Off-piste in La Plagne?

A snowHead

Hi. I'm going to La Plagne on 15th Jan and was wondering if anyone can recommend some good areas to go off-piste? I'm not that experienced at off-piste skiing so don't want to venture that far, just some nice areas down the side of the pistes would be great. I've been to La Plagne before but can't remember any of it!

A snowHead

There is plenty. One good one I enjoy is at the side of les Inversons run down from Roche de Mio, and you get your breath back on a slow chair up! Another is either side of the blue run Le Lavasset towards Champagny - the gully on the left is fun. Plenty from the top of Les Verdons as well. You're never very far from the piste. Enjoy!

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

Be careful above Plagne Soleil/Centre. Plenty of abandoned mine workings/dead ground to fall into very close to the pistes.

Not wishing to sound preachy but you don't need to get very far off the side of the piste to get into an avalanche.

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Thanks for the replies, will look at the areas welshskier suggested and if we decide to get any more adventurous than that it will be with someone local that knows what they are doing. wink

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

where are you staying, i'm looking for accommodation in resort

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Not actually sure as one of the other guys (there are 4 of us) booked it. He only booked it at the weekend though so I'm assuming there must still be places available.

Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

If you want inspiration about the huge area of off piste available at La Plagne (beyond just piste-edge skiing) then look at this book
http://www.amazon.fr/clés-Paradiski-hors-pistes-bilingue-français-anglais/dp/2952249806/ref=sr_1_5/171-8124665-3070640?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1191499517&sr=8-5&tag=amz07b-21
(which covers the linked La Plagne / Les Arcs areas)
It will be available in the resort at bookshops and large newsagents who also sell some books, but is not like the other off-piste books I have of other areas since it is too big to put in your pocket (or even, realistically, a back-pack).
Of course we are here talking about skiing which you would do with a guide who knows the area and understands avalanche danger. There are proper guiding companies who put people into groups to do this sort of thing, as well as individual guides hired privately who will consequently be more expensive. (Or, as you said, some of it you could do with a local you trust).

After all it is free

Good stuff here too.

For some reason I cannot get the url above to register so you can just click on it. You will just have to copy it. I just checked - it is correct..

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troublemaker, all your answers are here:

http://snowheads.com/ski-forum/viewtopic.php?p=1489767

snow reports

THE online guide to skiing La Plagne's off piste is here
http://thermique74.nuxit.net/ In french but Google Translate will help, always take a local guide.

Yes, actually, given that you sound like you aren't that experienced off piste, probably better to take a proper guide.

You know it makes sense.

snowball, the links doesn;t work becasue of the accent over the e of "clés"

here's a shortened link

http://lyxus.net/hjlz

Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

There are so many possibilities in La Plagne that it's hard to describe them all but if you're new to the game and wanting some fun without risk the old off piste itinerary run back from the Glacier has now been designated a Black.

Check out the news Wedneday, November 24, 2010 | The new Dérochoir slope http://www.perso-laplagne.fr/News.htm#24_11_10

Earlier in the thread someone recommended the right hand side of Inversens. Don't go too far right because close to the piste is actually more fun then at the bottom of Inversens don't go back up the slow lift but head on down the black at the bottom called Crozats. It and the black Malatray all finish in the same place at Chalet du Friolin which last season was back to top form for food http://chaletdufriolin.com/index.htm

The easiest starter off-piste in this sector is from the top of the chairlift Crozats. Head back as if you are going to Les Marmottes at the crossroads you can go to the next turn then head back towards the Crozats lift. The easiest is to cross under the lift or in any case head for the Carolley restaurant by keeping left if you don't want to go all the way back down.

Finally in this sector if it snows take the blue Les Bauches back down to Friolin but cut all the corners.

Warning. Route des Bauches back to Montchavin-Les Coches is flat for 1km so only attempt this if you like cross-country

rolling eyes

Ski Happy

Here is the new piste map including Derechoir http://www.perso-laplagne.fr/PisteMap.htm

A snowHead

For a little bit of fun go up the drag "Z" from Plagne Centre. At the top turn left. As soon as you set off look for a ramp on the right. You need a little speed to get up it. Then go straight ahead for 20 metres until you see the entrance to the gully on the left. The first step down can be tricky. All stop there and then make sure you leave plenty of time before each person goes on because once you set off from there it is no stopping. Also if the light is poor it can be very tough negotiating the bumps Skullie

First time through is a bit hairy but once you know it, it can be great fun.

The other great gully is on the right just after you leave the Arpette heading back to Bellecote. Take the right central piste and look for the entrance near the top on the right. If you've come up Arpette you'll see it on your right.

Do not attempt to go down the gully lower down that leads right back to Bellecote unless you know what you're doing because it runs out in a mini-dam at one point which can be very tricky to negotiate.

In essence both La Plagne and Les Arcs (Paradiski) are one big off-piste terrain with pistes in between. Only place to avoid at all costs in La Plagne is Salla which is a very high risk area with a frozen lake at the bottom.

If you want to do the real deal hire a guide and attempt the n North Face of the Bellecote. Maybe another year Shocked

A snowHead

gravystuffing,

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

Thanks gravystuffing, it looks like with that new dérochoir slope that is a really nice long run down from the top of la combe now. Will definitely be giving that a go.

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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

gravystuffing, thanks for that, I'd been eying up that valley on the old piste map, if it's a piste now I'll give it a go

Boredsurfing, are you out over christmas? will try to meet up if so

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Off-piste in La Plagne?

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