THE WORLD’S BEST BACKCOUNTRY RESORTS The best places on the planet to get as far off-piste as possible
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ot all mountains are created equal. While you can find great off-piste in a lot of places if conditions are right, there are a handful of ski resorts around the world that always seem to deliver the goods. Some of the names listed here are legendary, etched into skiers’ collective consciousness by the starring roles they’ve played in ski films down the years. Others are less well-known. But whether it’s the steepness of the terrain, the depth of the snow, the vibe of the village, or a combination of all three, these resorts offer something truly special for serious powder hounds. Now go fetch!
LA GRAVE, FRANCE
La Grave is like a ski resort stripped back to its bare essentials. A collection of unpretentious chalets, bars and shops clustered around a single lift, the town is a no-frills kind of place. It’s all about the skiing here. The cable car whisks you straight up a ludicrously-steep face, over seracs, crevasses and endless, pow-filled couloirs. From the top, there are any number of epic high-alpine lines, most offering around 2,000m of descent in a single run. ‘Grave’ translates to ‘serious’ in English, which feels about right. This place is no joke.
Getting some in La Grave
ESSENTIALGEAR ATOMIC BACKLAND 98 W £500
SALOMON MTN EXPLORE 95 £540
A supremely versatile backcountry ski, light enough for the ascent and delivering grip and power on the way down. The HRZN Tech tip ensures smooth control in even the most cut-up conditions.
Combining exceptional downhill performance with climbing efficiency, it’s easy to see why this ski is so popular. It’s not the lightest of touring skis but it’s hard to beat going downhill. 6
Ellis_Backcountry Adventures 2020 TK_JW_3.indd 6
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