Cabane du Berger

In 20cm or less of fresh snow or in spring snow, the Cabane du Berger is the place to head, especially if you’re just getting to grips with skiing off piste. The wide open bowl with its deep gulleys and rounded ridges is suitable for anyone who is confortable on all marked runs and provides a relatively relaxing respite from the steeper, more exposed lines in the surrounding area. While snowboarders, especially if you’re regular stance, may wish to climb the first bump of the Cucumelle ridge (10 minutes) to avoid the lengthy traverse, skiers can cut immediately under the Vallons chairlift and stay on the highest possible traverse for more or less as far as you can go. The whole slope is skiable but as it is straightforward route finding, heavily skied and more or less always in sight of the piste, it is not dealt with here. By traversing round as far as possible you eventually end up near an alpine cabin, in fact a shepherd’s hut (the French name of the run translates as shepherd’s cabin). The open and mostly gentle slopes are the highlight of this run, though the trees below can be very good on their day too. You will come out at the alpine village of Fréjus and reach a piste in the shape of the green run, Route de Fréjus. If you’re far enough to the right you can get back onto the Vallons chairlift for another run or stop off for a well earned drink at the Pi Mai restaurant.