The Sarenne, Alpe d'huez

A snowHead

Was in ADH in March and amongst other things was quite excited about skiing down the longest black in the world (i believe). I really enjoyed the first part of the top of the glacier until probably halfway down when it basically becomes a forest track which i just about managed to keep moving on when i was not pulling my snowboarder mate along. I would add that we did it in the afternoon both days and the snow had softened lower down due to the fantastic weather we had.

it is a beautiful long run though and you get a nice rest at the bottom on the really long old two man chair from the bottom.

due to the warm weather the moguls really built up at some points and through some of the gully sections it was pretty treacherous. I remember arriving at one long part through the rocks and thinking it resembled the opening scenes from "saving private ryan". There were basically bodies and skis scattered everywhere and it was a real challenge picking a safe path through. I was on my sixth ski holiday and can get down anything safely but i think the sarenne attracts people who are not capable because these mogul sections were easily the hardest skiing i did all week and it was a relief to get down without injury. Not due to the snow or moguls but the amount of people frozen to the spot terrifed or lying in the snow having wiped out for the third time in ten feet. I did the wall as well and it was easier to negotiate although i will admit it was also very difficult.

Loved ADH though and managed miles and miles of skiing on cracking runs and would definitely go back

A snowHead

Yeah, I'm not sure I'd want to do it on a snowboard. Catch the right time of day in good weather though, and on skis it's awfy pretty.

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

It's a while since I skied it but I've skied it several times and I don't remember too many issues. The section you mention naturally bottlenecks a little but it wasn't the carnage you describe. Perhaps you just caught it at a bad moment.

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I found it better to do it as soon as you can in the morning.

Before it's start getting "damaged" by the muggles Toofy Grin

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

Done it many times but first time with a boarder about 3 weeks ago. He's very good and very fast and first time reached the resto no problem. Second time though it had softened even more and he really struggled even getting up huge speed before the flats and borrowing one of my poles. Lovely run, gets very busy though.

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The Sarenne, Alpe d'huez

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