Alpe D’Huez Must Do Runs

andyhull wrote:As I said in the quick review topic, so many great runs in the area, thought I should write a longer piece documenting my favourites.

Starting on the right of the piste map, access Signal De L'Homme via the Scare Chair (Alpauris chair) from Alpe D'Huez, which travels under the altiport runway before dropping down into the valley and up the other side.
Loads of options from here, both on and off piste. Basically there's a whole mountain side to play on, lots of red and blue runs and low risk off piste in-between. Great for mixed groups as it all joins up. More than enough to entertain for a morning before dropping into Auris en Oisans for lunch.
A great black run Col De Cluy runs from the top of Signal De L'Homme, down to join the bottom of the Sarenne. It's a great run, fairly regularly pisted so it's great for a bit of speed or off the edge in the powder.

The other side of Alpe D'Huez is Signal (not to be confused with Signal De L'Homme), a powder playground when it snows, drop over the other side and ski down to Villard Reculas, a number of routes, blue, red, or if you're up for a bit of unpisted black the La Foret run. A fantastic run to test you, well worth going down on the blue first and taking a look at La Foret from the lift, as it pretty much follows the route of the lift and you can plan a route.

The next village across is Oz En Oisans. Again there are a number of routes down, either from the DMC mid station or top station (Troncon 1&2). My favourite follows the reds from the top station, Les Rousses, Bartavelles, Alpette. Simply superb skiing and an amazing view.
The Poutran red from mid station while not quite as good, is also a must do.

Next across is Vaujany, there's a great black run all the way down, take the Chalets blue from the Alpette mid station, cut off left onto La Fare black run. It winds it's way down to the village through the trees. Vaujany is the lowest point in the area (1250m), so watch out for manmade snow, the run is in shade most of the time so conditions tend to be good, but obviously you need to be prepared for poor conditions when it's warm.

On the far left of the piste map is Montfrais, mostly blue runs over there, though there are some interesting off piste bits in-between.

The upper slopes are where it all gets really interesting. The Pic Blanc lift taking you up to 3330m. Worth a ride up to the top just for the view, even if you're not going to ski any of the black runs which it services.
The Sarenne is magnificent, very long and away from the lifts feels like it's in the middle of nowhere. It's not that difficult is normal conditions and is pisted fairly regularly. Only after new snow does the very top get chopped up and a bit tricky for intermediates.
The Tunnel is a bit different. It follows the Sarenne down for a bit then peels off to the right and then through the mountain via a tunnel. You come out on a ledge and have to navigate a tight set of bumps before the run opens out again. Not for the timid, but rewarding once you commit. The bit the run is famous for is a very small part of the run, the rest is fabulous and well worth the adrenalin rush at the top!
Those are the famous black runs, but there are several others all of which are equally worth skiing. Breche, which is an alternate route coming off the Tunnel. Combe Charbonniere served by the Marmottes II lift, long looping back into resort. Balcons and Clocher de Macle also from the Marmottes II lift but travelling in the opposite direction and much shorter.

Alpe D'Huez is the perfect resort for mixed groups, with pistes of all levels of difficulty linking all the various villages giving alternative routes.
There's loads of easy low risk off piste, plenty of challenging stuff requiring a guide too.

tspill wrote:
Hi AndyHull

How long do you think it would take for a cautious intermediate to ski the Sarenne. Not particularly fit so would need stops.

andyhull wrote:

tspill wrote:
Hi AndyHull

How long do you think it would take for a cautious intermediate to ski the Sarenne. Not particularly fit so would need stops.

Depends on conditions, but you should be able to do it in 45 minutes, perhaps an hour if there is a bit of soft snow to negotiate at the top.
A fantastic run away from the lifts, enjoy.