A real back county adventure, a long morning trip or a relaxed day trip, this route takes you into the natural beauty and wild of Pila,

Statistics

0 - 1

hrs

4

m

296

m

37

max°

Difficulty

FATMAP difficulty grade

Difficult

Description

This route is for the dedicated freeriders.

For those that believe you have to earn your descent with a long hike.

This route requires skins, and perhaps just as a precaution, you can pack a 30/40m climbing rope with your harness and crampons too.

This route is a relatively popular ski mountaineering route and is marked on the map as such.

The route down is fun and tranquil.

The start point can be a little annoying to get to.

I recommend getting first lifts up to Leisse chair.

When you disembark, get off to the left.

Then you will see the red run 9.

Follow this run always remaining right.

Take the right turn and follow the bend.

You will see the Couis 1 chair lift on your left and an open expance of land on your right.

This is the spot where you could start the walk or you can head up Couis 1 chair, ski down black 27 to the bottom and walk from there.

Perhaps the first option of taking red 9 from Leisse is less "Faffing around".

Now it's time to skin up and getting the hiking poles out! The walk is simple enough, you can be guided by the natural curves of the mountain.

You will see a natural valley appear that bends to lookers right, gradually taking you up and around to the Col Tsa Seche ridge.

This area is avalanche prone so be wary and smart about your surrounding.

I recommend this route a few days after a big snowfall.

You want the ground to be a little more packed for ease on your hike up.

For additional markers look to your right and see a sharp looking ridge that hides black 27 and to your far left you will see the Pointe Valletta peak.

The top section is a more technical climb and depending on the conditions may call for crampons.

This would perhaps be the section where you would benefit from the use of the harness and rope.

However, the view will be well worth the trip.

This climb may take up to 3/4 hours depending on your speed.

Then for the descent, simply follow your climbing line.

The ski down should be fun but pretty relaxed and you can pick your features on the way up.

You can follow it until you rejoin with Black 27.