Sun, Snow and Solitude : Ski Tour the Aravis

10 ski tours in the peaceful Aravis range which don't require any use of lifts and quickly take you away from the crowds.

Charlie Boscoe

Images

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Wide open terrain

by Jonny Baird IFMGA

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Cabane Du Petit Pâtre

by Jonny Baird IFMGA

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View to Mont Blanc Massif

by Jonny baird IFMGA

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Cabane Du Petit Patre

by Jonny Baird IFMGA

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Transition for another lap after descending from Col de la Toulle

by Jonny Baird IFMGA

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Enjoying the views from the Col de la Toulle

by Jonny Baird IFMGA

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Above the tree line on Montagne De Sulens

by Jonny Baird IFMGA

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Montagne de Sulens Summit

by Jonny Baird IFMGA

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Summit Ridge of Montagne de Sulens

by Jonny Baird IFMGA

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Open terrain on Montagne De Sulens

by Jonny Baird IFMGA

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Approaching the Col on Montagne De Sulens

by Jonny Baird IFMGA

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Savouring the prospect of a great descent.

by Charlie Boscoe

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The traverse into the face from the summit.

by Charlie Boscoe

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Looking up at the face from the parking area.

by Charlie Boscoe

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Soaking in the view from the summit.

by Charlie Boscoe

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Dropping!

by Charlie Boscoe

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The final ridge to the Aiguille Verte.

by Jonny Baird IFMGA

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Summit of the Aiguille Verte

by Jonny Baird IFMGA

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Approaching the col before the Aiguille Verte

by Jonny Baird IFMGA

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Final approach to the Aiguille Verte Summit

by Jonny Baird IFMGA

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South Side of Col de la Colombière

by Jonny Baird IFMGA

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Skiing down from Col de Balafrasse

by Jonny Baird IFMGA

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Col de Balafrasse

by Jonny Baird IFMGA

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Skiing one of the lines around Auferrand

by Jonny Baird IFMGA

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Skinning up the valley towards the Col de la Colombière.

by Jonny Baird IFMGA

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Approaching the closed café at Auferrand

by Jonny Baird IFMGA

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A great low viz option

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Heading up from Solaison

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Easy angle slopes

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Summit Fun

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Perfect powder on the middle section of the descent.

by Charlie Boscoe

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Great ambience and snow shortly after exiting the north face.

by Charlie Boscoe

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Enjoying the skin up.

by Charlie Boscoe

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The stunning final ridge which leads to the summit.

by Charlie Boscoe

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Description

Nestled between some of the best known destinations in Europe - Chamonix, Annecy, Albertville and Geneva - lies a mountain range which is, despite the proximity of those famous towns, wild and largely untouched. The Aravis mountains are not (by the standards of nearby Massifs) particularly high - the highest mountain in the range (Pointe Percée) is just over 2700 metres - but they are dramatic, aesthetic and full of exceptional ski tours.

There are some ski resorts in the Aravis such as the famous freeride mecca of La Clusaz - https://fatmap.com/guidebooks/7432/killer-freeride-lines-in-la-clusaz - but most of the range can only be skied by human power. The 10 tours listed in this guidebook are all car to car trips and require expenditure of energy rather than money! All of the tours feature wild scenery, peaceful mountains and epic ski terrain of all shapes and sizes.

If, after 10 days of touring without any lift assistance, you're keen for a little bit of an easier few days, check out our guidebook to the touring around Les Contamines, to the south-east of the Aravis. There are some excellent car to car tours above Les Contamines but there are also some brilliant trips which start with a lift bump, and provide some easy wins when your legs aren't up to a big mission!

https://fatmap.com/guidebooks/3847/the-finest-ski-tours-above-les-contamines

Adventures

Col de la Toulle

An excellent introduction to the stunning area around Mont Charvin.

Combe à Marion

An exciting ski tour in one of the wilder parts of the Aravis.

Aiguille Verte

A short fun classic of the Aravis that gives a good taste of the area.

Col de Balafrasse

A justifiably popular ski tour in amongst the big limestone cliffs of the Aravis.