A Verbier classic requiring some walking but without great commitment
A guidebook for powderhounds seeking the best lines in Switzerland’s freeriding capital.
Legendary Verbier is famed for its gorgeous scenery, Swiss efficiency, and an expansive amount of expert skiing and off-piste terrain. With over 120km of lift-served off-piste routes alone, there’s more than enough for any expert skier to get excited about.
According to ski legend Patrick Thorne in his book ‘Powder: The Greatest Ski Runs on the Planet’- “Verbier has certainly made its mark, with events such as the freeriding and speed-skiing world tours all ending up here each spring... For expert skiers, the options in Verbier are relatively limitless.’ This means that there are a fantastic amount of freeriding lines to try. We have compiled a long list to take you to all of the best spots. Perhaps start at the top, with Mont Fort Backside, heralded by locals and visitors alike as being THE must-do freeride line in the greatest Swiss ski area of them all.
Sources
Thorne, P. (2014) Powder- The Greatest Ski Runs on the Planet. (2014) London: Quercus Editions Ltd.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/ski/resort-guides/switzerland/verbier/
A Verbier classic requiring some walking but without great commitment
A straightforward scenic ski in the sun with a potential great lunch stop.
Great skiing through the "Moomin" forest
A steep and enjoyable South facing couloir
Some steeper options from the classic James Blunt
Steep north facing couloirs from Mont Gele towards the Lac des Vaux
The main north facing couloirs from the top of Mont Gele
Gnarly with a capital G. Perhaps second only to the Bec des Rosses for extreme lines.
A direct line following the pylons of the Savoleyres cable car
Slightly steeper but fun skiing in the sun from Savoleyres to Les Esserts
An excellent but very serious, steep and exposed couloir
A short climb gives access to a beautiful open bowl
Excellent steep couloir skiing above the Lac de Cleuson
A steeper line skiers left of the Tournelle
A marked itinerary towards the Cabane de Mont-Fort
A secret spot that's not so secret anymore but still a classic. One of the Attelas couloirs offering easily accessible adventure and steep skiing but not to be underestimated.
Easy access to a nice pitch of skiing
An introduction to the classic Attelas couloir skiing
An extremely serious, steep line straight from the top ridge of Mont-Fort.
A long run down to Le Chable through the forest and villages but needs good snow cover.
A steep N facing S shaped couloir
A direct line down the south face of Mont Gele
A variant down the Glacier du Petit Mont Fort away from the main Backside crowds for a bit longer
A nice run down the gentle slopes of the glacier to join the exit of the classic 'Backside'
A short cut through off-piste terrain
An alternative entrance to Ba Bowl with some walking.
The widest and least steep of the Attelas couloirs
A Verbier classic - great mellow skiing from the Col des Mines
The classic, most natural line from the summit of the Bec des Rosses
The most serious of the Attelas couloirs
An interesting line following the ridge line and trees to Tortin
The route up to the Bec des Rosses.
An easy descent to re-join the pistes of Verbier from the Col de la Chaux.
A short skin gives access to the Col Ferret and various routes which start here
A Verbier Mega-Classic that rewards those prepared to do a little boot packing
A long complex off-piste run with lots of terrain
A bit like Stairway without the bootpack
A long run down to Le Chable through the forest and villages, this route needs good snow cover.
The winning combination of a short ski skin up to a long run down a secluded open bowl
South Face of Mont Fort travelling past the legendary Bec des Rosses
A huge bowl at the perfect ski gradient
A narrow isolated couloir that gradually widens out in to the main Tortin valley
Yet another big Verbier line, with big exposure, often overlooked, not for the faint hearted.
The classic Attelas couloir - experts only
A classic bowl easily accessible from the Gentianes - La Chaux red piste.
The 'easiest' route down the legendary Bec des Rosses
Bruson Freeride comp area
Neat little tree run with plenty of mini jumps and cliffs
THE Verbier classic taking a journey a long way from the ski area. Serious skiing in a serious environment.
Another steep Mont-Gele classic couloir
An enjoyable line down the west facing couloir from the top of Mont Gele
The classic N facing couloir in the shape of its name
A wild and rarely frequented tour to Le Fou and down to join the bottom of the Hidden Valley
A steep Verbier classic couloir
A steep and serious couloir directly down the North Face of Le Fou
A steeper line skiers right of the Tournelle