LA PLAGNE'S GREAT DESCENT: From the Glacier to Montchauvin

Much is made of the epic descent in Les Arcs, from the mighty Aiguille Rouge at 3226, all the way down to the pastures of Villaroger 2000m below.

Very few resorts can claim to have ski runs giving 2000m vertical.  La Plagne is one of them.  Its own great descent takes you from the Bellecote glacier, at around 3250m, all the way down to Montchauvin.  But it is rather less well known.  For two good reasons...

The trip starts on La Plagne's rustic/"urban" gondola from Roche de Mio over to the glacier area, followed by the new Traversée chairlift.  

The glacier at La Plagne

This 2000m descent has been on and off La Plagne's piste map for years.

Here's one example, which shows the pistes (regardless of whether you take the black or red/blue versions) finishing at 2300m.  There is no piste down towards Les Bauches and the Vanoise Express.  And the oh-so-fancy interactive Paradiski map doesn't have it either (yet).

This is where the newly resurrected Derochoir piste comes in.  It was on the piste map until 1987, was then retired and became an off-piste route.  And now, following a series of works by the lift company, it's back.  Skiers taking this route are warned with a big sign saying (from memory) "68% gradient - good skiers only".  But it's just too enticing for many.  Carnage ensues:

The Derochoir piste

There are no nasty cliffs to fall off, but it is icy, busy and has some narrow sections. Stay patient and you should be fine.  But it is harder than anything on the Aiguille Rouge-Villaroger run.

If you survive the Derochoir, you ski down a beautiful deserted valley to your next challenge.

To avoid taking a lift, and therefore keeping to the "2000m in one descent mission", you have to take the Les Bauches blue.  This sounds delightful.  However, a sign warns you that this is, er, on the flat side:

2km of flat piste awaits

This is indeed a correct assessment.  But if you persevere, in perfect solitude, your poling will lead you to the Vanoise Express sector, with a clear run all the way down to Montchauvin at 1250m...