+ 16
Creux de la Stetta
Backcountry Skiing Route
Details
2.66 mi
23 ft
Fun tree-skiing down to Le Raffort
Open, tree-lined skiing down to the mid-station of the Olympe bubble at Le Raffort. The lower half has lots of lumps and bumps to play around on, followed by either a ‘James Bond’ track or more or less fun bush-whacking before you hit the end of the piste down to the Raffort mid-station. The slopes here are mostly east-facing so it's worth getting on in the morning in fresh snow before the sun has a chance to make it heavy - once the entry is negotiated you can minimise avalanche hazard by staying skier’s left close in to the tighter trees.
From the Olympic Express chairlift head North along the left side of the main ridge on a gently descending traverse with a few short pitches to get the legs warmed up. Be aware that the slopes drop off very steeply on the right side of the ridge so give this some space!
The traverse brings you to an obvious dip/hollow in the ridge-top - the safest line stays left of this with a couple of minutes of side-stepping to go round behind the knoll at 2111m - it is possible to stay on the main ridge and traverse skier’s right of this but be aware that there is often a pocket of wind-slab in here after a snowfall if the wind has been blowing from anywhere in the west sector.
Drop on to the East / South-East slopes of the Creux de la Stetta and follow the line of the obvious clearing all the way down to 1600m - in the lower section generally bear right to stay in more open terrain. Follow the path and clearings down to the chalets at Les Granges, then follow the path down through the trees (options to head left or right too) which eventually drops you on to the piste just above Le Raffort. Written by Simon Christy
Open, tree-lined skiing down to the mid-station of the Olympe bubble at Le Raffort. The lower half has lots of lumps and bumps to play around on, followed by either a ‘James Bond’ track or more or less fun bush-whacking before you hit the end of the piste down to the Raffort mid-station. The slopes here are mostly east-facing so it's worth getting on in the morning in fresh snow before the sun has a chance to make it heavy - once the entry is negotiated you can minimise avalanche hazard by staying skier’s left close in to the tighter trees.
From the Olympic Express chairlift head North along the left side of the main ridge on a gently descending traverse with a few short pitches to get the legs warmed up. Be aware that the slopes drop off very steeply on the right side of the ridge so give this some space!
The traverse brings you to an obvious dip/hollow in the ridge-top - the safest line stays left of this with a couple of minutes of side-stepping to go round behind the knoll at 2111m - it is possible to stay on the main ridge and traverse skier’s right of this but be aware that there is often a pocket of wind-slab in here after a snowfall if the wind has been blowing from anywhere in the west sector.
Drop on to the East / South-East slopes of the Creux de la Stetta and follow the line of the obvious clearing all the way down to 1600m - in the lower section generally bear right to stay in more open terrain. Follow the path and clearings down to the chalets at Les Granges, then follow the path down through the trees (options to head left or right too) which eventually drops you on to the piste just above Le Raffort. Written by Simon Christy
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