The Top 10 Ski Lines at the Legendary Helbronner

Known locally as the "Pleasure Dome", Helbronner is a truly wild place to ski, reserved for the most skilled and adventurous skiers out there.

Charlie Boscoe

Images

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Looking down from the ascent ridge to the Aiguille d'Entrêves below.

by Charlie Boscoe

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The summit Madonna enjoying her fantastic view over to the peaks of the Taléfre basin.

by Charlie Boscoe

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Traversing the Brenva is a good plan B if the exit couloir isn't in condition.

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Perfect powder on the awesome slopes of the Brenva.

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Aiguille de Toula e Aiguille d'Entrèves

by Francofranco56

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Cruising on the upper section

by Charlie Boscoe

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Sunset powder - one of the great skiing pleasures.

by Charlie Boscoe

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Low angled cruising in the middle section

by Charlie Boscoe

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Taking a break midway down

by Charlie Boscoe

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Beautiful afternoon light and cold, deep snow.

by Charlie Boscoe

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Excellent conditions on the middle of the face.

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After the rocky ridge, the skiing opens up nicely.

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Looking out towards the face during an evening recce from the Torino refuge.

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Shredding on the upper slopes.

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The secluded farm buildings of Rochefort.

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On the col from where the skiing begins.

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Scrambling up the mixed approach. Safer in winter than in summer...

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Skiing the upper section.

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Entering the lower couloir.

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Looking back up towards the line.

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Climbing the upper couloir.

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Dropping in from the col. Steep and technical at the top.

Description

Helbronner might just be the most adventurous freeride venue in the World - the terrain is huge and the area is bathed in sun all day long. This combination makes the skiing truly incredible, but also potentially dangerous because hot sun and 2000 vertical metres of 30 - 40 degree terrain is a scary combination. If you're going to ski here, pick your days and times carefully!

If the stars align and these lines are in good, safe condition, any of them will provide a truly unforgettable ski experience. You'll need luck, judgement, skill and experience to get any of these lines done, and you'd need to add patience to that list if you want to ski them all!

A good way to work through these would be to combine doing so with skiing the finest freeride lines in Chamonix. By doing this you can pick which side of the Mont Blanc Massif to ski on each day depending on conditions and weather. If you're wondering what the best lines in Chamonix are, here is your answer!

https://fatmap.com/guidebooks/223/the-ultimate-chamonix-freeride-ticklist/@45.9360408,6.9352985,20476.9280221,-33.0865850,142.8300179,2169.1923205,normal

Adventures

Col D'Entreves

A wild setting sets the tone for an incredible descent, steep and committing.

Aiguille D'Entreves

A short hike leads to this serious but incredible run. Steep up high and open in the lower it simply begs you open up full throttle.

Toula Glacier

A serious but truly exceptional, long and varied ski descent in breathtaking terrain.

Helbronner Cables

Easily accessible, very serious yet excellent steep skiing below the cables on the Helbronner front face.

Marbrées Direct

A steeper but more elegant variation to the classic Marbrée descent

Marbree Couloir

Probably the most spectacular descent on the Hellbronner, this line goes through some huge terrain and features steep freeriding.

Pavillon Woods

An excellent off piste run with a long season. Skiable with poor visibility too