Les Deux Alpes, France: April 2, 2025

ChrisC

Well-known member
Again, numerous Les Deux Alpes lodging deals were available for one night, including half-board (breakfast and dinner) and free parking, for 100-130 Euros. I stayed at Le Chamois lodge within a 5-minute walk to either the new Jandri S3 Gondola or the Diable lift.

Les Deux Alpes Piste Map
  • 2000m vertical to the resort (6000 ft)
  • 2300m vertical to the lowest point (7000 ft)
Link to piste maps and descriptions of all the various sectors: LINK

Les Deux Alpes extends on a narrow East-West axis with most lifts facing due north. (A bit like Aspen Highlands) This makes it difficult to ski the full vertical, but results in great snow conditions, as the mountain is glaciated, most sectors are north-facing, and it boasts the highest lift-served piste skiing in France (only the off-piste Aguille du Midi top station is higher). This setup used to annoy me, but once you leave the resort and head up the mountain, the skiing drastically improves. Experts and Beginners/Low Intermediates are well-served, but there is not much skiing for Intermediate skiers (red pistes).

Additionally, the Lift Company of Aeon, which operates Alpe d'Huez, Les Deux Alpes, and La Grave, has made significant investments in lift infrastructure recently. Every lift out of the base areas in both areas is a new S3 Gondola, Chondola, or covered 8/6-pack with heated seats, and similar lifts at higher elevations. It's on par with any of the resorts in Austria. There is a plan to connect Alpe d'Huez to Les Deux Alpes and create a massive complex similar to Paradiski (Les Acs-La Plagne), and it would likely be in the Top 10 Largest European Resorts.
2Alpes.jpg



Again, the Southern Alps resorts of Les Deux Alpes and Alpe d'Huez have some of the highest base and summit elevations in France, offering great late-season skiing. Many don't realize this.

1749472880571.png


Les 2 Alpes Map from Trailforks (LINK) with selected. Essentially, they are now the best for topo maps with pistes layered (yellow denotes off-piste itineraries) - downhill skiing selected. Up is north.

1749471148007.png



Les Deux Alpes is also linked to La Grave at the summit. You can easily hire a guide to spend the day skiing the freeride paradise of La Grave if you're skiing with resort-oriented skiers or friends who prefer to spend the day on the pistes of Les Deux Alpes. If the link is closed (which is often the case), La Grave is only a quick 25-30 minute drive away.


It snowed about 4-8 Inches overnight with greater accumulations up high, especially in wind-loaded areas.

Here are the slopes immediately above the resort of Les Deux Alpes (1650m). This is just below the current natural snowline of 1800-1900m for early April, so you can see the upper village slopes are well-covered, but narrow to snowmaking paths for the last one-third. In prior mid-winter visits in January and February (2006 and 2023), this area can ski well, especially if the upper mountain lifts are closed due to heavy snow or wind. Les Deux Alpes, France - 2/2006

Note: Many evergreens were planted on the steeper village slopes, especially around dainages. Additionally, numerous avalanche barriers have been erected. For me, this somewhat ruins the alpine aesthetic, but allows for safe powder skiing on storm days. It is even more out of place when you consider the Larch tree is common on lower slopes in this region (i.e., La Grave, Serre Chevalier, Via Lattea areas).
IMG_5077.JPEG


Piste map of this zone. Note: All black terrain with only narrow catwalks for beginners/intermediates. It might be prudent to download for some skiers.
1749474788137.png



Super Diable Lift - upper mountain. Lots of untouched powder on the pistes.
IMG_5082.JPEG
IMG_5084.JPEG


Looking south to Encrins National Park (mountains). There are numerous avalanche barriers on the Village Slopes. To me, they somewhat ruin the aesthetic, but can be fun to ski around.
IMG_5086.JPEG


Riding the New Winter 24/25 S3 Gondola (30+ passenger cabins). To the right is the Bellecombe sector - lots of nice, steep freeride terrain. Left - Fee Sector summit.
Stom is starting to break up a bit.
IMG_5088.JPEG


Some of the Couloirs I skied in 2006.
IMG_5092.JPEG


Bellecombe Sector Overview. The Grand Couloir/Bellecombe 5 is pisted but ungroomed in the middle, with easy access to couloirs and bowls to the left and right.
Grand Couloir Freeride zone LINK
IMG_5093.JPEG
IMG_5097.JPEG


Lots of easy access powder in the Bellecombe Sector with more moderate pitches. Les Deux Alpes reveals its freeride areas a lot easier than Alpes d'Huez.
IMG_5101.JPEG


Lots of easy access powder in Bellecombe. The backside/southside of the Fee Sector in the background.
IMG_5103.JPEG


Lots of Couloirs and Open areas to skier's left of the chairlift.
IMG_5111.JPEG


These are all avalanche-controlled due to pistes directly below. One can see avalanche mitigation equipment.
IMG_5114.JPEG
IMG_5115.JPEG


Skier's right/Looker's left had a lot of nice routes as well.
IMG_5116.JPEG

IMG_5155.JPEG


Gate to Bellecombe off-piste/freeride.
IMG_5119.JPEG
IMG_5129.JPEG
IMG_5137.JPEG
IMG_5143.JPEG


View back to Bellecombe. Note: couloirs/chutes in the center and the open bowl Las Rachas (LINK) above them, sloping diagonally to the right.
IMG_5170.JPEG

IMG_5178.JPEG



After spending almost 1.5 to 2 hours in Bellecombe, I moved on. You can rack up the vertical by lapping this high-speed lift with easily accessible powder.
Taking the backside lift to the La Fée Sector. Great snow everywhere!
IMG_5173.JPEG


Le Fée summit (approximately 2,800 meters). Bellecombe in the background.
IMG_5187.JPEG


Again, lots of obvious and easily accessible off-piste in the La Fee sector. It's a little more mellow - fewer coulois and cliffs, and more open slopes. Lots of unskied terrain still. Spent time lapping Fee #2, 4, 5, and Pierre Grosse #2 and 4.

1749477466485.png

IMG_5189.JPEG


Fee #5
IMG_5196.JPEG


Fee #3 and Pierre Gross #2 and 4.
IMG_5216.JPEG
IMG_5219.JPEG
IMG_5225.JPEG


Continued.
 
At around noon, it was time to move to the Pierre Gross sector. This area is a typical example of why skiing the Alps is preferable to skiing in North America. A new 8-passenger gondola (2019/20) offers plenty of off-piste powder skiing with minimal crowds, and it rarely gets skied out.

This area is equivalent to Jackson Hole's famed Hobacks. However, the Hobacks face east-southeast, its snow deteriorates quickly starting in February, has one-hour tram lines on a powder day, is difficult to lap, and gets skied out by noon, not to mention a $230/ day lift ticket.

At Les Deux Alpes, I arrive at a similar location to Hobacks (or Snowbird) at noon, with plenty of powder, no crowds, and no powder panic. It's north-facing, offering outstanding snow preservation in April due to its altitude and exposure. The cost is approximately $65 USD per day.

Pierre Gross Gondola and the Chalance off-piste zone/itinerary below it.
IMG_5199.JPEG
IMG_5204.JPEG
IMG_5248.JPEG


I count about 15 tracks so far. Lots of room to ski, about 8-10" of new snow. Definitely worth two laps.
IMG_5254.JPEG
IMG_5269.JPEG
IMG_5272.JPEG
IMG_5276.JPEG


Entrance to Pierre Gross #3 off-piste zone that starts under the upper Jandri Gondola and loops around.
IMG_5286.JPEG
IMG_5317.JPEG


There was another Couloir between Pierre Gross Gondola and Pierre Goss#3 called the Electric Couloir. This was more serious terrain, so I never pulled out my camera. LINK


After four laps in Pierre Gross, I moved onto the summit glacier - Glacier de Mantel. Les 2 Alpes was even running the highest surface lift, Lauze, to 3600m. I took one run, but unfortunately, clouds started moving in, and I didn't get many photos.

1749479326740.png


Puy Salie lower glacier twin T-Bars. I should have taken the underground funicular.
IMG_5260.JPEG
IMG_5290.JPEG


Upper La Lauze surface lift to the highest point - Dome de la Lauze 3600 m / 11,800 ft. You can easily cross over to La Grave from this lift in 5 minutes.
IMG_5291.jpg
IMG_5293.jpg


Unfortunately, I lost the sun during the late afternoon. Hopefully, it means the formation of a Retour d'Est storm for areas like Le Chevalier, Montgenevre, Via Lattea, and the Aosta Valley.
IMG_5296.jpg


La Lauze piste
IMG_5297.jpg



What it looks like on a clear day - resort photo:
1749480046307.png



After the glacier, I skied the Signal Zone for a couple of runs. You could ski anywhere in this area immediately below the glacier.
Signal 2 Off-piste itinerary.
IMG_5306.jpg

IMG_5298.JPEG



Finally, there was enough time to ski the popular Toura Zone. It has a large Park, some mogul runs, nice intermediate pistes, and a big restaurant - all served by an HS 8-pack lift. Only had time to take a photo of the Euro sign of Les Deux Alpes.

1749480615171.png


IMG_5324.JPEG


After a run or two, it was time to return to the base. Took the lift up the backside of La Fee to ski Thuit #5 off-piste to the west, which ends in a nice couloir at the base of the Thuit chair.
IMG_5327.JPEG
IMG_5329.JPEG





Continued.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_5315.JPEG
    IMG_5315.JPEG
    231.4 KB · Views: 1
  • IMG_5290.jpg
    IMG_5290.jpg
    21.2 KB · Views: 1
Last edited:
While searching online for a hotel in Serre Chevalier and travel time estimates, I noticed that the Col du Lautaret pass would be closed to traffic starting at 5 pm on April 1st due to the storm, which would prevent driving to Serre Chevalier. Additionally, some highly prone avalanche zones between Les 2 Alpes/Alpe d'Huez and La Grave have also closed the D1091 highway.

The next morning, D1091 was open to La Grave, but remained closed at the Col du Lautaret. I decided to check again at the end of the day before making reservations. My alternatives were: another day at Les 2 Alpes or La Grave. I likely would have chosen La Grave and stayed on the main itineraries that I am familiar with.

However, by the end of day April 2nd, D1091 was open to Serre Chevalier, so I made my hotel reservation and pushed onwards.

One can see the sheer cliffs on both sides of D1091, avalanche tunnels, and high mountain passes. It is best avoided during large storms since there will likely be closures.
 
Back
Top