Champoluc

Haven't finished with 2016 yet, but already looking at potentials for March 2017 and Champoluc has come to the top of the list.

Would appreciate some advice as my research indicates this wouldn't be a great choice for a relatively timid low-end intermediate (not me, I hasten to add! -) ) as there's a lack of blue cruisers and easy reds to progress on.

I know Admin and Tony H have been relatively recent visitors so comments would be gratefully received.

LOTA wrote:blue cruisers and easy reds to progress on.

There are nursery slopes above Champoluc (take the gondola up AND down) but they're probably too tame for someone looking to progress; they might be a good first day warm-up option though.

What worked well for my sons is the long blue above Frachey. Look at the map; you can hop on the free ski bus from Champoluc - then take the funicular at Frachey. The chair to go further up from there (by the excellent little restaurant with the funny name that I can't immediately remember) is much longer than it looks on the piste map, as is the blue that it serves. So your early intermediate can get in a nice warm bus, up an easy-to-ride funicular, and then loop one very long chair (6 man, I think, but one that slows down top and bottom) and a long, generally wide, blue.

At the end of the day they can take the Red back to Champoluc if the snow's good (the steepish first section is massively wide and should be OK for an early intermediate, but don't push them this way if confidence is a problem). The chair out of the bottom of this valley is also an older 2-man, non-slowing-down one but not too scary...

For anyone interested in wildlife... we saw clear Lynx tracks under this chair most mornings but failed to spot the cat...

For early skiers, they can also stay on the bus round to Antagnod - basically a red and a couple of blues winding through the woods with great views and a nice cafe. Antagnod's also a joker option if the weather closes in; we had a fantastic powder day between the pistes there on a day when Champoluc was locked down for wind and avalanche risk.

I like Champoluc; it's maybe not as well-connected as a French mega-resort but is probably more fun for that. There's plenty of easy off-piste to play in the immediate valley, and more serious stuff across in Gressoney.

March should be a good time to go; we've been in January and at Easter and the mountain was very quiet for both (other than Easter Monday).

Could be a good choice for the group, but just a couple of small points to consider :-
- There are small gaps in the piste/lift connections which may leave you scratching your head; notably the Black returning from Alagna that ends in a car park above Stafal with a 400m yomp down to the cable car.
- You'll see plenty of reminders, but DO pay attention to the warning signs on the lifts that connect the valleys; they do close due to high winds. The pisteurs do try and give warning, and put signs up telling you to return to your "home" valley so if you see those, don't hang around. A fiver says at least one person in your hotel will end their skiing the wrong side of the ridge and end up with a €200 taxi ride... 8)

Admin, thanks. That's helpful.

I wouldn't say its a difficult place to ski, but it definitely isn't for a timid intermediate to explore the area. Piste skiing is red classification pretty much across the area and its the sort of place to appreciate fully you need to bob off the edge and play in the deeper stuff.

That's what I had heard/read/thought. Thank you. (Where's the Cervinia essay? -) )

LOTA wrote:That's what I had heard/read/thought. Thank you. (Where's the Cervinia essay? -) )

I haven't had the motivation yet to write it, sorry.