Skiing in Europe and North America is really popular but there is one resort in the Southern hemisphere that offers almost unlimited offpiste – and backcountry skiing. This place is Las Leñas in Argentina. With over 200 documented offpiste / backcountry runs it is a true mecca for skiers all over the world. One of the finest runs accessible without much effort is Hourglass, a beautiful steep couloir…
Skiing for a long time and exploring your limits means you will eventually create a so-called bucketlist of skiruns. Lines you have spotted on previous trips, couloirs others tell you about or pictures on the internet can add just another run to the list. Most of the runs on my list are located in the French Alps so when I have some time left, I’d better go and try to shorten my list…
A couloir is a steep gorge or gully. With enough snowcoverage it can be very exciting to ski one. Once you enter a couloir, there is no way out and because you’re in a big terrain trap, you have to either ski from one safe spot to the next or ski in one go in order not to get caught in an avalanche. If you like skiing couloirs like I do, there is a hidden gem in the French Alps; la Grave…
Initially I went to Morocco ‘just’ to ski on the African continent. I expected bad snow conditions and relatively boring terrain. As low expectations are always a good thing, it turned out I had great springsnow in the tail end of the season, perfect weather and some interesting terrain. The last day of the trip I skied the couloir from Brèche des Clochetons just opposite the Refuge des Mouflons, a great finish of a great skitrip!
Gulmarg is a great destination for powder skiing. Multiple bowls are lined up and scream to be ripped apart. However, most of the terrain is very similar and the real steeps are lacking, with some exceptions of which my favourite is called Great White. A huge bowl with steep lines accessible within a couple of hours from the gondola offers great lines and a nice day out in the field.
After skiing all over the world one creates some sort of wishlist with skiruns. On top of my list was the Couloir des Cosmiques. This is a skirun in Chamonix which involves a decent rappel and around 2500 meters of vertical skiing. The ultimate classic run of Chamonix they say…
In September 2010 I visited Craigieburn for a couple of days. This legendary place is one of the favourite areas of Glen Plake to ski on the planet. They even have a triple diamond run called “Plake’s mistake”…
Skiing all corners of the world, one will eventually end up in freeriders’ paradise Las Leñas in Argentina. Many options for some serious “steep & deep” but the backyard of Marte chairlift remains classic. One of the most aesthetic peaks is definitely Cerro Torrecillas. I got to ski it in the summer of 2009.
