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Verbier & the 4 Valleys Leisurely Runs
| Leisurely Runs in in Verbier & the 4 Valleys |
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Boasting three nursery slopes/beginner areas in the resort itself (see Beginner Ski Areas in Verbier), the Verbier ski area also offers great beginner terrain up at La Chaux, now accessible directly from Médran thanks to the recently built La Chaux Express Combi-Mix lift. Also serviced by a 4-man chair, this sun drenched area is a great place to practice & progress as there are nice, easy runs which tend to soften up in the afternoon given its south facing orientation. |
| Leisurely Runs in Verbier |
Other than the nursery slopes/beginner areas which are in the resort itself (see Beginner Ski Areas in Verbier), there are 4 marked blue runs awaiting beginners and low-intermediate skiers and snowboarders. From top to bottom, these are:
Lac des Vaux 1 : From the top of the Lac des Vaux quad chair, exit left and follow the slope until an intersection where you can choose to go left (Lac des Vaux direction) or right (Ruinettes direction). Take a left and continue in that direction until another intersection, where you can either go straight or slightly right. Either way you choose, the slope eventually makes a final left turn and follows the Lac des Vaux triple chair line to the bottom of both Lac des Vaux lifts.
La Chaux 1 : From the top of the La Chaux Express, head towards the area of Les Fontaneys. From there, continue across the top of the bowl, traversing the whole thing along the flat road until you pop over back on the La Chaux side of the ridge. This run, also marked as ‘Grenier’ on the piste map, will eventually take you back to the bottom of the La Chaux Express lift, via the tail end of the snow park. Because it is slightly more out of the way, it isn’t rare to have parts of this slope entirely to yourself.
La Chaux 2 : From the top of the La Chaux quad chair, exit right and take the piste directly to the right. This run winds its way down for the most part on the skier’s left or directly below the lift line, eventually ending up at the bottom of the lift. Some sections are marginally steeper in places but overall, the descent is quite mellow; perfect for learning!
Médran 1 : Starting at the Ruinettes, this run is an endless cat road which switchbacks its way down a number of times all while crossing numerous red runs along the way, until it reaches the Médran lift station in town. It is also possible to take the run from the top of the Mayentzet double chair, from which it is a much shorter journey down. |
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last updated 26-Feb-2008 |
| Beginner Ski Areas in Verbier |
There are three nursery slopes/beginner areas in the resort itself, all of which are equipped with snowmaking facilities ensuring that even if Mother Nature comes short, good quality beginner skiing can still be had! Although none offer “free of charge” lifts, the following 3 areas have their own low-priced lift tickets.
Les Moulins (1 drag lift) Situated right in the heart of Verbier, it is the smallest of all nursery slopes in town. The École Suisse de Ski uses it exclusively for their Kids Club program.
Les Esserts (1 drag lift & 2 magic carpets) With its gentle slopes conveniently situated right next to the Hameau bus stop and a restaurant terrace, Les Esserts is without a doubt the most popular spot for beginner skiers and families alike. It is also home to the longest magic carpet in Switzerland, which costs only 5 SFR for foot passengers who would like to accompany their young while they are learning.
Le Rouge (1 drag lift) This area’s two slopes run from the top of the village at Carrefour down to the centrally situated Brunet bus stop. The new variable speed drag lift - Le Rouge, which was put in for the 2006-07 winter, offers the beginner a slightly more inclined slope; the perfect place to safely set your sights on after having spent time on Les Esserts.
After feeling more confident on these nursery slopes, the La Chaux area up the mountain can be a good option, as there are nice, slow runs which tend to soften up in the afternoon given its south facing orientation. Directly accessible from Médran thanks to the recently built La Chaux Express lift, this sun drenched area, also serviced by a 4-man chair, is a great place to practice & progress! |
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last updated 8-Jan-2008 |
| Leisurely Runs in Mt Fort / 4 Valleys |
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While there are no blue runs in the Mont Fort sector, a good number of them can be found around Siviez, as well as in Nendaz and Thyon. From Verbier however, these three areas can only be reached via red or black runs. |
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last updated 25-Feb-2008 |
| Lift & Piste Maps (Verbier & the 4 Valleys) |
This is the main inter-active piste map from Televerbier, the local lift company. Use it to find out more about the slopes, restaurants, lift system and facilities of the area, including the latest piste and lift opening status. Paper piste maps are available from the lift-stations, Tourist Office, hotel receptions and the like...
Piste map for Verbier & the 4 Vallées
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last updated 12-Feb-2008 |
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