Solaise brings together open bowls, steeper mountain slopes and wooded descents towards Laisinant and Manchet.
A long descent into a quieter mountain setting beyond Solaise. Rocky features and steeper passages add variety and commitment among its different lines. Confident skiing in variable snow matters here, as does the choice of descent.
Read Fredrik’s Cugnai storyAn off-piste classic on the Manchet side of Solaise, among the valley’s varied mountain terrain.
Read Fredrik’s Super Arcelle storyOpen slopes give way to trees on this classic descent towards Laisinant. The changing landscape is its appeal, but rock and cliff bands make route-finding a serious part of the day.
Read Fredrik’s Danaïdes storyA valley-side classic above Laisinant, with a different feel from Solaise’s high, open pistes. Its variations belong to the same off-piste neighbourhood as Danaïdes and Lièvre Blanc.
Read Fredrik’s Super L storySteep woodland gives Lièvre Blanc a distinct character among Val’s big, open mountain descents. Its lines lead towards Laisinant: a forest-skiing name for experienced skiers to discuss with a local guide.
Read Fredrik’s Lièvre Blanc storyAn off-piste area on the Solaise side, with several variations.
Read Fredrik’s Combe des Américains storyCugnai and Super Arcelle open towards the Manchet side. The Danaïdes, Super L and Lièvre Blanc draw towards Laisinant, with trees and more intricate lower terrain changing the character of the skiing. Combe des Américains adds another Solaise outing.
Lièvre Blanc belongs here through its Datcha and Germain Mattis approach. Laisinant is its lower destination, which is why both names appear in the account.
These are practical groupings for exploring the guide. The individual accounts explain their approaches, variants and returns.
These are ideas for professionally guided outings, not route directions. Beyond the marked pistes, avalanches and cliffs 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.
Photographs from Fredrik’s collection. Photo credits.
Choose the day’s route with a qualified local guide. Avalanche and cliff hazards require specialist judgement; carry a transceiver, shovel and probe and know how to use them.
