A day of off-piste skiing in Puy-Saint-Vincent to discover a small, welcoming resort nestled in the Écrins mountains in the French Alps! Known as “the wind-sheltered resort”, it is protected by the surrounding high peaks, while its north-facing slopes often help preserve good snow throughout the winter. From wide-open slopes and steeper couloirs to runs through the larch trees, there’s plenty of variety. From short runs close to the pistes to the Col du Bal descent into the Narreyroux valley, we’ll choose our routes to suit the conditions and what you feel like doing. With a stop for a good meal in the resort or a picnic with mountain views between runs!
What will our off-piste skiing day in Puy-Saint-Vincent look like?
We’ll meet at 8:45 am in Puy-Saint-Vincent, ready to take the lifts. The first rides give us time to get to know each other and get a feel for the day’s conditions. We’ll start with some off-piste runs close to the pistes to warm up… or stay there longer if that’s the mood and the snow is good!
We’ll plan the day around the snow, the group’s ability and what everyone feels like doing. If conditions are right, we may head towards the Col du Bal: a roughly 15-minute walk to the summit of La Pendine opens up the incredible Narreyroux valley. This is the area’s big off-piste descent, a journey into wild mountain terrain in the Écrins that’s well worth exploring. Another option is to ski the more wooded Narreyroux runs, playing with the natural terrain between the larch trees.
We’ll need to refuel at some point: between runs, we’ll stop for a good meal in the resort or at a restaurant on the slopes, or simply enjoy a picnic from our backpacks with a mountain view, depending on the weather.
I’ll lead the descents at a pace that gives everyone time to catch their breath, rest their legs and look up from their skis to enjoy the scenery. Throughout this freeride day, I’ll give safety instructions suited to the terrain, and we’ll regroup at carefully chosen spots.
By late afternoon, when our legs have had a good workout and we’ve had our fill of beautiful views, it’ll be time to say goodbye!
Technical Details
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