Ski touring in Pelvoux-Vallouise
Pelvoux-VallouiseExpress summit from the lifts
Gaining height quickly and well done: in Pelvoux-Vallouise, ski touring begins… on the station. Thanks to the lifts, you gain altitude from the start, then you switch out of the marked area to trace in the great white, facing Mont Pelvoux. An ideal gateway to the itineraries of the massif, with options to progress gently or aim for a beautiful summit.
Why Pelvoux-Vallouise?
- Express access : hike pass / chairlift ascent to the top of the area to attack directly at altitude.
- Marked route for beginners : the resort offers a ski touring route labelled FFME – perfect for learning the basics or warming up before heading off the slopes.
- The white one, the great classic : from the top of the area, this major route is quickly accessible by the Crête chairlift, a local reference.
La Blanche on ski touring
From the top of the Pelvoux-Vallouise lifts (Crête chairlift), the Blanche race starts with a quiet ascent above the resort, then follows a sometimes tapered ridge that alternates between passages on the edge and wide valleys before joining a steeper slope leading to the summit (2,953 m). The advantage of the “high-altitude” start is twofold: to limit the approach and to enjoy a beautiful uphill/descent sequence with, at the top, a very open view of Mont Pelvoux and the Vallouise; On the way back, we go back to the resort to get a lift if necessary and end the day on the slopes. It is the emblematic route of the sector when the lifts are open, with easy access and varied terrain that retains its high mountain character.
When to go?
From the opening of the area until spring, to the rhythm of snow and weather conditions. The advantage of Pelvoux-Vallouise: time your outings on the openings of the lifts (for the initial “boost”), then choose the objective and the slope according to the avalanche bulletin.
Equipment and safety
DVA pack (detector), shovel, probe, helmet, repair kit, map/topo and phone charged — union minimum. Check the avalanche bulletin before you go, adapt the objective to the group’s experience and don’t hesitate to go with a guide for the first times or the committed slopes. Be careful, the steep variants of La Blanche are only for very experienced skiers.