Technically heli-skiing
has been banned in France since 1985 due to public outcry over the concerns of the effect of fuel consumption on the delicate ecosystem of the high mountains as well as the
impact of noise pollution.
With this in mind and you can overcome your conscience, it is still possible to participate in heli-skiing in some form in France.
Firstly skiers in resorts that share a border with Italy or Switzerland, where the activity is still legal, such as Morzine or La Rosière can
simply ski over into the neighbouring country and pick up their helicopter
their. Other companies offer
the service where they are picked up in their French resort, fly a legal
transfer to Italy or Switzerland, before being taken up to their drop points in
these countries. In Chamonix companies
can pick up clients just over the boarder of both Italy and Switzerland.
However another
loophole in the system is available. Although being dropped off at the top of
the mountain is illegal in France, being picked up at the bottom and
transferred back to the resort is not. So it is possible to use the
regular lift system in the resort to arrive at the highest point and in certain
geographical areas, easily access mostly untouched powder bowls into which regular
skiers and snow boarders rarely venture thanks to the time it would take them
to return to the resort by foot or ski. Many French helicopter companies are
providing the service where, accompanied by a qualified mountain guide, you are
escorted through some magical ski terrain to one of their designated pick up
points in the valley.
One such resort
that provides this service is in Alpe d’Huez. Skiers descending from the Pic
Blanc at over 3000meters usually take the impressively long Serrene run back to
the resort. Or those a little more adventurous, may take the short ski tour into
the Combe du Loup, or the even over the
Pyramid. However very few venture into the Glacier du Grand Sablat, aware of
the considerable hike it would take to walk out at the bottom. Facing in an
easterly direction this valley maintains fantastic snow conditions where other
slopes on the l’île au soleil (Island in the sun) sometimes feel the effect of
this sunny resort. Bureau
Alternatively if
you plan to stay at Hotel Allemont the owners can help you with the
arrangements.
