The Best Backcountry Skiing Routes in Grand Massif

Head down Marvel (probably the best green piste in the world ever!) and then before it goes into the trees turn left off the piste and head towards an electricity pylon....

As you head down Combe piste the piste turns right where Rhodos joins it. On this corner is a short pitch that can be great in good fresh snow. Head straight on at the corner....

From the Tete du Saix head down Perce Neige piste and then on your right pick up Dahu piste on your right. Off to the left of this is a great open space which holds the snow well as it is mainly north facing....

From the top of Gron charlift head straight on and down Marmottes piste. As soon as the trees end turn right here – pretty much under the Molliets chairlift. The snow cover on this top bit can be a bit thin so take a look before heading in....

This is a fun run through the trees under the lift line of the Gron Chair. You are directly under the chair so if you get it wrong you’ll have an audience! (But you can’t beat a chairlift cheer can you!) Enter the line where Combe piste goes under the chair....

From the top of Vernant chair lift you can find a couple of lines back down to the bottom. Be careful as there are cliff bands halfway down and only a couple of ways through....

To the far right of the piste map is the Aujon drag lift; to access this run go to the top of the drag and turn left. Follow the Rubis piste along and then you can turn left off this piste and head down across a gentle off piste track – this is a great area to learn to ski off piste....

Along Marmottes piste and off to the left is an open run that with good snow can be great. It’s not that long – drop off to the skiers left and down the pitch....

From the top of Gron chairlift it is possible to ski the trees that are directly ahead of you as you come of the chair. You need good snow cover and they are tight so you need to be confident skiing trees; ski the gaps! Be careful as there are a couple of tracks that cross the line here and can sometimes give a sizeable drop onto them! Keep heading down and then you’ll hit the Blanchot piste – turn left, be careful of beginners and intermediates on this piste as you join it....

As you head back from Tete to Saix towards Les Carroz and Morillon there are routes off the side of the Perce Neige piste to the skiers left. Check it out from the Airon chair – immediately to your left as you are going up....

A potentially tricky ridge that can be avoided opens to good open face, starts steep then flattens out. From the top of Vernant head right (left from the Grand Vans) and follow the ridge as high as you want to access this open face....

From the top of Vernant chair lift you can find a couple of lines back down to the bottom. Be careful as there are cliff bands half way down and only a couple of ways through....

When skiing down the black Corblanches piste you have to keep to a cat track width path at the top. When it opens up keep skiers right on the side of the piste and head towards the trees....

From the Grande Platieres lift you can check this run out as you are about 2/3 way up at around 2 o’clock as you head up the mountain. To access it come out of the lift go round to the left and back under the lift as if you are going on the Diamond Noir – but instead of following the piste to your right carry straight on and find a gully that goes between the cliffs....

When the Veret draglift is closed it is possible to hike to the top of this lift to ski the Combe de Veret run via a 20 – 30 minute hike....

From the top of Tete de Saix this is usually a well skied bowl. You can see it from the Airon chair and access it from the top of Perce Neige piste....

From the top of Tete de Saix this is usually a well skied bowl. You can see it from the Airon chair and access it from the top of Perce Neige piste....

As you head back towards Les Carroz on Cupoire pistes pick up signs for the black run Veroce but don’t double back on yourself; head straight on and keep right and you’ll find yourself at the top of an open area....

From the top of Vernant chair lift you can find a couple of lines back down to the bottom. Be careful as there are cliff bands half way down and only a couple of ways through....

Gers doesn’t open unless the snow is good and the ski patrol make sure it is as safe as it possibly can be. Once you go in the drag lift is the only way out so as a general rule if the lift is not running, don’t go in! If it is open you can cut off to the left instead of following Jais the black piste....