Tue, 19 January 2021
Vertical Climbed: 542 meters (1,778 feet)
Vertical Descended: 541 meters
La Ruchère, located in the western Chartreuse mountains, boasts 35km of pistes. However there is a lot of double counting going on as I skied almost all of them in 17km. The trails start with a very wide piste which gets used by school groups. This climbs to a first plateau at 1250 meters where there is a blue and red. You can then take a steep black piste (10% over 2km climbing) to the plateau d'Arpisson. At the head of this area is a viewpoint over the Southern Chartreuse mountains and the monastery. The descent is less steep but you need to be a good x-country skier as there are a few turns. It is a very charming resort and for the less sporty the climb to first plateau for a picnic in the sun would already be a pleasure.
Great skiing conditions. Good glide, cold and sunny.
