The inside scoop on the runs in the Espace Killy
Hannah, our resident seasonnaire in Val d’Isere working in a Ski World chalet gives us the low down on the best slopes…
After working and living in Val d’Isere for about 3 months, these are my favourite runs as well as some of the worst that I would suggest avoiding simply because they’re pretty nasty. But bear in mind conditions will change over the next few months. Fistly, AVOID ‘epaule du charvet’ which is a black run which goes down into central Val d’Isere from the bottom of the ‘Datcha’ lift – it is essentially a short steep run covered in moguls. Only a few days ago I managed to get some spectacular scratches on my back after sliding down half the run and not being able to stop myself until I hit the powder at the bottom! There is also a lovely blue run that runs down the side called the ‘Santons’ so I can’t understand why you’d want to do this run anyway. Another run with nasty moguls is at the bottom of the ‘Trifolet’ which runs into La Daille – Last time I went past the entrance, it was closed but the bottom is accessible from a bit of off-piste. On a brighter note, some of favourite runs include the ‘Germain Mattis’ which is icy at the top but a great tree run which runs into ‘Le Laisinant’.
Stunning view from the top of Toviers at 2704m
If you fancy pisted runs with little ice then I’d suggest the runs in Tignes Le Lac, especially up the Palafour lift. And also you have the added benefit of the sun which tends to prefer Tignes rather than Val D’isere. Another good lengthy run is the ‘Double M’ run which comes in Val Claret from the top of the Lanches lift. It can get a bit icy and is in the shade but it’s pretty wide and I wouldn’t consider it a red run but more of a hard blue run since it has a bit of steep bit at the beginning. If you want some nice easy skiing, or are a beginner, then I would suggest up the Solaise lift in Val d’Isere which is where I learnt to ski on the ‘Madeline’ slope. The lift also goes down as well as up so you don’t even have to do the red or black runs down afterwards. Yes, it’s pretty bad that after being here so long that I haven’t completed the Espace Killy map yet; so I still have to explore la Grande Motte, the glacier and Tignes les Brevieres. So I shall have to update when I get round to completing those runs. I’ve also heard that a really good day of skiing consists of going from one side of the map to the other by starting in La Fornet ending in Tignes les Brevieres. This is all very subjective and there are still loads of great runs which I haven’t described, but you’ll have a great ski holiday in Val d’Isere just by trying to cover as much ground as possible and not sticking to the same runs since there is so much to explore.
