travelling up the Mossettes France lift to the top of the Pointe de Mossettes. From there you can descend to the Cubore lift. On the way you can also warm up on the short but challenging descent from the ridge down to the Cubore button lift. The best line is between the red run and the lift although it requires some nerve as the top section is convex.

4 Pointe de Mossette In addition to providing a good vantage point from which to view the Pointe de Vorlaz there is also good skiing to be had under the Mossettes-France lift on the opposite side of the valley. From the top of the lift drop straight under the lift line for a long section marked on the lift as La Frontalière Snowzone. Although a marked run it receives fairly light use as a function of its demanding nature. Alternatively, drop down from the lift station towards the Cubore button lift and as soon as the fence runs out drop the edge and traverse back towards the Mossettes lift line. This then drops down all the way to the blue in the valley floor for a return journey into Les Brochaux. Brochaux There is also some entertaining skiing to be had under the Brochaux chair lift. The top section is open terrain and while challenging it is easy to see where it rejoins the piste. However, the bottom section below the rope barrier is more complex and should not be attempted without planning a line first, this can be done while ascending on the chair. GRANDS COMBES To the east of Le Fornet lies Grands Combes, a series of black runs running down into Les Prodains. There is an impressive bowl directly under the Grands Combes chairlift with multiple lines running down to the red run that bisects the chairlift. It s wise to assess the terrain by ascending on the chair before you commit. It is a very steep descent through a mogul field to rival the infamous Swiss Wall below the Chavanette chair and will not be to everyone s tastes. There are also opportunities to ski through the trees below the Verane chair which are worth a look and a more demanding descent beyond the most eastern of the black runs. It s best to assess the latter by descending the black run, returning via the Verane and Grandes Combes chairs, before attempting this route.

5 PLAINE DRANSE AND LES LINDARETS In the right conditions there is plenty of off piste to be explored on both sides of the Col de Bassachaux. The descent into Plainse Dranse under the Rochassons and Plaine Dranse chairlifts is more severe than into Les Lindarets but is more snow sure and in plain sight of both the lifts and the marked runs. Les Lindarets offers a more gentle descent along multiple lines through the trees but is more remote, less snow sure and it is not possible to view the descent in it s entirety before committing. This is an important consideration as it is necessary to negotiate a line through the dropoffs at the end of the run near the foot of the lift stations.

6 Chaux des Rosees The black under the Chaux des Rosees chair is one of the toughest runs in the Chatel sector of the Portes du Soleil but there is also some good edge of piste to be had here too. It is possible to plan a number of different lines while ascending on the chair and there is also a nice loop to be found by first descending on the blue and then cutting left around a high feature and rejoining the black where it passes under the chair but do not be tempted to cross under the rope barrier. TETE DE LINGA

7 La Leiche (Hidden Valley) Below the Tete de Linga lies the Hidden Valley of La Leiche. To access this impressive bowl it is necessary to cross over the ridge that separates it from the main red run down from the L Echo Alpin chairlift. At the top of the lift look out for a man-made cross high on the ridgeline. The traverse into La Leiche should be visible just below the cross. Be aware that crossing over the ridgeline may involve a few cautious steps over bare, wind-blown rock. VALLEE DE LA MANCHE For those wishing to venture a little further afield the Vallee de la Manche is an obvious choice. With your back to the top of the Le Fornet lift traverse across to your right past the warning signs (indicating you are headed into a totally un-patrolled area and are therefore operating at your own risk) up to the ridge-line. From there drop over the low saddle to enter the valley and keep following the obvious route past the old chalet building and onwards to the head of the valley road. If there is sufficient base then it is possible to ski all the way back down to Morzine all though this does involve a little bit of poling. Alternatively, catch the bus service back to town. CHAMOSSIERE AND NYON Above Morzine sit the Nyon and Chamossière ski peaks, the high points of the local ski area. Both offer lift accessed off piste.

8 Nyon Nyon, reached via the Pointe chairlift has a multitude of lines down the face of the mountain in between the pisted runs. It s easy to venture as little or as far as your experience allows. To the far skiers right is the ridge line demarcating the Vallée de la Manche, don t be tempted to go over the edge which is marked out with denser trees a little tight for skiing anyway. To skiers left the face of Nyon can be accessed cutting off the Aigle rouge piste at the first switchback and traversing to the weather station. This takes you over the bowls ridge line and allows you to drop down to the Chamossière valley on a variety of lines depending upon how far you traverse. Chamossière Accessed via the new Chamossière chairlift there is a perfect unpisted bowl to the west of the black run. Traverse from the lift station over the small ridge above the avalanche cannon and drop into the bowl where there are multiple lines emerging at the foot of the Chamossière lift. For those prepared to hike along the ridge line above the Chamossière bowl there is an additional drop in below the

9 Pointe d Angolon peak. This will gain you many vertical meters before you hit the lower traverse described above. The red run from Chamossière also offers a number of off piste options to both the right and left of the piste as does the drop down the black run. For the former the run to the skiers right offers the chance to traverse along the ridge line separating the red and black runs and ultimately drops out near the top of the Blanchots drag lift.