Off-Piste Alpes Vaudoise

If you would like to significantly improve your off-piste skiing whilst enjoying some great off-piste powder runs, this is the course. We begin with an instructional day where your ski technique both on and off-piste will be analysed by our guide. This will give each participant technical points to focus on during the varied programme of the following four days, when we ski a fantastic choice of venues within easy reach of Leysin. The aim is to use as much uplift as we can to ski some fantastic off-piste runs whilst improving your skiing. Short ski tours will be needed approach some of the more remote off piste runs.

The Alpes Vaudoise boasts some of the best off-piste skiing in the Alps, having a very traditional and quiet ambience. Leysin, which is centred in the Alpes Vaudoise, has a wealth of off-piste opportunities, and being linked to the ski resorts of Les Diablerets, Glacier 3000m, Gstaad, Les Mosses, Rougement and Villars means there is a vast range of venues to choose from.

The newly renovated, state-of-the-art Glacier 3000 ski resort is rated by enthusiasts as one of the top off-piste venues in the Alps, yet it is never too crowded. Some of the descents are a vertical 2000m and take one through some very impressive mountain terrain. If you are weary of skiing 'tracked' off piste in the big resorts then the Alpes Vaudoise will introduce you to some of the best snow in the Alps, in more of a wilderness setting.

We purchase the Alps Vaudoise ski pass for the week (included in the course price) so that we have maximum flexibility during this week.

Ski-touring techniques will be used to gain the more remote runs, so essential ski-touring skills will be covered as part of this course. Throughout the week the guide will be giving tips and instruction to improve your off-piste skiing ability on all types of terrain and snow conditions. We will also be looking to find the best powder skiing available.

Sample programme:

Day 1 An instructional day on and off-piste skiing in the Leysin ski area. Leysin has an extensive network of ski runs with countless opportunities for off-piste variations. We will work on ski technique for a variety of different terrains, which will give us an important foundation to build on skills during the rest of the week. Leysin has many off piste runs such as the “Stol Couloir”, “Col de Luisset”, and the classic run between the Leysin Tours. We also have a session on the new Leysin Avalanche Rescue Training Centre where we learn essentials skills on how to rescue an avalanched victim.

Day 2 A short taxi ride to the village of Diablerets gives us access to the neighbouring ski resort of Villars. We take the lift to Meilleret and ski down to the Col de la Croix. From here a short tour uphill (1hour) to the Pointe d’Arpille (1982m) gives us a classic descent down powder slopes in the trees back to Diablerets village. In the afternoon we take the lifts and ski to Petite Chamossiere (2035m). This gives us access to a magnificent off piste run on wild north facing slopes to Les Planches (890m 1100m descent). Train back to Diablerets.

There will be an evening presentation on Avalanche Awareness.

Day 3 The next day is spent on Glacier 3000, one of the best off-piste resorts in Switzerland boasting over 1600m of vertical descent from the top lift. As well as giving more instructional input on the off-piste runs, we plan to ski tour to the summit of Les Diablerets (3209m). Perched on the western most point of the Oberland massif the views from here are stunning, encompassing the Bernese Oberland (Eiger), the Swiss Valais (Matterhorn, Grand Combin and Dent Blanche) as well as the Mont Blanc Massif. The Combe d'Audon, one of the many big off piste descents in this resort, is a fantastic north-facing valley which only a narrow piste negotiates, leaving plenty of scope for off piste and fresh tracks.

Day 4 The traverse of Mont Chevreuils (1662m). This is an excellent peak for off-piste skiing, having a short ascent (400m) and a big north facing powder descent (800m) to Les Moulins (900m). Starting at Leysin we use the lift system to get to La Lecherette (1380m) we then make a short ascent (1.5 hours) to the summit of Mont Chevreuils. We spend the evening and night at a charming hut which is perched at the top of the old redundant lift system.

Day 5 The next morning we ski nine hundred vertical metres of cold powder to Les Moulins. We then take the bus back to La Lecherette and make a short ski tour over the Corne de Brenlaires so that we can ski north facing slopes to L'Etivaz (which is famous for its organic cheese farm). We return to Leysin by taking the bus to Les Mosses and then using the lift system, giving us maximum ski time.

Note: the days on this course can be interchanged to make the most of the snow conditions.

Maps: Rochers de Naye 262 s 1:50 000 St Maurice 272s 1:50 000 Martigny 282s 1:50 000 Wildstrubel 263s 1:50 000

Ski ability required: Strong piste skier with good parallel turns on piste (confident on black runs) and effective turns off-piste. No ski touring experience necessary. You need to have a good level of fitness and be able to comfortably sustain a climb at a rate of 250 vertical metres an hour. A typical day will not involve much uphill walking, but one day may involve at most 2 hours of uphill skinning (up to 600m height gain). Uplift will be used as much as possible.

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