Skiing in Via Lattea
The extensive Via Lattea (“Milky Way”) ski area lift system has both fast modern lifts and old slow ones, and the pistes run both above and below the treeline. Montgenevre in France can have very different snow conditions from the Italian resorts to which it’s linked.
Via Lattea Ski Area Overview
Claviere & Cesana
Claviere lies in a snowy bowl at an altitude of 1,760m on the border between Italy and France and is centrally situated in the Via Lattea. The ski area is reached from the village centre, or by taking a succession of chairlifts from Cesana to Colle Bercia (2,393m). The pistes are mostly wide and un-crowded, and Claviere has the benefit of a long snow-sure season.
Beginners will find the village centre nursery slopes both convenient and a great place to start their skiing experience with plenty of long blue and wide red runs for progression. Claviere ski slopes are largely facing north and west. The highest ski lift in Claviere reaches 2,409m and the longest run in Claviere is 6.3 km. The eastern side of the ViaLattea area is easily accessed from Claviere and in addition, you have the option to ski Montgenevre in France.
From central Claviere your starting point is likely to be the slow four-man chair lift to the sunny area of La Coche. Unfortunately, this lift does not allow access to non-skiers, despite the fact that there are two pleasant restaurants at the top of it! The piste back to Claviere from La Coche is the preferred ski school run for first-week skiers and often busy.
Whatever you do in Claviere, be sure to go to the Colle Bercia where you can enjoy superb views. You can reach Colle Bercia by any of three modern chairlifts, Serra Granet (number 48 on the ViaLattea map), Gimont (47) and Colle Bercia (44). La Tana del Lupo is a good sheltered place for drinks and in good weather, an ideal place to sit in a deck chair and admire the view.
The two red runs to Sagnalonga (23 and 22) are best in the early mornings, as you will be in the morning sun. For afternoon skiing choose the two short but interesting pisted runs to Capanna Gimont (95 and 97). From Capanna Gimont, there is a long blue run through the forest to La Coche and onward to Claviere, but be careful with children as it is very flat in parts, and you will need to push!
There’s good snowboarding to be had in the wooded areas around the runs to both Sagnalonga and Capanna Gimont. From the Gimont valley, a chairlift (46) takes you to Col Sorel (2,409 m.), on the border with France. In addition to the groomed red piste (104), the terrain on both sides of the chairlift is good for off piste skiing and boarding. The final stretch back to the Gimont chairlift covers some fairly flat ground and some energetic use of ski poles or a walk out may be required!
If you are beginner, confident on blue runs, the gentle, lightly wooded slope from Colle Bercia to Sagnalonga (follow red 23 and then blue 90), is a pleasant run. If you need to return to Cesana, avoid the long and boring run from Sagnalonga. It’s quicker to take the new 4 man chairlift (43) then ride the next chairlift to back down to the valley – there’s no piste on the bottom stretch.
The local buses to the centre of Cesana, Sauze and Sestriere depart from this area at the bottom of the lift, and on the opposite side of the road you will see the Pariol gondola, which takes you to Sansicario and the eastern side of the ViaLattea.
From the village of Claviere the Col Boeuf chairlift (50) takes you to the more exciting ski area of Montgenevre. The Gialla piste, which takes you straight back to Claviere, is almost always closed for training or ski races.
Montgenevre
The two main areas to the north and south of the resort centre of Montgenevre are well marked, and there are plenty of easy runs for beginners. The south facing area tends to be better at the beginning of season with mostly treeless, easy open red runs. This side is also well connected to Claviere via the Montquitaine chairlift, which starts close to the B&B Chalet la Villa, and the new Serre Thibaud gondola.
The north facing section has an extensive area of open pisted runs above the tree line between 2,000m and 2,400m, which is accessed directly from the new Les Chalmettes gondola. This is a paradise for intermediate skiers and boarders, with plenty of well groomed runs and reasonably safe off piste terrain.
Close to the Italian border, a series of chairlifts – Le Tremplin, Le Brousset and Le Rocher de Aigle – lead to Col Vert/Colletto Verde (2,527m), which is a wonderful Alpine viewpoint. A few metres from the top, a challenging steep slope (black 100) takes you down to Val Gimont and back to the Claviere ski area.
If you descend 200m on the French side and then turn right, there’s an easier route for intermediate skiers. These three French chairlifts access plenty of good black and red runs, as well as easy blue runs back to Mongenevre. The terrain and snow quality around piste 32 is undoubtedly the best on this side.
Sauze d’Oulx & Sansicario
Sauze d’Oulx, Sansicario and Jouvenceaux are in eastern Via Lattea. Access to the slopes is straightforward in Sauze and Sansicario. Jouvenceaux is served by a new chairlift, which takes you directly to the beginner’s area of Sauze Sportinia, which connects to the wider Sauze and ViaLattea ski area.
This eastern section of ViaLattea includes a fabulous selection of interesting runs from the top of Monte Fraiteve (2,680m) down to the villages of Sansicario, Jouvenceaux and Sauze d’Oulx. In Sauze, there are numerous long relaxing slopes winding through woodland and with frequent changes in gradients. Initially the piste layout can seem confusing, but in reality you cannot really go wrong!
Central to the Sauze section is the flat and sunny area of Sportinia (2,134m). Here you’ll find ski school offices, a beginner’s area, plenty of eating places and the two chairlifts (8/8b), which take you above the tree line to Rocce Nere.
There is a huge amount of off piste skiing in the Rio Nero Valley beyond Rocce Nere, but in bad weather or fog it can be difficult to get your bearings.
The steep ski lift (33 Rionero-Sansicario) leads you into the Sansicario area, and the four man chairlift (14 – Basset) leads to Col Basset (2,424m). From Col Bassett a long red run takes you to the Sestriere Borgata gondola middle station (15 – Col Basset). Borgata is a popular place for lunch en route to the extensive ski area of Sestriere Monte Banchetta and taking the gondola to Borgata is recommended, as route finding can be difficult on the lower section of this run.
The two best runs in Sauze both start at the top of the Triplex chairlift (6) at 2,450m. The first and easier of the two options, piste 29, starts by heading towards Pian delle Rocche, then downhill through a thick pine forest where you need to work your way through an amazing sequence of bends and differing gradients before you emerge in the village centre.
For the second, more difficult option, follow the pisted run to Sportinia, and then head for Sauze Prariond, via the Gran Pista -an old downhill race course. This 650m descent will almost certainly leave your thighs burning! Another favourite is piste number 12 to Jouvenceaux – a 1,000m drop on natural snow, half of it rarely pisted and bumpy at times – a real treat for pure skiers.
Sansicario is the place to be seen in the world of Italian skiing! Here there are wide, well groomed runs where you can increase your speed and improve your carving technique, and except at weekends, the slopes are largely deserted.
The runs down to the village from the top of Monte Fraiteve (2,701m) should not be missed. Piste 21 is used for women’s world cup downhill races and has a drop of almost 1000m. There are plenty of sudden variations, but it’s smooth and wide allowing you to accelerate to your limit without risk.
The longer, gentler runs numbered 79 and 71 follow the southern ridge of the Sansicario area, down to the Pariol gondola with opportunity to ski diversions through the pine forest, which is superb when skied untracked in fresh snow.
From Sansicario you have a choice of routes to Sestriere. You can take either the red run from the top of the Fraiteve (80), or the black run (82) from the top of the Roccia Rotonda chair lift to the middle station of the Fraiteve gondola.
Sestriere
At an altitude of 2,035m, Sestriere is a snow sure option with wonderful high Alpine scenery, lift access to 2,808m and plenty of well groomed skiing. It offers a complete range of skiing on mostly north and west facing slopes, from the gentle and convenient nursery slopes of the resort centre to the long steep runs which are used on the World Cup circuit.
Superbly positioned at the heart of the ViaLattea, Sestriere has its own extensive ski area as well as easy connections to both Sansicario and Sauze d’Oulx which enable you to ski a number of resorts in one day.
A couple of chairlifts and a drag lift lead to Monte Sises (2,600m) where, in addition to two Olympic runs there are lots of opportunities for freeriding off-piste. A lovely blue run (3) leads you to Sestriere Borgata from where you can access Monte Banchetta (2,555m) and Monte Motta (2,823m), which is the highest point in the ViaLattea. This area provides plenty of good skiing for intermediate and advanced skiers and boarders.
Centrally placed, the Kandahar Banchetta is the main Olympic downhill race course, and is a fantastic long run with a very steep start and a challenging finish. Then ride two 4-man chairlifts, Nuova Nube (20) and Chisonetto Banchetta (21) back up to the top, and study your next run down.
From the top of Monte Motta you can ski down to the left (32 black) and in good snow conditions, bear left again down to the bottom of the valley to rejoin the Chisonetto chair lift. There is no easy way down from Monte Banchetta – all the runs have a steep finish.
To connect with the neighbouring resorts, take the Col Basset gondola (15) from Sestriere Borgata towards Sauze d’Oulx, or the Fraiteve gondola (32) from opposite the Olympic Village, towards Sansicario.
Beginner Skiing in the Via Lattea
Beginners in Via Lattea will be happiest in Sestriere where there is a large central beginner’s area with moving carpet lifts, lots of nursery slopes and some excellent longer blue runs including the pleasing run to Sestriere Borgata, which follows the line of the carpet chairlift.
Claviere and Sauze d’Oulx are also good for beginners with gentle nursery slopes, and most beginner skiers will be able to ski the longer blue runs down to resort by the end of their first week. Skiers who suffer vertigo can happily yo-yo up and down all day on the beginner’s slopes of Sestriere or Mongenevre.
Each ski resort village has at least one ski school and as many as three or four in Sauze d’Oulx and Sestriere offering tuition for beginners.
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Intermediate Skiing in Via Lattea
Via Lattea is an intermediates paradise with a huge variety of long runs. Any of the Via Lattea ski resorts is suitable as a base, and intermediates will enjoy the easy cruising on open and wooded slopes, as well as the chance to ski a variety of resorts in one day.
Claviere, Sauze d’Oulx and Sansicario have several very pleasant woodland runs which provide good powdery snow as well as shelter when the weather is less favourable. There are a few runs that would be too difficult for an intermediate. Except for the return run from the Sansicario ski area to Rio Nero and Sauze d’Oulx when conditions are icy (25), you can go virtually anywhere.
Certainly, intermediate skiers will enjoy the pistes around Pian Della Rocca in Sauze and can spend many hours on the long perfect slopes of Sansicario returning via Sestriere Borgata. In good snow conditions, the Monte Banchetta area of Sestriere is unforgettable.
Advanced Skiing in Via Lattea
Advanced skiing in the Via Lattea includes World Cup Circuit runs in Sestriere and off-piste itineraries in Montgenevre and Claviere which will challenge even the most advanced skiers and boarders.
On a good fresh snow day where best to go for safe powder skiing? In Sauze D’Oulx the Bourget ski lift (5) runs in all weathers and you can have fun on skis or board in the safe and steeply wooded slopes around it. Do not forget piste 12 down to Jouvenceaux which is safe, and not many people know about it! In good snow conditions, the runs down from the top of Sauze’s Monte Fraiteve towards Sestriere, Rio Nero and Sansicario are excellent. The ones towards Sestriere face south and deteriorate rapidly when the sun comes out, so grab your chance quickly after a substantial snowstorm.
From Rio Nero Valley, at the bottom of lift 11, there is a new black piste that takes you back towards Jouvenceaux. Alternatively in good snow conditions it’s possible to ski off-piste all the way down the valley, through a light pine forest as far as the main road in Amazas, not far from Oulx, by a pizzeria with a bus stop. It is recommended that you call a taxi for the return journey to Cesana or the Jouvenceaux lift (local taxi Franco Garofalo Tel: +39 0122 832126).
In Sestriere, the runs from Monte Banchetta are challenging and a real treat with powder. From the top of Monte Motta you can ski black piste, and in good snow conditions bear left off-piste, to reach the valley bottom and rejoin the Chisonetto chair lift. The top lift on Sises accesses a reasonably steep black run which is usuallly left ungroomed with big moguls. There is some off-piste to the side.
If you’re looking for really wild mountain ambience, the Col Vert/Colletto Verde above Claviere at the top of Le Rocher de l’Aigle lift, is the place for you. As well as the well-groomed red leading towards Mongenevre and black piste to Claviere, there is a good choice of off-piste on either side of the pistes, and a popular itinerary, the Vallon de la Douare, which heads down to the Brousset chair. A short hike away is La Plane, where there are more slopes that a guide can show you and which are well worth the walk.
Montgenevre is gaining a good reputation as an off-piste destination. On the Gondrans side, there’s an official freeride zone of ungroomed slopes but with a guide you can also go ‘off the back’ into the Vallon de la Vachette or head over to Le Chenaillet. Across the valley, the Serre Thibaud and Col de l’Alpert access mostly East and North East facing slopes, and there are plenty of off piste options (as well as a black piste) from the top of Chalvet. The off-piste reached from the Rocher d’Aigle lift above Claviere (see above) is also easy to get to from Montgenevre.
There is also helisking. It’s illegal to land on mountain tops in France, but not in Italy, regardless of which side of the border you took off from.
Boarding & Freestyle in Via Lattea
Unfortunately, the snow parks in the Via Lattea area are not well developed, though there are snow parks in Sauze, Claviere and Sestriere. The snow park in Claviere is well-run but limited. The best of the snow parks is in Sestriere and features jumps, rail and box.
When the snow conditions are good, the best terrain in Via Lattea for boarders and free-riders is to be found between the top of Monte Fraiteve and the three areas of Sestriere, Rio Nero and Sansicario. The black piste (32), from Monte Motta down to Val Chisonetto is another one to try. The rocky and wild terrain around Col Vert on the Mongenevre side is also very popular with boarders.
Boarders take note that the return ski lift connection from Sauze to Sestriere and Sansicario is tricky because of the long steep drag lifts.
Via Lattea Mountain Restaurants
Via Lattea has plenty of good restaurants and bars on the piste, as you would expect in Italy. In Claviere, sit on a deck chair and admire the spectacular views from La Tana del Lupo at Colle Bercia, or try the Chalet Mon Soleil at La Coche.
The Sansicario area has some lovely Alpine style restaurants like the Soleil Boeuf. In the Sauze area the Capricorno has an open fire and classic regional cooking. The Capret is in a central location at a junction of 3 lifts in Borgata Sestriere, and offers good food in a friendly atmosphere. Some of the restaurants offer evening meals and will arrange for your transportation with snowmobiles.