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Chalance

Les Deux Alpes and La Grave

A great off-piste line down a wild bowl

Freeride Skiing Difficult

Distance
2 km
Ascent
2 m
Descent
782 m
Low Point
2.3 km
High Point
3.1 km
Gradient
39˚
Chalance Map

Chalance is a great line, in an obvious but wild bowl within the ski area. After a steep entry (be very wary of windslab here), the skiing is varied and interesting. Route-finding generally is relatively simple, but good micro-scale navigation is required to pick the best line through the rocky section near the start. From the the junction of the Glacier 1 and 5 pistes (or further up Glacier 5), traverse rightwards (north) across a shallow bowl towards a wide col, marked with a cairn. After crossing the col, a wide bowl between large rock faces will start to appear below you on the left - head down convex slopes towards the apex of the bowl. As it steepens, pick a careful line through the rocks until a slight easing, where an obvious snow slope leads rightwards above more rocks into the floor of the main bowl. Once here, cut back leftwards under the rocks to reach open snow slopes on the left-hand side of the bowl, avoiding further rocks in the valley bottom. Towards the bottom rejoin the floor of the valley and ski out to the Fée 1 piste.

Difficulty

Difficult

Serious gradient of 30-38 degrees where a real risk of slipping exists.

Medium Exposure (E2)

2 out of 4

As well as the slope itself, there are some obstacles (such as rock outcrops) which could aggravate injury.

Remoteness

2 out of 4

Away from help but easily accessed.

Best time to visit

between January and April

Features

  • Bowl
  • Cliffs

Similar routes nearby

Guidebooks in this area