Calling all advanced skiers! Calling all advanced snowboarders! Do you have what it takes to conquer Verbier’s Big 5?
1. The steepest
2. The longest
3. The biggest moguls
4. The best tree skiing
5. The best views
What is an ‘itinerary’
Marked “itinerary” runs are a phenomenon found in the Swiss Alps. These routes provide an excellent introduction to the world of off-piste skiing and allow skiers a great opportunity to develop skills in a relatively safe environment. Itineraries are officially designated off-piste routes, marked on the piste map as yellow lines, a single line of yellow poles in the snow marks the direction of an itinerary route. Itinerary routes are marked on the official piste maps, however they are not maintained, not controlled and intended for experienced users only. Although marked itinerary routes are avalanched controlled they should not be confused with marked pistes.
What is the ‘Big 5’ Challenge?
Having listened to the feedback from our clients over many years, we know there are a lot of good skiers out there. Most know Verbier well, having skied here over many years, and are advanced or expert skiers. So, in partnership with European Snowsport, we have developed the “Big 5 Challenge”, a special day out with an ES instructor who will guide you to the best unpisted runs, with the best snow. And we will give you a “Big 5 Challenge” trucker cap at the end of it, if you complete the challenge of course!
Your Ultimate Skiing Experience
1. Start with the itinerary that is the best kept secret in the 4 Valleys, through the trees in the morning on Les Otanes, on the Bruson side. If snow conditions permit, you can ski all the way down to Le Chable
2. From here, take the lifts back up on the Verbier side, past Lac de Vaux to the top of Tortin. This run is legendary for its steepness, length, and bumps! You can dive straight down or, depending on conditions, take the trail off to the side, to ski soft moguls that can get as big as cars, with famously good snow holding on the north facing slope.
3. The lifts will whisk you back up again to the top of Mt Gele (“Frozen Mountain”), where all of the ways down are steep and unpisted. Depending on conditions there are different options; all of them are steep, empty and wild.
4. Take the swooping run in to your next itinerary, Gentianes. Play in the natural half pipes and fabulous snow, heading down towards Siviez and the other valleys past Verbier.
5. 2 more lifts take you back up and then you will finish by heading down the narrow track, often with over a metre of snow piled on either side, that takes you into Vallon D’Arbi. This long, steep, wooded itinerary takes you into terrain many Verbier regulars have never seen, finishing in La Tsoumaz. Take the lift back out, then be last off the mountain on the long ski back to Verbier.
Date: Available all season long* (weather and snow conditions dependant)
Time: 09:00 – 16:00
Cost: 595 CHF – Invite friends and family to join at no extra cost (maximum of 6 skiers per instructor)
Worth it for a cap? Of course not, but this experience will stay with you for a lifetime… plus plenty of bragging rights to tell everyone once you get home. Have you got what it takes to tackle the freeride capital of Europe?
*Please note: The routes and itineraries chosen depend on mountain conditions, including avalanche risk and run closures, so some runs may be replaced with others on the day.
