These can be reached from les Arcs via the col 2548 meters or the Combe des Communes, in this case count on 300 meters of skinning. From the Combe des Communes take advantage of the south-east facing slope to ski spring corn in the morning. Take a beer at the Refuge du Mont Pourri the Guardian is there (Leffe is 4 EUR). From the Refuge follow a compass bearing of 310 degrees to cross the Nant Cruet river then climb the east face of the Lanchettes. The first couloir is just north of point 2617 meters. (Note: Lanche = Avalanche). The couloirs follow the line of the sources de Ruisseau des Rossets. Ski out to Entre deux Nants (2331 m) then skin up to the Col de Chal to rejoin Arc 2000. You can link this route with the Aiguille Grive or climb to the Col des Entreports.

We climbed on Monday 26 April 2010. The snow was icy and breakable crust on the climb, probably about 5mm refrozen. The north-west couloir was slightly better frozen but it was still possible to break crust. Grip was ok but not fantastic skiing.

Rating: 4.1 (there is a steep, narrow section at the bottom). Exposure 2. Climb: Easy from the Mont Pourri Refuge, possible ridge traverse from les Arcs.
Summit: 2617 meters

Looking to the Aiguille Grive

So skiing these interesting couloirs around Les Arcs was uh, “necessary” for you to become a ski trip leader and thereby help the human race?

Thanks for the nice detailed instructions.

Rating: 4.1 Exposure 2.

Not sure if you’re quoting these ratings from Toponeige or from skitour.fr
(The two sources do not always agree—e.g. la Calotte des Agneaux—e.g. Montagne des Agneaux par le Réou d’Arsine)

Also the French-language guidebooks from Editions Olizane cover almost all the same tours in the northern French Alps as Toponeige. Although they use letter ratings instead of number ratings there’s a fairly obvious simple correspondence between the Olizane system and the Toponeige system.
They often agree—but not always.
www.camptocamp.org often shows both the Toponeige and Olizane ratings side by side.

So most French ski tours now have three difficulty ratings available:
* Toponeige paper guidebook
* Editions Olizane paper guidebook
* skitour.fr website

Ken