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Off-piste in Tignes, L’Espace Killy
© copyright Tignes Développement Service communication
Some of the links between the two sectors are in fact off-piste, and one of the easiest and most pleasant routes across to Val d’Isère from Tignes is L’Arriere des Campanules, in the Val Claret area, reached from the top of Tovière. You head down towards the lower section of the Génépy piste, and on to Tignes Val Claret. In the opposite direction – from Tignes back to Val d’Isère, is La Familiale. It too is reached from any of the Tovière lifts, and brings you to the bottom of the Tommeuses lifts which link the two resorts.
Perhaps the easiest off-piste run for would-de be off-piste skiers to learn on is Lognan, reached from the Grattalu or Merle Blanc lifts across the valley. You begin by taking the Lognan piste for about 600 metres. Where the piste separates into red or blue alternatives, there are a number of off-piste variants. You can chose whether you want to ski on down to the Grand Motte base area or the Val Claret bus.
Accessed with a 20 minute ridge walk from the top of Tovière, the Couloir Gendarme (just below a jutting rock which stands, policeman-like above the chute) can involve being roped down a tricky section until the couloir opens up to provide a wide and wonderfully long untouched snowfield.
Grande Motte
The Grande Motte, with the highest slopes in the entire Espace Killy, has a number of options. At the base of the glacier, reached by the Grande Motte funicular, La Langue du Glacier is wonderfully scenic without being difficult. Although it’s steep, it’s also wide enough to make even intermediates feel fairly unthreatened.
On the Grande Motte glacier itself, the North Face run, is fairly easy but can be chilly, and although they are not as major threat, there are crevasses, especially in lean snow years (when at least you’re more likely to be able to see them) and if you wander too far away from the main route.
The North Face of Pramecou “is maybe the most beautiful north face in the Espace Killy” say Steiger and Bonnevie. “The approach is magnificent, opposite the Grand Casse, and with a spectacular first descent.” It is also very difficult technically, with a slop reaching 45o. The run is reached from the top of the Grande Motte funicular, and means a walk of 15 minutes or more. A rope and skins are advised. Much less challenging but a delightful alternative is the Tour de la Grande Balme (AKA Tour de Pramecou) , which involves significantly less danger, though there is still potential avalanche danger. The Couloirs de la Grande Balme are much more serious, and should only be attempted by experts. The Couloir de la Petite Balme – from which you end up skiing down to the Génépy piste, and on to Tignes Val Claret - is very dangerous if you take a wrong turn.
Massif du Lavachet
Mickey’s Ears (Les Oreilles de Mickey) in the Massif du Lavachet/Tignes le Lac area, provide one of the best known and most enjoyable off-piste areas in Tignes – overlooking the resort’s famous dam. Unlike many other Tignes’ off-piste spots, this area does include gladed skiing. It also includes some tough challenges: slopes as much as 45°, and the possibility of slides and collapsing cornices. The run gets its name from the attenae and satellite dishes attached to the relay station at the top of the Pointe du Lavachet. It’s reached by taking any of the lifts to the top of Tovière. There are a number of variants, including one all the way back to La Daille (Val d’Isère).
Other worthwhile off-piste runs in Tignes include the Couloir du Chardonnet (usually with good powder) reached from the Merle Blanc chair, the Lavachet slopes above Tignes Le Lac (reached by the Aeroski cablecar) and the nearby Tufs couloirs – close to the piste but very narrow. Le Glattier, a wide and easy off-piste slope in the Massif des Brévières sector, can be reached from the Aiguille Rouge chair.
The Vallon de la Sache is one of the classic Tignes runs - a beautiful long run with a 900 metre (2,953 feet) vertical drop. You reach it via the Aiguille Percée chair or the Marais chair. This is a run which any reasonably experienced off piste skier or boarder will relish.
Apart from such a wealth of off-piste in the Espace Killy, there is also the possibility of some epic inter-resort tours, such as the one between Tignes and Champagny or Tignes and Peizey, both of which require transport back to Tignes.
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Avalanche gear
Away from the marked runs, you depend on your friends and your equipment should anything go wrong.
Make sure you have the best gear, available from Facewest.
Make sure you have the best gear, available from Facewest.
Avalanche guide
Some passages in this section are extracted from Staying Alive in Avalanche Terrain by Bruce Tremper, Director of the Utah Avalanche Center.
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