Via Lattea (Milky Way) Advanced Skiing

On a good fresh snow day where best to go for safe powder skiing? In Sauze D’Oulx the Bourget ski lift (5) runs in all weathers and you can have fun on skis or board in the safe and steeply wooded slopes around it. Do not forget piste 12 down to Jouvenceaux which is safe, and not many people know about it! In good snow conditions the runs down from the top of Sauze’s Monte Fraiteve towards Sestriere, Rio Nero and Sansicario are excellent. The ones towards Sestriere face south and deteriorate rapidly when the sun comes out, so grab your chance quickly after a substantial snow storm.

From Rio Nero Valley, at the bottom of lift 11, there is a new black piste that takes you back towards Jouvenceaux. Alternatively in good snow conditions it’s possible to ski off-piste all the way down the valley, through a light pine forest as far as the main road in Amazas, not far from Oulx, by a pizzeria with a bus stop. It is recommended that you call a taxi for the return journey to Cesana or the Jouvenceaux lift (local taxi Franco Garofalo Tel: +39 0122 832126).

In Sestriere, the runs from Monte Banchetta are challenging and a real treat with powder. From the top of Monte Motta you can ski black piste, and in good snow conditions bear left off-piste, to reach the valley bottom and rejoin the Chisonetto chair lift. The top lift on Sises accesses a reasonably steep black run which is usuallly left ungroomed with big moguls. There is some off-piste to the side.

If you’re looking for really wild mountain ambience, the Col Vert/Colletto Verde above Claviere at the top of Le Rocher de l’Aigle lift, is the place for you. As well as the well-groomed red leading towards Mongenevre and black piste to Claviere, there is a good choice of off-piste on either side of the pistes, and a popular itinerary, the Vallon de la Douare, which heads down to the Brousset chair. A short hike away is La Plane, where there are more slopes that a guide can show you and which are well worth the walk.

Montgenevre is gaining a good reputation as an off-piste destination. On the Gondrans side, there’s an official freeride zone of ungroomed slopes but with a guide you can also go ‘off the back’ into the Vallon de la Vachette or head over to Le Chenaillet. Across the valley, the Serre Thibaud and Col de l’Alpert access mostly East and North East facing slopes, and there are plenty of off piste options (as well as a black piste) from the top of Chalvet. The off-piste reached from the Rocher d’Aigle lift above Claviere (see above) is also easy to get to from Montgenevre.

There is also helisking. It’s illegal to land on mountain tops in France, but not in Italy, regardless of which side of the border you took off from.