 Poster: A snowHead
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Thought I'd post this here, as it's a little known resort, one of three including Lanslebourg and Lansvillard, strung out along the Maurienne Valley. Went there with Mrs Ham in Feb last year. It's a very pretty village, and the best of the three to stay in for skiing.
The region still has the very rural feel of converted people-villages, rather than purpose built ski towns. The skiing there is limited, but suited Mrs Ham (and therefore me) perfectly as we are of somewhat more advanced years these days (how the **** did that happen?) and you can easily get apartments right on the piste, ski in ski out. If that bores you, you can stop here 
There are a lot of good things about the resort - they really try hard to make the best with what they have. All the slopes are groomed pretty much every day, there's a very high basher:km of slopes ratio. Skiing itself is not especially challenging, they have one mogul run which they groom every now and again, and one path marked as black because there is one section that is steep, you would not want novices on it. However, most of the runs are really lovely, through the trees with smashing views. There is some off piste, but as indicated, Mrs Ham is exclusively piste these days, I didn't get the feeling I'd missed much.
Lots of paths, as the ski area is strung out over the side of the mountain, which are boring, natch, like "escargot" a winding green which is actually the summer road into Italy. Speaking of which the Lac de Val Cenis is very beautiful, with a handy (excellent) restaurant at the top of the run. But the reds that go straight down are good fun, but with few really challenging bits.
As you'd expect with an area that still has many farmers and a real life other than skiing, the restaurants are better value and quality than many ski resorts.
All in all, a great family resort especially with those in tow at the learning end where you could build confidence easily - there's almost always an easy way down. Of course it helped that he weather was kind, but 'twas always thus. I won't be rushing back, because of the limited ski (Mrs Ham & I skied the whole mountain) but I would still recommend it wholeheartedly.
Off to La Plagne in less then two weeks now (whoop!!) and looking for this coming Feb now - anyone got suggestions of similar places?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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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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The Termignon side is lovely, those reds at the top are great, and not at the top difficulty for reds neither, snow up there was perfect. The blue path back to Lanslebourg is a no-no - there's really no reason to do it (other than "it's there" so yes, I did) the two way chair is the preferred route. Oh yes - there are also a couple of nice restaurants on the piste in Termignon. Also, it may not look obvious at first glance, but everywhere in Lanslebourg is a trudge to the lifts.
While you do pick up paths now and again, you don't need to much and the views are normally good. (also, some of the reds are paths too - vers la berche for example) The run from the top of Arcelle all the way down on the western edge of the resort was one of my faves. Met was much better for my money than the Jacot (black) that takes you to the same place - Jacot was mostly full of people (kids?) going down so they could say they've skied a black. Morraine - the other black - was closed when I was there, but cupules (blue) was really nice.
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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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| Ham wrote: |
| The Termignon side is lovely, those reds at the top are great, and not at the top difficulty for reds neither, snow up there was perfect. |
- I understand they are only accessible by drag lifts?
Same as red Goulet near the lake? is it only accessible by drag Mont Cenis?
Piste map shows the new chair project there but I don't think it is being build.
Thanks
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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It sounds a bit like Valloire to me which I'd recommend if you're mainly a sedate-ish piste skier. I went there after a 12 year break & loved it.
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The top reds? yes, they were only drags and there are a few, but despite one or two saying "deconseille" they're not too bad, no where near as long as, say, pyramides in Courchevel 1650 or as tough as the one nearby that goes up to about 65%+ gradient. I can't remember the name, may not even be there any more, but it got my award for being the no.1 fun drag to watch as when it stopped, it would inevitably shake a few loose on startup. Famous for one occasion when the wife of a friend had too many vin chaud over lunch and failed to make it up 3 times 
And yes, I have been to Valloire, much more commercialised as I remember, busier, fewer ski in ski out opportunities, if I remember well, pretty choked with blue paths but nice skiing to be had all the same.
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Nice review, but don`t tell everybody!! Good off piste and other small resorts nearby; much less commercial than Valloire. The drags at Termingnon, when they work, deter beginners and new boarders, leaving empty slopes. We are there beginning of Feb, trying the Alpages this time.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Nice review Ham. You've made me want to try it sometime.
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Ham, you'd probably enjoy the Espace Diamant.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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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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does it hold snow late into the season? Always been tempted to ski there but only actually visited in the summer
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skinutter,
I would say it holds it snow well it tops out at around 2700m and is largely north facing. I have been twice in April 1st time was OK not great but it was generally a poor snow year. Second time we had superb conditions. Just up the road Bonneval holds its snow even better. I am returning this Feb to see what it is like earlier season.
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You know it makes sense.
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Been there the last two Easters and it was fine.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Ham, Quick couple of questions if I may?
We're booked to go to Val Cenis this half term and would appreciate some advice on how red (or black) some of the reds are?
I've seen comment that the solert red gets 'seriously steep' after the bottom of the cardinal chair? If this is true, then it seems to me that if you want to avoid that section, skiing Cupules Blue is not an option and from the top of the solert chair, there is no way down (if using the solert/arcelle reds) other than by dropping onto the Rhodos blue?
Steep terrain is not our forte so all advices welcome!
Many thanks 
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Poster: A snowHead
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Marshian70 - we went to Val Cenis last March so I'll try and help.
The red you are referring to below the cardinal is the Arcelle. We skied it fairly early in the morning when it was a touch icy and it is certainly one you need to concentrate on. However it is a fairly wide piste and so is doable (and not blackish). Cupules is a nice run but is steeper than some of the blues. Maybe you could try doing cupules followed by Arcelle mid morning when the snow has softened slightly.
As far as I can remember Nunda, Met and Familiale are all fairly cruisy in the solert area. Moving to the right Tetras and Quebecoise are nice as are the blues above Termignon. Do not make the mistake of skiing down the traverse to come back from Termignon..take the lift  We skied down the traverse and there was a large sheet of ice at the bottom.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Thanks Snowymum - we like cruisy runs!
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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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Arcelle can get icy and hard packed in the trees, later on in the day; my kids refused it once and walked down; they had skied for 4 weeks at the time. In holidays, all the runs back to the centre have bottlenecks low down where the crowds build up, but its nothing compared to most other resorts. Get high up on one of the blues late in the day, and ski down after the crowds; we stop for tea at the Vieux Moulin bubble restaurant; Familiale, Chamois. We are off to VC on 28th Jan
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marshian70, I'd agree with the posts above, Solert is the slope that my wife liked least because of the ice toward the bottom, but it is nice at the top! I don't think it is steeper past the Cardinal, but it is narrower (still wide) and can be icy. There are some wide corners where you can regroup too. I would say that none of the reds approximate blacks, some like Met Bec Rouge/Tomba will put a huge smile n your face. The bottom of Bec Rouge is steep-ish, but so w-i-i-i-i-i-i-i-de and (when I was there at least) often empty. Much much more fun than the "Black" Jacot which gets crowded (and isn't a real black, anyway just steep-ish with moguls, rather like many reds I could name)
If you like Cruis-y don't forget to take some time to visit Termignon side.
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