Circuit Roc d'Enfer

Today Natalie and i finally got a chance to ski the Roc d'Enfer Circuit.  The Circuit starts at about 1750m and finishes at around 900m.  It's only the last kilometer of the Circuit that really suffers from a lack of snow but today, with a week's worth of continuous low-lying snowfall and bright sunshine, we figured it was our best chance to try it.  Happily it was Ouvert and we completed the 20 stunning kilometers of tree-lined pistes that make up the Circuit in just under an hour, stopping many times for photos.

Natalie and le Roc d'Enfer.  The astute reader will recognise this mountain as the very same that appears in the stunning sunset photos we took of it from the other side from Avoriaz.

The route consists of two very long pistes (at least 8km each) connected by a long chairlift from the Bellevaux ski area and a very steep drag-lift.  The great thing about the run is that it's totally isolated: you take one chair and one drag, and the rest of the time you're in a secluded, heavily treed valley with no sounds of metal grinding on steel cables to disturb the peace.

Natalie and the start of the Circuit Roc d'Enfer.

We shared the pistes with a grand total of about 15 other skiers which just adds to the tranquility of the area.  i was quite surprised,  this year, to find that the Roc d'Enfer now has it's own ski pass which is outside the Portes du Soleil.  i don't understand the politics, but surely it would be better for the tourist and attract more skiers, and therefore cash, to the area if it was all under one pass.

 

Natalie and the aforementioned tranquil valley that forms part of the Circuit Roc d'Enfer.

Even with the recent heavy snowfall, the last hundred meters of the Circuit was unskiable and sections of the piste lower down were a smidgen gravelly (i checked and there is such a word).

Ian and la Grande Terche.  Here wearing sunglasses in a desperate attempt to rid himself of an embarrassing ski tan.  He is not convinced that this is working.

After skiing the Roc, we played around in the Grande Terche back area itself where we managed to find a bit of soft powder in amongst the heavy crust that has now formed.