 Poster: A snowHead
|
|
I am an intermediate wanting to progress from cruising blues onto some easy reds. Can anyone recommend their favourites in the Three (or actually four now) Valleys leading from/to Meribel. Merci!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
MeriVal, welcome to snowHeads  .
From Meribel, you could take the Tougnette gondola and then the Jerusalem run towards St Martin - it can be a little bit mogulled at the top, but apart from that it's very easy and usually fairly quiet. Alternatively, take the gondola up to Saulire and the wide Creux run down towards Courchevel; if you go straight ahead when coming out of the gondola there's a road which takes you to the top of Creux avoiding the trickier steep section (to the right as you exit the gondola) which is the more direct route. When you get to the bottom you could take the Aiguille du Fruit chair and the Park City run down into 1850 - there's only a couple of steep sections and they're not difficult. If you're over in VT, the Tete Ronde run from the top of Peclet is pretty easy and is one of my favourites. The red down from the top of the Grand Fond funitel into the fourth valley is also pretty easy - but there is a steepish section towards the end which can be tricky - to avoid this, take the blue to the right at this point as it goes to the same place. A word of warning, however - the routes back from the fourth valley are all red (unless you fancy a long walk) and they can be quite hairy towards the end of the day once they've got bumpy.
In good conditions, any of these should be fun confidence builders.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
As usual, everything Alastair says above is spot on (IMO) but I'd also add that "the Creux" he mentions, from the top of the Saulire (the peak between Meribel and Courchevel) is one of the nicest runs to do as the first one of the day.
Jerusalem OTOH is absolutely beautiful in the afternoon.
Welcome to snowHeads MeriVal
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
Park City off the Aiguille de Fruit down to CVL 1850 is pretty easy, and Roc Merlot off the Chanrossa chair down into 1650 is nice as well.
In fact, most of CVL's red runs would probably suit.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
Wow! Thanks for all the info. I'm printing it off right now to stick in my pocket whilst I go skiing within the hour...... after a huge dump of the white stuff - yippee  . You've made a big help already so keep it coming and merci encore.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
I just got back from ten days in the three V. One and a half days of sun in all that time, but still had a blast. The Creux is probably my best run in the world, but you should get on it early and make sure it has been groomed overnight. It gets VERY busy and cut up when there has been a lot of snow - and there has beeen a LOT of snow.
Also, to amyone who knows - exactly where was the avalanche under the Suisse chairlift that killed an American skier in January? I understand that it avalanched again this week almost claiming another victim. We saw debris from two major slips, one hear the bottom of the chair, quite far to the left of the lift (looking up), and another right next to the piste on the left hand side near the top. Just wondering for future avoidance...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Another vote for the Creux. Did it on the morning of the fourth day of my first skiing trip (made easier by the fact I was following an instructor and he stopped regularly to let all the class catch up). Stunning views and great fun to ski - definitely my favourite run so far in my very limited skiing experience.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Isn't an easy red a blue?
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
stuarth, Easy red. It is as wide as a footy pitch.
|
|
|
|
|
|
brian
brian
Guest
|
Good suggestions so far, I'd add:
Either of the runs off Mont Vallon, although the very top bit can be mogulled and tricky so get up early while it's still pisted.
Right at the far edge of the area above 1650, Chapelets, really nice red that used to be served by a long drag, new chair there now I think.
Blaireau from the Tougnette above Meribel. Not that long but it's a really nice rolling piste and usually pretty quiet.
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
Mention of Chapelets reminds me of the confusion I experienced when skiing the Creux. On the piste map these 2 runs look a similar length. However whereas Chapelets only took a very small part of my 3rd afternoon, the Creux took up a large part of the following morning, despite the fact I was going faster down the Creux than I did on the horribly icey Chapelets which I survived by side slipping in very inelegant fashion.
Was I missing something when looking at the piste map ?
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
brian, The top bit of Combe de Vallon is seriously steep! Though a lot depends on conditions. I'll second Alastair's, views.
|
|
|
|
|
|
brian
brian
Guest
|
|
|
|
brian
brian
Guest
|
|
truffaut, spend some time skiing in Scotland. You'll never think anything in the alps is icy again
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
| truffaut wrote: |
Mention of Chapelets reminds me of the confusion I experienced when skiing the Creux. On the piste map these 2 runs look a similar length. However whereas Chapelets only took a very small part of my 3rd afternoon, the Creux took up a large part of the following morning, despite the fact I was going faster down the Creux than I did on the horribly icey Chapelets which I survived by side slipping in very inelegant fashion.
Was I missing something when looking at the piste map ? |
Creux dops just over 900 m vertically, wheras Chapelets drops about 450 m. The pitch of both seems to be avbout the same althouh Creux flattens out a bit towards the bottom. I would say if Creux took up a large part of your morning then You must have started VERY late  . A wonderful detour on Creux is to take the Chanrossa chair over to 1650 half way down and to ski back to the bottom of Creux via Roc Merlet, the blues by the drag, and then Combe de Roc Mugnier.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
|
A few years later! Both Jerusalem and le Creux are now classified as blue runs.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
To continue reviving this old thread; has anyone tried the Cime red from the top of Cime Caron in Val Thorens?
I’ve skied the Col de L’audzin down from there and for the most part it’s a lovely run, especially early in the day/ at non-peak times. Wide, flowing , steep enough to be exciting without being too intimidating. It does have a very narrow section near the top though which can become a real choke point and very chopped up which I’d quite like to avoid.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
| penny wrote: |
| A few years later! Both Jerusalem and le Creux are now classified as blue runs. |
Jerusalem was modified to turn into a blue. You can still ski the original red by starting via Cherferie.
Besides, that age old advice applies. Ski the conditions not the colours, a blue on a boilerplate day will be much much more difficult than any red in hero snow conditions.
Concentrate on carving beautiful turns and feeling those wonderful sensations in your legs rather than ticking off colours!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
|
Wise advice although not sure many people looking for easy reds are carving beautiful turns just yet…!
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
|
I really enjoy the reds/blues that run under and to the side of the Saulire Express 2 in Meribel, as others have said the Cruex over the other side is a great run and personally think Is close to being a red in places, especially when it’s busy.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chalets and Bel Air in 1650. 2 fabulous runs
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
My memory of steepness tends to be modified by my own reckless abandonment 
