 Poster: A snowHead
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Arno, so when are you taking an off piste group there 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Altiport is more or less ski in/out. It's a fairly long downhill walk however down to Les Bergers and back up is long and steep, even further to town. Some photos from the couple of trips I've done there. I found Alpe D'Huez quite expensive (compared to Les Deux Alpes the following week) when I last went in 2008, however it's cheaper than Val D'Isere, etc. Mid priced! I like the place, don't think it's that ugly but hardly chocolate box.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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kitenski, taken a couple of Eagles trips there in the past...
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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I would say: The Chalets D’Altiport look great but are a bit of a hike from Bergers shops as previously mentioned, however the nearby (stumbleable) Restaurant D’Altiport is a great place to eat with a lovely sunny terrace but would advise booking.
Other decent eating places are the Bergerie in Villard as mentioned by Arno (again it gets busy), Plage des neiges alongside the long Jeux drag is ok for a pizza but service can be a bit random, Chalet D’Oz tucked away half way down the Poutran to Oz is lovely, if you chat to Serge & Marie they’ll ply you with great home made Genepi! Would avoid Les Airelles in Montfrais, new owners are very grumpy.
The main snowpark in ADH can be a bit rammed like much of the main bowl above the resort, the much smaller one in Montfrais should keep people happy who like that sort of thing while the others can eat & drink below (that’ll be in Les Airelles with the grumpy new owners though).
Must see mountain scenery – top of Pic Blanc on a clear day is as good as it gets, take the Sarenne down (it’s a 100m long black, followed by a long red & traverse out but its good for a mxed ability group outing with your sarnies) or the Tunnel if you’re feeling brave and theres some snow on it.
Other nice blacks are Balcons (steep with moguls) & Col De Cluy off the side of Auris. Maronnes at Auris is allegedly the steepest piste in the domain and nice through the trees.
Expect to pay too much for a beer as anywhere in France, would stock up at the Casino in Bourg en route (turn right at roundabout at base of ADH climb) or buy at Bergers shops if coaching. Transfer from Grenoble airport should take between 1-5 hours as mentioned.
Avoid: Main bowl around ADH at all times, where to go depends on weather/snow. I would tend towards Montfrais in the morning when the suns not yet hit it – everyone goes over there after lunch, La Fare is a nice ‘black’ worth doing early particularly if its snowed a bit overnight while Vaujaniette is a pretty dawdle with some nice scenery. Villard Reculas also is generally quieter before lunch, the Foret black is particularly nice with some snow on it.
Days out – Grand Sablat and heli back with a guide is a great day with some totally different scenery or down to Clavans to eat and taxi back as already mentioned. Combe du loup is a nice short OP route ending at the Refuge De Sarenne which is well worth a visit, great scenery and a landing strip outside, bonkers solar panels & windmills everywhere, geese, dogs, horses, a real menagerie and a great big plateful of local food. Finally I guess if you yearn for some culture you could visit the architectural jewel which is L2A 
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Montfrais is a good place to head in the morning if it has stayed cold all night. Otherwise you'll be skiing in the shade on teeth-chattering refrozen mank that will have you searching out sunnier slopes!
It's well worth taking the trouble to find the Combe Charbonniere black. It's the loneliest run in the resort and one of the most beautiful. You can also dip right over its shoulder at the end and get a couple of kilometres of mellow meadow skipping.
At least once in the trip take the run down the Tunnel and link it up to les Chocards, Couloir, Les Rousses and then down onto La Fare for a massive on piste drop.
As far as easy off piste goes, try the terrain below the Mont Frais chair. There's also some easy stuff available by following the chair line off the back of Signal. A good 'starter' couloir sits between the Balcons and Macle pistes (easier to access from Macle). There's also some good stuff off the back of Signal de l'Homme but be VERY careful here regarding avalanche danger. Likewise, get the advice of ski patrol before skiing Le Magicien, the oh-so-tempting off piste face that's skier's left as you head down towards Oz. Very slidey and with a big terrain trap at the bottom.
La Fare is actually the steepest run in the resort for the duration of its length (hard to believe but true), probably due to the fact that it doesn't have a long flat runout like many of the blacks at AD'H.
The Lievre Blanc chair is seriously underrated, with a good deal of fun terrain on either side of the piste and the opportunity to throw yourself off the icefalls above the lake should you feel up to it.
The key to Alpe d'Huez's off piste skiing is the Plan des Cavalles which offers access to a LOT of goods.
HTH
(Haven't disclosed any 'crown jewels' there, have I guys?
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Nick Dawes, bad_roo, very helpfull. Thanks
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bad_roo, yeah the bowl is, the Cerisier couloir is out of shot (quite a way) to the right. This was just a different way in off the Piefroid ridge.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Love it, "souless and downmarket" (whitegold) how can u reconcile those two positions? Requires soul alluding to yearning for tradition (one of least populated and most beautiful parts of France, with some amazing terrain in ADH and very close by) but considers the place "downmarket"? Let me take a punt here; solicitor....no you're probably an accountant go skiing 4/5 times a season, may get away with the 'guys' for a week, wonder into S&R or EB and big yourself up, bet you ski on a pair of Mantra's (don't all your lot) with dukes and a wear a pair of endorphins with heated footbeds and a Spider all-in-one..... am in getting close? People like you are EVERYTHING that blows about skiing. Now, off with you to Deer Valley, Alta, Gstaad, Meribel or whichever overpriced corduroy lovers dream you came from! God, i feel liberated.......
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millsy13, welcome to SNowHeads, brilliant first post
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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millsy13, it has already been established that whitegold has never ventured beyond ADH's excellent bunny slopes
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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| millsy13 wrote: |
| Love it, "souless and downmarket" (whitegold) how can u reconcile those two positions? Requires soul alluding to yearning for tradition (one of least populated and most beautiful parts of France, with some amazing terrain in ADH and very close by) but considers the place "downmarket"? Let me take a punt here; solicitor....no you're probably an accountant go skiing 4/5 times a season, may get away with the 'guys' for a week, wonder into S&R or EB and big yourself up, bet you ski on a pair of Mantra's (don't all your lot) with dukes and a wear a pair of endorphins with heated footbeds and a Spider all-in-one..... am in getting close? People like you are EVERYTHING that blows about skiing. Now, off with you to Deer Valley, Alta, Gstaad, Meribel or whichever overpriced corduroy lovers dream you came from! God, i feel liberated....... |
Do you know me?
PS Alta not very good for corduroy even without the pesky snowboarders as any fule kno.
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millsy13, Arno,
I reckon you are both so right. If whitegold wants to give Alpe d'Huez a miss, then thats just fine. Me I think the place is great, but so is Les Deux Alpes, so is Tignes, so is Serre Chevalier, so is Montgenevre, so are the little places in the Vercors....... They are all different for sure, and they all have their faults as well, but if you take against a ski station for your own reasons then slag it off to someone asking for a little advice I think you have a problem.
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