Vallonnet: off-piste skiing in Val d’Isère · Field Guide

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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.

Photographs from Fredrik’s collection. Photo credits.

Fornet

Skiing: Steep, committing terrain
Walking: Short walk

Fornet at its more committing: steep terrain, cornices and complex route-finding give Vallonnet a serious character. The return can also involve flat ground and effort, so this is an outing to judge as a whole, rather than simply a descent.

Fredrik’s experience

The traverse and short walk

Vallonnet begins at the top of Signal, with the same initial approach as Grand Vallon. Instead of dropping into Grand Vallon, the route I know follows the track across on a long traverse. It crosses steeper ground, so we go one at a time with space between us. At the end comes a walk of a few minutes, skis off, over the ridge.

Vallonnet · Traverse

Photo supplied by Fredrik

Over the steep lip

Just beyond the ridge, I remember a very short, very steep lip, almost overhanging. On the days I’m remembering, getting over that short lip meant a little hop or wriggling down for those who did not fancy flying. The shape changes with snow and wind, so the entry is something for the guide to assess on the day.

A broad valley with a perfect pitch

Then you are in a big, broad valley with what I think is a perfect pitch. I have usually found great snow here, although, as with Col Pers, wind-packed snow can change the experience completely. The valley gradually narrows as you descend, but the pitch stays fairly consistent.

Vallonnet is a neighbour of Col Pers, one step closer to the lift system, yet it can feel just as remote. You can be alone in this wild mountain setting, with no infrastructure in sight. That feeling of getting away from everything is a big part of why I like it.

Save your legs for the return

Save some leg strength for the final section towards Pont Saint-Charles. The snow can be heavy and challenging down there. On the days I’m describing, I have not found a good sheltered place to stop in that last exposed section, so we have taken it in one sweep. Where to stop, how to space the group and whether to ski that section at all are decisions for the guide in the day’s conditions.

From the bridge, there is a long stretch of poling back towards the Fornet lift. I often see ibex here. Keep an eye out for walkers and loose dogs on the shared return, take it slowly and give them room.

Why it is one of my favourites

This is one of my favourites. I find the approach straightforward, the walk is short, and there are often few people. You get that Col Pers feeling of wilderness, but for me the skiing is considerably better. The steeper pitch lets you change your turn radius and style, opening things up into bigger freeride turns. On the flatter parts of Col Pers, I tend to make shorter turns; here, there is more room to play with how you ski.

Fredrik’s account describes his experience of the route. The traverse, ridge entry and lower descent depend on the snow, wind and avalanche conditions of the day.

Sources

Vallonnet

Video supplied by Fredrik · No sound

A skier turns across a broad snow slope beneath a bright mountain sky.