Backcountry

A week-long trip with 5 days of guided riding in the mini freeride mecca of Sainte Foy Tarentaise. This has been my home resort since 2007 and I'm on first-name terms with every rock, tree and couloir on the mountain. Sainte Foy is rightly famous for great terrain, with easy access from the lifts and minimal crowds. Snow conditions are usually excellent in January, especially as the sheltered location protects the snow from the wind in the January storms which can turn the likes of Tignes and Val d'Isere to boiler-plate overnight. There is great tree-riding if the weather is bad and long, big-mountain lines with plenty of steeps if the sun shines. We can access everything with short or medium-length hikes (1hr max up to the Fogliettaz) and there are local buses which bring us back from the more adventurous lines. We're aiming to ride as many great powder-line as possible, it's all about the fun riding rather than hiking for the sake of hiking, but if there's a snow-drought on then we'll hike to find the goods.

While we usually find the best snow in Sainte Foy, we also have Tignes and Val d'Isere on our doorstep should we feel the need to go to higher altitude as well as Les Arcs just across the valley.