A scenic tour which comes into condition quickly and therefore makes for a good early season objective.
The Ski Touring Hidden Gems of the Haute Savoie
The Haute Savoie is home to some of the best (and best known) ski areas in the World, but there are still some lesser known gems out there...
Images
![IMG_1113.jpg](https://fatmap-digitiser-assets.imgix.net/ed08bd48-8e22-4394-8671-5042feb668ec?w=328&h=250&fit=crop")
First turns in the lower section of the line.
Licence Free
![IMG_20150327_133447.jpg](https://fatmap-digitiser-assets.imgix.net/e7eabed1-7388-4735-94a7-5f4514621e85?w=328&h=250&fit=crop")
Opening it up on the lower section.
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![DSC08117.jpg](https://fatmap-digitiser-assets.imgix.net/04573e5c-2457-47e7-8340-0d8da576bb3d?w=328&h=250&fit=crop")
Looking into the line from the top.
Licence Free
![Screen Shot 2019-01-04 at 19.12.42.png](https://fatmap-digitiser-assets.imgix.net/f814ef0f-3477-4216-be05-45dad5c8bfeb?w=328&h=250&fit=crop")
Confins with the Grand Cret behind
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![Screen Shot 2019-01-04 at 19.13.13.png](https://fatmap-digitiser-assets.imgix.net/bbcf9ed6-43f9-437e-86dc-3801dd2d67a6?w=328&h=250&fit=crop")
Descending the steeper slopes in Paccaly
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![Screen Shot 2019-01-04 at 19.13.32.png](https://fatmap-digitiser-assets.imgix.net/0e8519a8-4779-49aa-be5a-ec5411b12ed3?w=328&h=250&fit=crop")
Careful descending required
Licence Free
![Screen Shot 2019-01-04 at 19.15.15.png](https://fatmap-digitiser-assets.imgix.net/00fc41b1-e3a7-4fba-92b3-c6293e4361c8?w=328&h=250&fit=crop")
Heroic pose at the bottom of the Grand Cret
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![Screen Shot 2019-01-04 at 19.14.34.png](https://fatmap-digitiser-assets.imgix.net/de486942-2b3e-480f-860d-97affdb76f11?w=328&h=250&fit=crop")
Steep approach to the Trou with Grand Cret behind
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![Screen Shot 2019-01-04 at 19.14.43.png](https://fatmap-digitiser-assets.imgix.net/c8bada84-7189-4970-a6e8-01b34f172896?w=328&h=250&fit=crop")
Looking through the Trou into the Combe of Paccaly
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![Screen Shot 2019-01-04 at 19.12.55.png](https://fatmap-digitiser-assets.imgix.net/085d2285-af31-486f-8903-4b26d54d46b8?w=328&h=250&fit=crop")
Finding the line in Paccaly
Licence Free
![Screen Shot 2019-01-04 at 19.13.22.png](https://fatmap-digitiser-assets.imgix.net/706cf6c8-c0ed-4292-9e1f-d5e88b476c3a?w=328&h=250&fit=crop")
Steep at the top of Paccaly
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![Screen Shot 2019-01-04 at 19.15.02.png](https://fatmap-digitiser-assets.imgix.net/770bad14-b7ca-41a2-a60a-f496ba52ed83?w=328&h=250&fit=crop")
The infamous Trou
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![DSC04534.JPG](https://fatmap-digitiser-assets.imgix.net/7d4ce1b7-3386-400f-b2b1-11ce290723d1?w=328&h=250&fit=crop")
Arriving on the summit with Mont Blanc dominating the view behind.
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![DSC04546.JPG](https://fatmap-digitiser-assets.imgix.net/cd316e7c-3699-446a-bd54-6ceaf39cdddc?w=328&h=250&fit=crop")
Epic views from the summit, with the peaks of the Chablais on the left, the Portes du Soleil in the middle and Mont Blanc reigning supreme on the right.
Licence Free
![DSC04566.JPG](https://fatmap-digitiser-assets.imgix.net/49586ce7-ecb7-448b-b9b6-0ceb03741e83?w=328&h=250&fit=crop")
Beautiful powder on the upper section of the descent, with Romme village visible below.
Licence Free
![20131126_133104.jpg](https://fatmap-digitiser-assets.imgix.net/07dc7cb3-a206-476e-a1b1-1cb7ef04032a?w=328&h=250&fit=crop")
Savouring the prospect of a great descent.
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![20131126_131420.jpg](https://fatmap-digitiser-assets.imgix.net/167f525a-0900-4177-966d-2277c29fa0ba?w=328&h=250&fit=crop")
The traverse into the face from the summit.
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![20131126_140653.jpg](https://fatmap-digitiser-assets.imgix.net/47558dab-232b-43a2-9f17-d15dde035f69?w=328&h=250&fit=crop")
Looking up at the face from the parking area.
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![20131126_123558.jpg](https://fatmap-digitiser-assets.imgix.net/4075f736-0aa8-403f-a39c-c5d2ccb3cc24?w=328&h=250&fit=crop")
Soaking in the view from the summit.
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![20131126_131711.jpg](https://fatmap-digitiser-assets.imgix.net/a9d1581e-dc20-4d92-ae30-5398e22e84e2?w=328&h=250&fit=crop")
Dropping!
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![IMGP0859.JPG](https://fatmap-digitiser-assets.imgix.net/aea933eb-e400-4377-b623-b6b48cf165ee?w=328&h=250&fit=crop")
You really do ski straight off the summit!
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![IMGP0853.JPG](https://fatmap-digitiser-assets.imgix.net/883f8f98-ef66-4342-b551-120c9f40463a?w=328&h=250&fit=crop")
Looking up at the summit from the west ridge. The Petit Pertuis is the line directly down from the little col right of the summit.
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![IMGP0851.JPG](https://fatmap-digitiser-assets.imgix.net/d7c6a4ae-b675-4a58-a1fb-65131faf12bd?w=328&h=250&fit=crop")
Earning the turns, with a great view across the Portes du Soleil.
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![004.JPG](https://fatmap-digitiser-assets.imgix.net/a58c92f6-288b-46d0-bcb4-d34dd9dcee31?w=328&h=250&fit=crop")
Soaking in the spring sun on the way up.
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![IMGP0865.JPG](https://fatmap-digitiser-assets.imgix.net/2658ec06-311d-4254-a54a-23ce2aa441f9?w=328&h=250&fit=crop")
Excellent conditions in the upper section of the descent.
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![IMGP0868.JPG](https://fatmap-digitiser-assets.imgix.net/41979afb-3434-4e21-a7da-38111adf9145?w=328&h=250&fit=crop")
Mellow skiing in the bowl below the couloir proper.
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![012.JPG](https://fatmap-digitiser-assets.imgix.net/c4070124-f1f1-4938-bd57-8af191886448?w=328&h=250&fit=crop")
A final pause at the Chalets de Pertuis before heading back into the ski area.
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![P1050562.jpeg](https://fatmap-digitiser-assets.imgix.net/29b040d8-1b1f-478c-8387-2ce015b4be9d?w=328&h=250&fit=crop")
Great snow in atmospheric surrounding midway down the line.
Licence Free
![P1050579.jpeg](https://fatmap-digitiser-assets.imgix.net/e16b86f4-628e-4947-9d67-fb3ca7d8fede?w=328&h=250&fit=crop")
Beginning to open it up on the lower section.
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![P1050592.jpeg](https://fatmap-digitiser-assets.imgix.net/7ccd1d63-1988-4b58-be9d-5893aacccb82?w=328&h=250&fit=crop")
Mellow powder towards the bottom.
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![P1050536.jpeg](https://fatmap-digitiser-assets.imgix.net/69c2abbe-b4bf-4828-b5b4-ac0b422d3168?w=328&h=250&fit=crop")
Edging into the start of the couloir itself.
Licence Free
![P1050541.jpeg](https://fatmap-digitiser-assets.imgix.net/ca58261d-419f-4e41-ba80-46fbed8104a4?w=328&h=250&fit=crop")
Steep and exciting turns in great snow at the top of the couloir.
Licence Free
![DSC00639.JPG](https://fatmap-digitiser-assets.imgix.net/6659abd1-a032-422a-a722-2db420dc3565?w=328&h=250&fit=crop")
Summit!
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![DSC01338.JPG](https://fatmap-digitiser-assets.imgix.net/9344a521-6e48-45a1-af70-9954c0b55b03?w=328&h=250&fit=crop")
Climbing up to the Col des Autannes.
![DSC01351.JPG](https://fatmap-digitiser-assets.imgix.net/ae5990bf-0061-44cd-b8aa-ee1be56936e2?w=328&h=250&fit=crop")
Great snow in the middle part of the couloir.
![DSC01343.JPG](https://fatmap-digitiser-assets.imgix.net/76a44c81-6362-43cc-9e3a-05eec413b935?w=328&h=250&fit=crop")
Looking back across the Glacier des Grands from the top of the couloir.
![DSC01345.JPG](https://fatmap-digitiser-assets.imgix.net/89abc7e3-2af1-4a21-936f-8921eaa6a5bc?w=328&h=250&fit=crop")
Peering into the line.
![DSC01364.JPG](https://fatmap-digitiser-assets.imgix.net/550a0ed1-df36-4428-9c5d-e459ac097ee3?w=328&h=250&fit=crop")
Incredible skiing and fantastic ambience below the Trient Glacier.
Description
Given that it is home to the highest mountain in the Alps, a vast array of lifts and mountain huts and some charming alpine villages, the Haute Savoie is an understandably popular destination for skiers. The price paid for so much accessible and high quality skiing is that routes can often be busy, and finding solitude is not always straightforward.
That's where these routes come in; they are easy to find and nestled in amongst much better known neighbours. There's no guarantee that they'll be empty, but they should at least provide slightly more peace and serenity than the more famous lines of the Haute Savoie. They also offer exceptional skiing and fabulous high mountain views.
There are 7 lines in this guidebook so particularly motivated ski mountaineers might aim to do them all in a week!
Adventures
An accessible but highly rewarding Aravis classic
An excellent couloir on a prominent and quiet peak - what more can you ask for?!?!
An easy ski tour to a perfectly positioned peak, followed by a steep and exciting descent. Ski touring doesn't get much better!
A truly brilliant ski descent which you are unlikely to share.
A brilliant freeride line with some steep-ish, technical skiing followed by a wide open, rippable slope.
A big adventure through some huge terrain