Off Piste Skiing

Why ski off piste? If you already know the answer, you should be interested in the contents of these pages, and if you don’t know why – yet – but are an adventurous piste skier, then this could be the first step to doubling your fun.

For such a wide and compelling subject, there’s relatively little good information available. ‘Ski with a guide’, is simply not enough of an answer for most people and we aim to provide much more. This section, which will grow as the site expands, includes contributions on the best off piste to be found, written not just by guides, but by specialists in the areas reviewed. Far from jealously guarding their hard-won knowledge, guides from both the UK and the continent have been keen to help spread the word in this way, reflecting their enthusiasm for seeing skiers develop their full potential. more...

Avalanches & mountain safety

Before diving into our reviews of some of the best off-piste and backcountry experiences in Europe and North America, we strongly suggest you read our section on avalanches and mountain safety. more...

Arlberg off-piste

Searching for the best snow and to escape crowded pistes? Then hire a qualified mountain guide and discover the Arlberg’s incredible hidden off-piste terrain. more...

Chamonix off-piste

Off-piste is a way of life in Chamonix, for everyone from powder puppy to powder hound. more...

Espace Killy off-piste

The off-piste in Espace Killy is quite simply superlative. more...

Engelberg off-piste

The real interest for advanced skiers lies off piste, with routes to be found from the high points on both sides of the valley. more...

Verbier off-piste

Arguably one of the birthplaces of the modern freeskiing movement, Verbier also has a seemingly endless amount of off-piste skiing. more...

La Grave off-piste

This beautiful and wild ski area in the southern French Alps is a one-off: no groomed runs, no ski patrol or avalanche control, minimal lifts and over 7,000 vertical feet of mainly ‘ski sauvage’. more...

Saas Fee off-piste

Local guides lead a number of day tours on a regular basis, many of which start near the top of Saas Fee's lift system to minimize climbing on foot. more...

Davos off-piste

Davos offers huge off-piste potential, from short routes off the back of the Jakobshorn and Rinerhorn to all-day ski circuits to Arosa and Lenzerheide, but hire a guide. more...

Jackson Hole off-piste

For the seriously expert locals Jackson Hole has a “secret” mountain: Cody Peak, which has off-piste “runs” that make some of Jackson’s tougher in-bounds trails look like routine blues. more...

Whistler off-piste

Whistler-Blackcomb borders almost half a million acres of backcountry terrain, and 80% of the world's heli-skiing is in British Columbia. more...

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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.

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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Avalanche safety

? Ski in groups

? Appoint a group leader (and an alternate) to be responsible for making decisions in an emergency
? Go one at a time and always think about who will do the rescue if somthing goes wrong
? Be wary of cornices. Never walk up to the edge of a drop-off
? Ski gently. Wider skis are better then narrow skis, and a snowboard is better yet
? Remember the avalanche doesn't know (or care) that you're an expert

Safety equipment

? Buy a transceiver (beacon), collapsible probe, and a shovel
? Owing and carry equipment is not good enough - practise with it
? Carry a compass and inclinometer
? Take an avalanche awareness class