Content
Monterosa Lift System
Monterosa
| Cable cars | 5 |
| Gondolas | 3 |
| Fixed grip quads | 1 |
| Double chairs | 21 |
| Total chair lifts | 22 |
| Surface lifts | 9 |
| Rides per hour | 47,654 |
Lift access and connections within the Monterosa region:
Champoluc
The Ayas Valley has two lifts into the Monterosa ski region: the Crest gondola from Champoluc village and the Frachey lift from the hamlet of the same name, 2km further north up the valley.
The ski school meeting point is at the top of the Crest gondola, where there is also a large beginner’s area with two moving carpet lifts. Further down the valley are two separate smaller regions, Antagnod and Estoul, above Brusson. Both are covered by the Monterosa lift pass, but are not connected by lift to the main domain.
Newcomers should note the one-way piste system around Col Sarezza above Champoluc. When skiing out of Champoluc towards Bettaforca and Gressoney, you have to tackle the run from Sarezza to Conterey, which is narrow and fairly steep at the top – tough for timid intermediates.
When returning to Champoluc, the descent is to the side of this peak, on easier pistes. Though there is no lift connection from the Crest towards Bettaforca and Gressoney that cuts this section out, skiers from Champoluc can avoid it, by ascending with the lift from Frachey. For capable skiers it’s a great run. The descent is through pristine terrain and is uncluttered by any lift infrastructure. It feels miles from anywhere, whether you stick to the fast, sweeping piste or explore to either side of the markers.
The funicular lift from Frachey (served by the ski bus) is also useful for slower skiers who would like to make the full tour to Alagna. Starting at Frachey saves time and is also an option for the return journey, if you don’t get back in time to make all the lift connections back to the Crest.
Gressoney
At the head of the valley, Stafal gives access to both sides of the Gressoney valley. There is a large free car park at Stafal as well as some bars, restaurants, ski hire and a couple of new hotels.
To the west, a cable car followed by a four seater chairlift reaches the Col Bettaforca, and from there, the Champoluc ski area. To the east, a six seater gondola is followed by a bigger gondola up to Passo dei Salati and from there, the Alagna ski area.
Departing from just below Passo dei Salati, the new Salati - Indren lift opens up a huge range of approachable off piste skiing. From the 3,275m arrival point choose between runs back to Gabiet or down to Stafal through the Salza Valley area of Gressoney.
The village of Gressoney La Trinite has a chairlift to Punta Jolanda – the easiest way into this lower section of the eastern side of the Gressoney Valley, when based in La Trinite. There’s another chairlift from the main road between La Trinite and Stafal at Orsia, which also links into the Jolanda.
Gressoney St Jean has a double chair on the Weissmatten, an unconnected area (but covered on the same lift pass) to the south of the village; there is also a beginner’s drag lift on the Weissmatten’s lower slopes and a baby park with carpet lifts, on the opposite side of the road.
Alagna
A gondola from the village arrives in Pianalunga (2,046m), from where there is a cable car to Passo dei Salati (2,971m) for the Gressoney area, or a chairlift to Bocchetta delle Pisse.
The new high speed Salati - Indren cable car from just below Passo dei Salati on the Gressoney side, arrives at a height of 3,275m at the edge of the glacier. This lift opens up a vast area of off-piste skiing including the huge La Balma run, from the Bors glacier to Alagna.
Alagna’s beginner’s area is at Wold where there is an enclosed area with carpet lift, and a long double drag lift with long blue runs to either side.
Monterosa Ski Lift Tickets
The Monterosa lift ticket covers the 180km of piste of the linked resorts of Champoluc, Gressoney and Alagna. It also covers the smaller unlinked ski areas of each of the three valleys. For those prepared to travel, the Val d’Aosta pass gives unlimited access to all Aosta Valley resorts (170 lifts and 718km of pisted runs).
Non skiers can purchase tickets for the main gondolas out of the villages, and there are also beginner specific tickets, which give access to the beginners areas and carpet lifts.
Children up to age 6 are entitled to a free lift pass when an accompanying adult buys one of the same duration, and children aged between 6 and 12 are entitled to a half price pass. Those aged 65 and over are also entitled to a reduced rate. Proof of age will be required for free or reduced rate passes.
Lift passes can be purchased at all the valley bottom lift stations.
Ski Equipment Hire in Monterosa
Equipment can be rented at the bottom of the lift stations in Champoluc and Gressoney, and most of the hire shops also have a deposit, where equipment can be stored overnight. In Alagna Sport Haus just on the edge of the town centre, has a good range of rental equipment.
