 Poster: A snowHead
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I have taken aj advice and started thread on Alpe d'Heuz am I even writing that properly?? It will be our first time there first week in March so looking for any info re best runs, bars rests etc. Group of 9 we have skied various French resorts, Italy and Austria. Not very adventurous intermediates all capable of getting down any slope but prefer cruisey reds. Not mad about blacks unless there's plenty of snow. All advice and information gratefully received.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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am I even writing that properly??
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Not really. But if you don't know, why don't you check before writing it at all?
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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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STOP, before this gets out of hand, shake hands, be friends 
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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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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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snowmam, I've stayed in ADH only once quite a while ago but have stayed in Oz-en-Oisan several times, most recently at Christmas. So I can advise mostly on the skiing rather than bars and restaurants.
As you look up from ADH you've got a large mountainside of pistes which for the most part are cruisy reds and blues and close to the resort they get very easy and wide. Higher up and off to the right there are some blacks. The most infamous is The Tunnel. From the very highest cable car that takes you up to Pic Blanc you ski a short section on the other side before doubling back into the mountain, and through a tunnel to access a steep black. If it hasn't had any fresh snow and is icy it can be quite a challenge. You may not fancy it... but if you went say at lunchtime when it's quiet and the slope has softened... you should be fine. And it's a bit of a must do. I took a friend who sounds similar to yourself down it and she was fine and quite enjoyed it. The other major run that Pic Blanc gives you access to is the Sarenne. This is black also but is very long and cruisy and the scenery is fantastic.
Off to the left off the town as you look up the mountainside or another way of putting it, at the top of the town is "a hill" called Signal. It holds the snow pretty well and I suspect you will enjoy skiing up there. Diagonally to the left as you look up the mountainside there is the Oz/Vaujany area. Lots of good skiing that should be right up your street over there. The black down to Vaujany called Le Fare iirc is nice if softened up a little.
To the right as you look up the mountain and on the other side of the Gorge that the Sarenne ends up in is the Auris sector. Worth getting over there for a day though it can get bare quickly if there isn't much snow.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Lizzard 
Layne Thank you for the info very helpful. I've looked at the piste map and seen what's on offer but good to know the blacks are doable and not crazy vertical drops. Hopefully more people will provide helpful advice on conditions etc as the season moves on.
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The Tunnel is a hard black no more. If you are happy dropping into a quite steep and mogul end slope you will be fine as it opens up and gets easier. As I say its more pleasant of you go there at the right time.
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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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I've been to Alpe d'huez 6 times and think it's a great resort, particularly for mixed abilities. The conditions / time of day etc can dictate the best places to go. For example, if it's cloudy it's worth trying to get above it by going high as that often works. "Oz" is a nice run and a good stop for lunch but when the weather is mild the lower slopes can be a bit icy.. There are some great runs. The sarenne is long but not hard (it's no more than a red really) and in good weather is a beautiful run - but allow good time for your first time. My personal favourite is the canyon. It's an unpisted red (so like being "off piste"). It has quite a difficult entry and after that is fabulously rewarding but it will test range of skills of red-runners. Often closed. The tunnel is quite a daunting black at the start - largely depending upon conditions. If its soft its not so bad, but if its icy then a fall will see you going down it like a bar of soap. (although it starts hard it gets easier). There are a few easy runs right up top of Pic Blanc (a red and a blue I think and it's worth going up). You have to go towards Auris even if it's just for the chair lift ! Have a great time.
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Hey lizard,crawl under your stone you sarcastic t* at.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Snowmam if you prefer to avoid th blacks generally I would avoid the tunnel. Im a confident skier and have never bothered with the tunnel. It starts with a fairly serious mogul field and from your description of your skiing that doesnt sound like the type of run you enjoy. Sarenne is a lovely run in good conditions as is the long black down to vaujany. Both are generally pisted. The runs down the scare chair towards auris you should enjoy and most of the runs off the back of signal. Lovely red down to oz again subject to good conditions. Nice runs in the vaujany area generally.
Last edited by snowHeads are a friendly bunch. on Wed 12-02-14 13:49; edited 1 time in total
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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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Looks like a disgruntled member in disguise.
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You know it makes sense.
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Mike-H, good choice of words
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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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graham90, dan100, Thanks guys for the advice. I had a look at Tunnel on You Tube and agree not one for me esp as it exits the tunnel. Have gotton down similar before but only when there was no other choice but don't enjoy it. Am definitely gonna try Sarenne will let you know how I get on. I've been following the Alpe d'Huez thread so haven't been checking this one.
gozzer7, thanks for the support 
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Poster: A snowHead
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Off to Alpe d'Huez in a couple of months and was thinking that Tunnel should be added to the tick list, but after looking at a few videos on YouTube I am not so sure about the first bit after exiting the tunnel itself. I'm hoping that the perpective from the cameras used has been skewed  . Is it really that bad? Especially, is it a shear drop to the left of the fenced off bit.
My problem is that I'm quite happy to ski down any bump field under control regardless of how steep it is, if perhaps a tad ineligently, but I suffer really badly from vertigo. So if the exit from the tunnel does have a shear drop to the left I would have jelly legs and quite possibly full salopettes by the time I get to the start of the run itself.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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depends a bit on how the snow develops but they have made the platform when you emerge from the tunnel a lot more friendly over the years. It is certainly quite steep past the fenced off area but that section used to be part of the piste IIRC so it is by no means super-steep. also, the wide angle of the POV cameras makes the section look much longer than it really is.
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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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Hi,
I've booked a trip to alpe dhuez for a group of 8. The skiing there sounds like it will suit us perfectly, however I'm starting to worry about the après and nightlife. I'm staying beside the tourist office which I was told was fairly central to the bars but the more I research, the more I'm starting to doubt this? Please someone tell me the tourist office isn't a 5 mile hike from the bars, restaurants and lifts?!? Classic case of being left to book everything on my own so I can be blamed if it's not right I'm afraid!
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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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@Richpark, The tourist office has a lift attached to it ! Not the most modern, they are walk / jump / fall on bucket things but they do take you up to the start of a lot more lifts in a few minutes. There is also a chairlift that takes you in the opposite direction about 100m away. Nothing in Alpe d'Huez is more than a few minutes walk from the tourist office.
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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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Nice one. That's good to know, thanks for the reply!
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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We stayed near the tourist office. We left our boots and skis at the hire shop up at the top of the bucket lift/bottom of the main lifts but most evenings socialised near the chalet. There's quite a few good restaurants and a couple of nice (but low-key) bars round that area. We enjoyed it.
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My son and his GF were chalet hosts very close to the tourist office last winter, they didn't complain that the nightlife was too far away, and son is not renowned for enjoying walking!
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FAQ
then this is a very good starting point:
