Trifides - Grand Couloir
Easy to access, steep couloir skiing. A La Grave classic.
Severe Freeride Skiing
- Distance
- 1.8 km
- Ascent
- 6 m
- Descent
- 719 m
Charlie Boscoe's 50 Favourite Ski Adventures in Europe
After 14 winters based in the Alps, here are the best 50 trips I've had on my skis. Needless the say, the "to do" list is still much longer than this "done" list!
Freeride Skiing, Ski Touring Moderate, Difficult, Severe, Extreme
Also in Tirol, Austria • Hautes-Alpes, France • Haute-Savoie, France • Aoste, Italy • Bozen, Italy • Trento, Italy • Tetovo, Macedonia • Møre og Romsdal, Norway • Troms, Norway • Prahova, Romania • Prešov, Slovakia • Graubünden, Switzerland • Valais, Switzerland
Description
Skiing every great line in Europe would require an endless budget and 10 lifetimes, so this list simply represents the best trips I've had in 14 years wandering around the continent in search of snowy adventures.
There's a reasonable geographical spread in this list but compiling it serves as a reminder of how much there is still be done - Central Switzerland, the Pyrenees and much of Italy have not had justice done to them. I will try to rectify this soon...
This guidebook might provoke some debate about what could/should be in it but great days are often measured by intangible factors so take it with a pinch of salt and enjoy creating your own list of favourites as the ski seasons come and go!
Routes included
Piatta de Grevon 2
This run is fast, fun and steep. Not to far from the beaten track but an extremely interesting area of terrain. Taking advantage of Pila's secret spots
Difficult Freeride Skiing
- Distance
- 827 m
- Ascent
- 0 m
- Descent
- 373 m
Hinteres Rendl
A popular and long run. A classic St.Anton freeride route easily accessible via lifts.
Difficult Freeride Skiing
- Distance
- 5.9 km
- Ascent
- 53 m
- Descent
- 1.3 km
Barmaz
Amazing off-piste line. From the glacier to Cervinia town, enjoy this very long run for experienced riders.
Severe Freeride Skiing
- Distance
- 4.2 km
- Ascent
- 3 m
- Descent
- 837 m
Toula Glacier
A serious but truly exceptional, long and varied ski descent in breathtaking terrain.
Difficult Freeride Skiing
- Distance
- 3.6 km
- Ascent
- 0 m
- Descent
- 1.2 km
Metzen East Face
The Big Mountain Contest face and THE extreme line in Hochfügen
Extreme Freeride Skiing
- Distance
- 1.5 km
- Ascent
- 86 m
- Descent
- 395 m
Vallons de la Meije Classic
The La Grave mega-classic
Difficult Freeride Skiing
- Distance
- 5.5 km
- Ascent
- 4 m
- Descent
- 1.6 km
Vesses couloirs from Arp
A great run from an amazing summit. There's potential for plenty of powder on varied terrain but snowboarders should be prepared for a walk at the end.
Difficult Freeride Skiing
- Distance
- 6.5 km
- Ascent
- 53 m
- Descent
- 1.3 km
Small Gilfert Southeast
Long joyful route in a big area without any lifts and a kind of Alaska feeling.
Difficult Freeride Skiing
- Distance
- 4.8 km
- Ascent
- 51 m
- Descent
- 859 m
Vallee Blanche
Perhaps the most famous ski descent in the world? Technically moderate but very serious skiing in an absolutely breathtaking setting.
Moderate Freeride Skiing
- Distance
- 14 km
- Ascent
- 11 m
- Descent
- 2 km
Cosmiques Couloir
This is a classic extreme skiing line, not only in Chamonix, but across the Alps. 900 meters of sustained and serious terrain between 40-50 degrees; enough to get anyones heart pumping.
Extreme Freeride Skiing
- Distance
- 6.4 km
- Ascent
- 253 m
- Descent
- 1.6 km
Niederer Sud
A stunning run with one of the best hike:fun ratios of any freeride line in Austria.
Difficult Freeride Skiing
- Distance
- 4.4 km
- Ascent
- 62 m
- Descent
- 960 m
Brêche Puiseux
The classic ski-mountaineering trip of the area, taking in some mind-blowing scenery.
Difficult Ski Touring
- Distance
- 19 km
- Ascent
- 1.1 km
- Descent
- 3.1 km
Mont Buet North Face
A beautiful and classic steep face with a hazardous entrance
Severe Ski Touring
- Distance
- 5.2 km
- Ascent
- 22 m
- Descent
- 1.6 km
Col de Beugeant
One of the classic tours of the Agiuille Rouge with a short section of exposed climbing
Difficult Ski Touring
- Distance
- 3.8 km
- Ascent
- 495 m
- Descent
- 1 km
Stempeljoch
A truly wild tour through a series of stunning valleys.
Difficult Ski Touring
- Distance
- 14 km
- Ascent
- 977 m
- Descent
- 2.5 km
Kalkogel Loop
An awe inspiring journey around the Kalkogel range, home to some of Tirol's most dramatic peaks.
Difficult Ski Touring
- Distance
- 19 km
- Ascent
- 1.4 km
- Descent
- 2.7 km
Roßkogel Nordrinne
A classic steep couloir which has the added draw of being visible from Innsbruck city centre!
Severe Ski Touring
- Distance
- 9.5 km
- Ascent
- 770 m
- Descent
- 1.3 km
Nockspitze North-east Face
An exciting ski line which is visible from virtually all of Innsbruck city centre.
Severe Ski Touring
- Distance
- 3 km
- Ascent
- 444 m
- Descent
- 689 m
Allalinhorn, 4027m
One of the easier 4000m peaks in the Alps
Moderate Ski Touring
- Distance
- 4.4 km
- Ascent
- 649 m
- Descent
- 579 m
Store Jaegervasstinden
A long and wild journey in a stunning part of the Lyngen Peninsula.
Difficult Ski Touring
- Distance
- 15 km
- Ascent
- 1.6 km
- Descent
- 1.6 km
Ellendaltinden West Couloir
A truly brilliant line with perfect pedal-to-the-metal terrain.
Severe Ski Touring
- Distance
- 12 km
- Ascent
- 1.3 km
- Descent
- 1.3 km
Tromsdalstinden
A brilliant peak which dominates the view from the area to the south of it.
Difficult Ski Touring
- Distance
- 10 km
- Ascent
- 1.2 km
- Descent
- 1.2 km
Mont Blanc North Face
A satisfyingly long descent from the Alps' highest summit.
Difficult Ski Touring
- Distance
- 22 km
- Ascent
- 2.9 km
- Descent
- 2.9 km
Trou de la Mouche - Grand Crêt to Paccaly Traverse
An accessible but highly rewarding Aravis classic
Difficult Ski Touring
- Distance
- 7.1 km
- Ascent
- 1.1 km
- Descent
- 1.1 km
Trappier Couloir
A large and very attractive couloir in plain view from Chamonix
Severe Ski Touring
- Distance
- 10 km
- Ascent
- 1.4 km
- Descent
- 2.1 km
Stanica Lanovky East Couloir
A brilliant and atmospheric line through some big mountain terrain.
Difficult Freeride Skiing
- Distance
- 1.3 km
- Ascent
- 18 m
- Descent
- 418 m
Tête de la Sallaz - Couloir de la Salletaz
An easy ski tour to a perfectly positioned peak, followed by a steep and exciting descent. Ski touring doesn't get much better!
Difficult Ski Touring
- Distance
- 5 km
- Ascent
- 468 m
- Descent
- 741 m
Mont de Grange, Petit Pertuis Couloir
An excellent couloir on a prominent and quiet peak - what more can you ask for?!?!
Severe Ski Touring
- Distance
- 5.3 km
- Ascent
- 870 m
- Descent
- 870 m
Monts Jovet West Couloir
A truly brilliant ski descent which you are unlikely to share.
Severe Ski Touring
- Distance
- 8.8 km
- Ascent
- 705 m
- Descent
- 1.2 km
Mont Fourchon
A low stress tour which can, conditions allowing, be possible anytime between November and June.
Moderate Ski Touring
- Distance
- 7.3 km
- Ascent
- 681 m
- Descent
- 681 m
Pointe de L'Ifala North-west Couloir
Just when you think ski season is over, and summer is here, you find a line like this!
Severe Ski Touring
- Distance
- 7.7 km
- Ascent
- 899 m
- Descent
- 899 m
Punta Croce
A remote-feeling peak which provides huge views across Mont Blanc's South face and some fantastic tree skiing.
Moderate Ski Touring
- Distance
- 9.2 km
- Ascent
- 826 m
- Descent
- 825 m
Thaneller North Face
A fantastic route to an amazing summit with a bit of everything; a bowl, couloir, face and even some trees.
Severe Ski Touring
- Distance
- 8.5 km
- Ascent
- 1.3 km
- Descent
- 1.3 km
Kaldbakur
A staggeringly beautiful ski tour which also serves up some exciting, fast skiing.
Difficult Ski Touring
- Distance
- 9.7 km
- Ascent
- 1.2 km
- Descent
- 1.2 km
Couloir Pissoir
A big adventure through some huge terrain
Severe Ski Touring
- Distance
- 11 km
- Ascent
- 1.1 km
- Descent
- 2 km
Kleivdalsfjellet South Face
A fun little tour which involves 2 excellent descents and some truly staggering views.
Difficult Ski Touring
- Distance
- 6.4 km
- Ascent
- 334 m
- Descent
- 965 m
Serles North Couloir
An aesthetic, atmospheric and exciting line off Innsbruck's most famous peak.
Severe Ski Touring
- Distance
- 6.9 km
- Ascent
- 1 km
- Descent
- 1 km
Gampenbahn Rinne
A brilliant couloir which is best skied in spring snow.
Severe Freeride Skiing
- Distance
- 2.4 km
- Ascent
- 2 m
- Descent
- 835 m
Hafelekarspitze South Couloir
A truly epic ski descent through some huge terrain.
Severe Freeride Skiing
- Distance
- 4 km
- Ascent
- 28 m
- Descent
- 1.4 km
Sommet du Grand Vallon North Couloir
A classic ski couloir in a wild valley
Severe Ski Touring
- Distance
- 8 km
- Ascent
- 856 m
- Descent
- 856 m
Schafseintenspitze North Face
A stunning tour and a fabulous ski descent through some of the finest terrain in Tirol.
Severe Ski Touring
- Distance
- 9.7 km
- Ascent
- 1.3 km
- Descent
- 1.3 km
Cerbului Valley
A fun adventure across the Bucegi Plateau and down a spectacular valley
Difficult Ski Touring
- Distance
- 16 km
- Ascent
- 521 m
- Descent
- 1.8 km
Popova Sapka Backcountry
A beautiful tour through some immaculate ski terrain
Difficult Ski Touring
- Distance
- 12 km
- Ascent
- 835 m
- Descent
- 1.5 km
Val Setus - A Classic Dolomites Couloir
A Stunning Journey Across the Sella Massif Followed By An Aesthetic Steep Descent
Severe Ski Touring
- Distance
- 7.7 km
- Ascent
- 425 m
- Descent
- 1.4 km
Bystre Sedlo
The Tatras are something of a hidden gem, and this classic route is a good example of why they should be better known!
Difficult Ski Touring
- Distance
- 8.6 km
- Ascent
- 703 m
- Descent
- 1.1 km
Pockkogel
Lift access helps to make this a short tour with big rewards
Difficult Ski Touring
- Distance
- 7.6 km
- Ascent
- 563 m
- Descent
- 1.3 km
Hohe Mut West Couloir
An easily accessible hidden gem!
Difficult Freeride Skiing
- Distance
- 1.4 km
- Ascent
- 31 m
- Descent
- 429 m
Zendleser Kofel
A classic easy ski tour which has fabulous views
Moderate Ski Touring
- Distance
- 7.8 km
- Ascent
- 742 m
- Descent
- 742 m
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