These are ideas for professionally guided outings, not route directions. Beyond the marked pistes, avalanches, cliffs and glacier hazards demand specialist judgement. Choose the day’s route with an appropriately qualified local professional; carry a transceiver, shovel and probe and know how to use them.

Icons describe terrain, skiing demands and walking, including route variants. Skiing labels are descriptive, not official grades. Open terrain describes the landscape, not the snow conditions; a missing terrain icon does not mean that feature is absent.

Tovière · La Daille

Trees
Skiing: Steep variants
Walking: No walking

Open valley terrain and lower larch woodland make this a varied descent towards La Daille. The gentle-sounding name is no difficulty guarantee: variations include steeper ground and terrain hollows that call for local judgement.

Fredrik’s experience

A misleading name

The name is deceiving. Parts of Familial are not family-friendly at all.

One steep section has steep terrain overhead and ends in a pronounced terrain trap. That combination makes the consequences of an avalanche especially serious. Careful route-finding is needed to avoid the worst terrain and manage the exposure.

Holes, rocks and tree stumps

Once you reach the flatter ground towards La Daille, the character changes. Watch for holes and rocks, then tree stumps farther down among the trees. Gentler ground under your skis and steep terrain above you are two different things.

The uphill touring track

Near the end, there is an uphill ski-touring track. Take it slowly: the surface can be hard or icy, and people may be climbing towards you. Keep your speed down, watch for people ascending and leave them room.

Even on slopes below 28°, steep terrain overhead and avalanche runout from above still need assessing with your guide.

Sources

Explore the guide

Altiport / Familial

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