5 minute read
Off the beaten piste
OFF-PISTE OR BACKCOUNTRY ADVENTURES ARE FANTASTIC FUN, ESPECIALLY WHEN GOING WITH A SMALL GROUP OF FRIENDS. BUT WHEN TAKING ON EXTRA RISKS IT IS VITAL TO DO SOME EXTRA PLANNING AND PREPARATION BEFORE BOOKING YOUR HOLIDAY…
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Packing for the adventure
First, it’s important to create an off-piste packing checklist for you and your skiing buddies. This isn’t for how many pairs of salopettes or ski socks you want to bring, but a detailed list of the safety equipment you want with you in case of an emergency.
At the top of your list should be a well-fitting helmet. This is recommended for on-piste adventures, too, but for going off-piste it is imperative.
Next, everyone must always wear an avalanche transceiver when skiing off-piste. When everything goes wrong, these emergency locator beacons are used to find people who have been buried under snow, or anything else.
Once you have used your transceiver to locate the position of the buried person, it is important to have an avalanche shovel to dig the person out of the snow.
Avalanche shovels pull apart to pack small in your backpack, so you can easily carry one when in the backcountry.
Finally, an avalanche probe is great to have. They are used for poking into the snow to find and determine the depth of the buried victim. All probes have depth markers down their length and fold up into short segments when not being used.
Proper preparation
It is important to acknowledge the skills you and your friends have and plan accordingly.
For example, if you haven’t learnt how to rescue someone out of a crevasse, make sure to keep off any glaciated routes. If you are not a strong navigator, then plan to stay close to the resort in case the weather takes a turn for the worse. And if you are new to off-piste skiing, or to the area you want to explore, it is
highly recommended to take a guide or instructor out with you. Consensio books highly qualified, experienced ski instructors and mountain guides who spend most of their time off-piste and know where to find the best snow. They can help you plan the safest routes and provide assistance if things go wrong.
Before heading out to the Alps, you must notify your travel insurance company if you intend to ski off-piste. You do not want to be stuck with a hefty helicopter bill for an air ambulance trip to the local hospital
Picking accommodation
Val d’Isère, without doubt, is one of the best places to go off-piste skiing, both for the more advanced, thrill-seeking mountain enthusiasts and for those just starting to go beyond the pisted routes in search of adventure.
With over 300km to explore, the Tignes-Val d’Isère ski area provides almost endless backcountry possibilities.
If this appeals, then choosing a property on the piste means you don’t have to bother with ski buses or waiting for a taxi at the end of an otherwise amazing day on the mountains.
Self-Catered Apartment Tournesol is a phenomenal ski-in property, meaning you can ski directly to the front door, and in the morning there is only a short walk to the bottom of the Solaise to get to the lifts.
It is also near to Val d’Isère’s main avenue, which features a large choice of shops, bars, cafés and restaurants.
Tournesol is a fantastic apartment. Sleeping eight guests in four double en-suite bedrooms, it is suitable for a group of friends who want to experience an affordable backcountry holiday of a lifetime. The open-plan living and dining areas lead to a private terrace with views of the iconic La Face piste, a mighty cliff face that only the bravest should attempt.
Planning routes
When it comes to ski routes, it is worth noting that anything out of bounds is classed either as backcountry or off-piste. If you go through a gate or under a rope that warns the route is closed or you’re entering at your own risk, always remember that there is no rescue or avalanche control, nor a lift back to the resort if you get tired or out of your depth.
Your ski guide can advise on which routes to choose each day, depending on the weather, the time of day and the risk of avalanches.
When skiing off piste, don’t forget to visit the Bellevarde side of the mountain. Three slopes in particular have stand-out off-piste terrain:
If you want adrenaline, The Banana is a very large vertical drop allowing plenty of opportunity for your heart rate to soar. Please note, however, that the snow there warms earlier in the day, so head there first thing.
Because of its south-facing aspect, one of the most wellknown off-piste routes in Val d’Isère is The Charvet Tour. This route is great if you have mixed abilities in your group, as less experienced skiers can choose to traverse to the right towards the far end of the bowl, following the bottom of the valley back to the left, while others may prefer to go straight down for a more challenging ride.
Again, there is a high risk of snow-sliding, so try to avoid this route in the afternoons.
If you’re looking for quieter areas to carve fresh tracks into untouched powder, then check out Le Fornet for an aweinspiring experience.
Finally, the Couloir des Pisteurs must also win an honourable mention – named thus as only the pisteurs (those who maintain the pistes) are good enough, or brave enough, to ski it.
Tackling this challenge requires a very steep, difficult and scary hike to the peak of the Rocher du Charvet from the top of the Grand Pré chairlift, then a hard 45-minute trek to reach the entrance of the couloir. It’s narrow, steep and long, and once you’re in there’s no way out.
As you reach the bottom of the drop you will find yourself enjoying the best snow in Val d’Isère, becoming one of the first to create fresh tracks even long after a snowfall.
After an epic day discovering all the off-piste routes Tignes-Val d’Isère has to offer, just glide down the 1km Traversée du Laisinant trail straight back to Apartment Tournesol to relax and reset for another day of adventuring. The perfect end to a perfect day…
