Les Arcs Advanced Skiing

The steep pitch of many of Les Arcs' runs make it a good choice for advanced skiers, and there are also good off-piste options.

The steep pitch of many of Les Arcs' red and black runs make it a good choice for advanced skiers. The steepest run in the resort is Robert Blanc, a challenging bumpy black coming down the main northwest face of the Aiguille Rouge and next door to the official piste of the flying kilometre, another must-ski guaranteed to make your eyes water. Varet and Genepi are two other quality blacks that feed off the Aiguille Rouge piste down from the top; the runs down from the first stage bubble are also interesting, particularly the moguls on Lanches. The other side of the Arc 2000 valley sees two of the more interesting ways over from the ridge in the shape of the up and down Ours and the characterful Comborcière. In 1600 the old red of Rouelles has been reclassified as black due to its preponderance of bumps.

Off-piste in Les Arcs
Some of the best and toughest off-piste in the resort is found off the back of the Aiguille Rouge but there is plenty more. The areas between the pistes on the north west face and under the Grand Col chair are a good starting ground but get skied out pretty quickly. If you stay skier’s left from the top of the Plagnettes chair across the valley there is a long ridge along which you can traverse to choose a nice line back down to the bottom of the lift. Either side of Comborcière also reveals pockets of powder and strong skiers will revel in the tight, steep couloirs skier’s right of the run. Tree-lined powder can be found in this valley under the Plan Des Viollettes chair leading down to Villaroger.

The meeting point at the top of the Transarc and Plagnettes lifts is the start of several of the best itineraries, weaving behind the Aiguille Grive and Aiguille Rousse respectively. Here there are several ways down, ranging from extremely testing couloirs to easier flanks before you drop down through the trees for a truly memorable descent past a mediaeval church to the village of Nancroix. Between the pistes under the Vagere chair is another good introductory area and in 1600 you can come down from the top of Les Deux Tetes chair and also directly underneath the Mont Blanc chair.