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Le Fornet Skiing Area
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Val d'Isere is one of the top ski resorts in the world providing over 150 kilometres of pistes and this, together with vast areas of accessible "off piste", makes it ideal for skiers and snowboarders of all abilities. Skiers seem to outnumber the snowboarders a little but there is a comfortable balance of both sports – each taking advantage of the different areas Val d’Isere has to offer (Le Fornet, Le Solaise and Bellevarde). |
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| Le Fornet Ski Area |
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Situated at the top end of town is Val d'Isere's best kept secret; Le Fornet has some easy long, open and often empty pistes and is guaranteed some good snow since it offers glacier skiing up to 3456m. The area offers 1500m of vertical descent along blue runs all the way from the top of the glacier to the bottom of the resort at 1930m.
Le Fornet also offers some of the most easily accessible and best off-piste in the Espace Killy, with runs like Point Pers and Col Pers offering nearly an hours off-piste skiing for less than a twenty minute walk. Off the side of the piste under the Cascades Chairlift there is a gentle wide open powder pitch that due to the altitude and quiet nature of Le Fornet stays fresh longer than most other areas in Val. Connections to this area are via the Fornet cable car from the Le Fornet village, or on the Leissières chairlift from the Solaise area. |
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last updated 22-Oct-2008 |
| Leisurely Runs in Le Fornet |
Take the Train Rouge out of Val d’Isere centre to Le Fornet and the Le Fornet cable car followed by the Vallon de l’Iseran to the base of the glacier.
From here you have a selection of blue runs in and around the Vallon bubble and back down to resort and the pistes should be very quiet. You can stop for lunch in Le Signal or l’Edelweiss (half way down the Mangard). In the afternoon, the best snow will always be higher up so head up the Cascade chairlift where there are more easy blues. From the top of the Cema chair, off the glacier, there is a long, gentle descent down Col, Vallon and Mangard to the Le Fornet village and if you are tired, there are two options to take a cable car down on this route!
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last updated 13-Feb-2008 |
| Intermediate Runs in Le Fornet |
Take the Train Rouge out of Val d’Isere centre to Le Fornet and the Le Fornet cable car followed by the Vallon de l’Iseran to the base of the glacier.
From here you can warm up on some blue runs in and around the Vallon bubble and back down to resort and the pistes should be very quiet. Have a shot at the Cognon - a red run which finishes at the Le Fornet cable car. You can stop for lunch in Le Signal or l’Edelweiss (half way down the Mangard). On the glacier in the afternoon, there are four red runs which are usually in fantastic condition. Roches, Géant, Moraine and Cascade can be skied over and over again! |
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last updated 13-Feb-2008 |
| Advanced Runs in Le Fornet |
Take the Train Rouge out of Val d’Isere centre to Le Fornet and the Le Fornet cable car followed by the Vallon de l’Iseran to the base of the glacier.
Advanced skiers will probably cover the Le Fornet area quite quickly although it is worth skiing every run for the excellent snow conditions. Try the Forêt, a black run through the trees down to the Le Fornet cable car and Signal, a steep red pitch at the top of the Signal drag lift. If you are skiing in a group, are confident, and carrying avalanche equipment, there is plenty of off-piste skiing just off the edges of the pistes in Le Fornet when the snow is good.
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last updated 13-Feb-2008 |
| Off Piste in Le Fornet |
The Shoulder of the Petit Signal
From the top of the Signal lift, go over the col and traverse immediately to the left. Go along the crestline and ski down to the foot of the rock tower at the top of Petit Signal. Traverse to the right of this block, and then ski down a few metres, across a cornice to a wide hilltop. From here, head to the top of the Fornet cable car which you can see easily.
The Great Pissaillas
This run is very close to the slopes and lifts and the snow conditions are good due to the altitude. From the top of the Cascade Express, ski down the Moraine run until you reach a long, level stretch. From here, you can leave the piste wherever you want. To avoid any danger, stay near the lift cables.
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last updated 15-Feb-2008 |
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