OK, before we begin, I know you’ll most likely disagree with this list. We all have our favourites and our preferences and ‘toughest’ is partly subjective and partly down to conditions on the day.
Then there’s the question of “What is a ski run?” – are we talking groomed or even marked pistes, accessed by a lift, or are we talking some cliff you’ve hiked up to?
So, shall we say, this is actually a list of candidates and popular choices that have some sort of reputation. Feel free to throw in your thoughts…
The Tunnel, Alpe d’Huez
Although home to the world’s ‘longest black run’ – Sarenne – Alpe d’Huez does have greater challenges by far on offer. The Tunnel s so named because to access it, yes, you ski through a tunnel. That’s not too bad, but the precipitous mogul field that awaits on the other side, is.
Bellecote Glacier, La Plagne
For those who know and love La Plagne’s steeps , the descent that receives the most rave reviews, is the (up to) 2000 vertical metre off piste routes down the North Face of the Bellecote right to the village of Les Lanches (Nancroix) in the valley below.
There are many routes down from the 6km long ridge, and a guide is advisable for all. The most commonly taken route is the optimistically named “easiest” or ‘Petit Face Nord’, which begins with a short ski travese around the shoulder onto the petit face nord before your descent begins into the least demanding of the couloirs to skiers left of the summit some 200m higher. (Image Credit ROYER)
Goat’s Pass, Argentiere
Not officially a ski run, the Goats’ Pass (Pas de Chèvre) is so infamous in off piste circles it does have its own name.
One of the Chamonix Valley’s more formidable options it takes you through a narrow and very steep couloir for a very, very long way. Very good technical ability and a guide are essential if you want to get down in tact. The picture above isn’t it, but is in the area.
The Couloirs des Fréaux, La Grave
There are no real pistes at La Grave, the infamous of piste Mecca close to Les 2 Alpes. Famous for its big vertical and it’s steep (and in places avalanche-prone) slopes, it’s important to ski with a local guide who knows the mountain and can take you down safely. The Couloirs des Fréaux are amongst the most challenging of this most challenging terrain.
La Chavanette, Avoriaz, France
Better known as The Wall, or The Swiss Wall, to give it is full name and jokingly referred to by some at the world’s only ‘Brown Run,’ The Wall drops down at a 50 degree pitch from France in to Switzerland. Along with the gradient it generally ‘grows’ moguls around the size of VW Beetles just to add to the challenge.
Emile Allais Couloir, Courchevel
One of three infamous couloirs above Courchevel, most famous of which is the Grand Couloir, Emile Allais, named after one of the most famous names in world skiing, is the narrowest and regarded by many as the most difficult of the trio. Part of the challenge in skiing or boarding them is negotiating the often icy ridge to reach the start.
Face de Bellevarde, Val d’Isère
Val d’Isère is of course home to plenty of extreme terrain, but on terms of groomed slopes it’s hard to top the Olympic and World Championships downhill course. This descent of nearly 3km long over almost 1000 vertical metres starts off disconcertingly easy before dropping away alarmingly – add in icy conditions and other temporary hazards (crying skiers who have underestimated what they’ve set of down perhaps) and you won’t forget the Face.
Vallee Blanche, Chamonix
Chamonix is another resort beloved of extreme skiers with endless off piste itineraries. The resort’s most famous run, Vallee Blanche, is famously the world’s longest lift-served run over the biggest lift-served vertical on earth, with over 2750 vertical metres skiable if conditions are good right down to the valley. However the Vallee lance is famously not that difficult – it ca be tackled by a good intermediate skier with a guide and stamina. But it doesn’t have to be. After tackling the icy arête with its alarming massive drops on either side your guide can take you off the ‘tourist route’ skied by most and take you on routes much more challenging, if you like.
(Image above credit: Chamonix Tourist office, below credit: Chamonix Tourist Office and Eric Berger)
