Snow Guide rates Verbier 4-Vallees as one of the top 5 places to ski powder

Top Five Places to Ski Powder Snow in The Alps | Snow.Guide

Verbier, Switzerland

The area has always attracted skiers looking for adventure and off-piste routes that suit all ability levels. Marked itineraries mean that relative novices to off-piste skiing can experience powder snow conditions on un-groomed slopes when they are open. Vallon d’Arby is a classic example and one of the world’s great lift accessed off-piste valleys. But there’s so much more, Mt Gele with its 360 degrees of steep off-piste playground, the famous back side of Mt Fort, Stairway to Heaven’s short, sharp walk and angelic powder bowl, Highway right next door, Cat Walk down to the dam, Hidden Valley – good luck finding that one, Rock Garden which has got nothing to do with AC/DC, Barry’s Bowl – he was a dog you know, Marlena, Croix de Coeur, Rock & Roll and of course not forgetting Bruson, the little ski area next door with lots of oomph. And that’s just the start.

http://blog.themountaindepartment.com/ski-powder-snow-alps/

Telegraph places Verbier in top ten ski resorts again!

Verbier is the main resort in Switzerland’s largest ski area, the 4 Valleys. Thanks to the combination of a sunny, scenic location, exciting terrain and a lively nightlife, it has long attracted a youthful, sporty clientele. Easy access (two and a half hours by public transport from Geneva airport) has helped make the resort popular with Brits as well as the Dutch, Scandinavians, the international Geneva set – and above all, the Swiss.

Access to the 4 Vallees and Verbier ski area is easy from Nendaz, either by bus or driving 15 minutes to Siviez or from the Tracouet lift system and direct access.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/snowandski/switzerland/verbier/6753557/Ski-Verbier-resort-guide.html

Morning Ski – Tour Mont Fort

posted in: Nendaz, Skiing | 0

OK, so you drop the kids off at Ski School in Siviez at 9.00 am, and you have to be back at 12.15 – snow is great, where can we go and get back in 3 hours?! What a brilliant problem to have. Quickly get onto the Tortin lift before the schools leave before the queues, takes you to the inter station at 2050m. Pop inside the restaurant for a take away coffee @ 2 chf in paper cup and whilst one of you carries the coffees the other carries skis.

Get to the top of Col des Gentienes, off the cable car quickly and onto Col Mont Fort for the first run down – best to get down the stairs or stop for a chocolate and enjoy the stunning views from 3200m.

IMG_20141224_105017 IMG_20141224_105052

Down Mont Fort, one of the steepest and best runs, either stick far left or far right to avoid the bumps and find the powder. Exhilarating steep breathtaking slope followed by 2 km steep fast speed down to the tow bar.

Back up the short tow bar for a quick stop at Iglo. It’s 10.30, the descent down into Verbier and La Chaux takes about 30 minutes, steep at the top and can be crowded / icy followed by a long run past Cabane Mont Fort (good lunch stop if you have time). Its a gentle track and slope down to the La Chaux to catch the 5 man chair up to Fontanet above Verbier. This enables you to ski down to the “James Blunt” 6 man high speed chair (the run down is icy and crowded, be careful).

Cabane Mont Fort
Cabane Mont Fort

Into Lac de Vaux  and then the slow two man to the top of Chassoure. The Chassoure run down, is marked off piste and won of the world’s best. Early this year snow conditions were not great but even so the powder to the right hand side was really good. Just beware of avalanche risk but the right hand side is the best way to go by traversing across about 200m

To the bottom and the Tortin lift means a quick run back down to Siviez and a coffee, should be about 12.00 now – 5 of the best runs in the world, about 1000m descent and 10km ski! Not bad for a morning