Wicked Off Piste – Photo Gallery

Off Piste, side country and back country in a quiet corner of Switzerland

  • Just to the east of Lake Geneva is the canton of Vaud, home to some fabulous early season skiing venues
  • On a strong northwesterly air stream, the area is often battered by huge falls of fluffiness
  • Lordy...
  • Many of the resorts are what might be called family areas, but even (or especially) in these, some grown up fun can be had
  • I've been skiing in this area for over 15 years, and this is one very special descent that rarely comes into condition. Thanks to my colleague Terry Ralphs for the photo.
  • Many descents involve a short skin of up to an hour maximum and then descents of untracked vallies, returning by taxi or postbus
  • More lushness
  • There are some very serious propositions too. Here's Alan Scowcroft on a 120m abseil to access some rarely touched powder.
  • This is the big line of the massif, a 1200m descent from the highest point in the area, finishing in the village. It passes through some Dolomitic style limestone scenery and timing and conditions need careful judgement for this fantastic descent.
  • On very rare occasions, we can ski all the way down to the Rhone valley, finishing in the vineyards. Thanks to my colleague Julie Ann Clyma for the photo.