{"id":4650,"date":"2015-09-17T11:11:46","date_gmt":"2015-09-17T09:11:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.mountainpassions.com\/wordpress\/?p=4650"},"modified":"2019-04-12T12:27:21","modified_gmt":"2019-04-12T10:27:21","slug":"ski-la-toussuire","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mountainpassions.com\/winter\/ski-resort-reviews\/alps\/ski-la-toussuire\/","title":{"rendered":"La Toussuire"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"content-container\">\n<div class=\"inprofile2col\">\n<div class=\"content\">\n<p><span class=\"dropcap\">W<\/span>hen I asked my fellow ski journalist <strong>Arnie Wilson<\/strong>, who has skied just about everywhere on the planet, to name the most beautiful area he&#8217;d ever skied in France, he responded without hesitation: \u201c<strong>Les Sybelles<\/strong>\u201d. Good enough for me. A few seasons have since passed, but the seed was sown, and now we finally have the opportunity to come and discover it for ourselves. <\/p>\n<p>This place has a lot to live up to, particularly since there\u2019s mist and light rain as we make the drive up from <strong>Saint Jean de Maurienne<\/strong>, waiting impatiently to hit the snow-line. But it\u2019s late March, and green doesn\u2019t give way to white until just before the turn-off to <strong>Le Corbier<\/strong>, while we negotiate the final hairpin which will bring us into <strong>La Toussuire<\/strong>. Here the rain has given way to snow, and we\u2019re suddenly back in our comfort zone, with the prospect of some skiing ahead of us in the days to come, although by the time we\u2019re installed in our piste-side apartment there\u2019s little to be seen through the snowy dusk from our balcony.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"inprofile2col\">\n<div class=\"pullquote\">\n<div class=\"pullquote-extract\">\nAfter launching off on the red-graded Ouillon 1 connector piste we pick up Col de Bellard, a much longer red which hugs the side of one of the most spectacular valleys in which we\u2019ve ever skied&#8230;\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"content-container\">\n<div class=\"inprofile2col\">\n<div id=\"4946\" style=\"width: 550px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone wp-caption wp-caption-text alignleft\"><br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"530\" height=\"330\" aria-describedby=\"caption-4946\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mountainpassions.com\/winter\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/Skiers-piste-sign-La-Toussuire-Les-Sybelles-French-Alps-29681.jpg\" alt=\"Skiers looking at piste map sign beside chair-lift at La Toussuire, Les Sybelles, French Alps\" class=\"left-image size-full wp-image-4946\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mountainpassions.com\/winter\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/Skiers-piste-sign-La-Toussuire-Les-Sybelles-French-Alps-29681.jpg 530w, https:\/\/www.mountainpassions.com\/winter\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/Skiers-piste-sign-La-Toussuire-Les-Sybelles-French-Alps-29681-150x93.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.mountainpassions.com\/winter\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/Skiers-piste-sign-La-Toussuire-Les-Sybelles-French-Alps-29681-250x156.jpg 250w, https:\/\/www.mountainpassions.com\/winter\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/Skiers-piste-sign-La-Toussuire-Les-Sybelles-French-Alps-29681-350x218.jpg 350w, https:\/\/www.mountainpassions.com\/winter\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/Skiers-piste-sign-La-Toussuire-Les-Sybelles-French-Alps-29681-200x125.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.mountainpassions.com\/winter\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/Skiers-piste-sign-La-Toussuire-Les-Sybelles-French-Alps-29681-500x311.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.mountainpassions.com\/winter\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/Skiers-piste-sign-La-Toussuire-Les-Sybelles-French-Alps-29681-321x200.jpg 321w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 530px) 100vw, 530px\" \/><br \/>\n<p id=\"caption-4946\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The T\u00eate de Bellard lift takes skiers up to 2225m where the map reveals the extent of terrain on offer.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"inprofile2col\">\n<div id=\"4947\" style=\"width: 550px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone wp-caption wp-caption-text alignleft\"><br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"530\" height=\"330\" aria-describedby=\"caption-4947\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mountainpassions.com\/winter\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/Skier-valley-St-Colomban-Les-Sybelles-French-Alps-29651.jpg\" alt=\"Wide view of skier on piste in valley between La Toussuire and Saint Colomban des Villards, Les Sybelles, French Alps\" class=\"right-image size-full wp-image-4947\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mountainpassions.com\/winter\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/Skier-valley-St-Colomban-Les-Sybelles-French-Alps-29651.jpg 530w, https:\/\/www.mountainpassions.com\/winter\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/Skier-valley-St-Colomban-Les-Sybelles-French-Alps-29651-150x93.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.mountainpassions.com\/winter\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/Skier-valley-St-Colomban-Les-Sybelles-French-Alps-29651-250x156.jpg 250w, https:\/\/www.mountainpassions.com\/winter\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/Skier-valley-St-Colomban-Les-Sybelles-French-Alps-29651-350x218.jpg 350w, https:\/\/www.mountainpassions.com\/winter\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/Skier-valley-St-Colomban-Les-Sybelles-French-Alps-29651-200x125.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.mountainpassions.com\/winter\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/Skier-valley-St-Colomban-Les-Sybelles-French-Alps-29651-500x311.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.mountainpassions.com\/winter\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/Skier-valley-St-Colomban-Les-Sybelles-French-Alps-29651-321x200.jpg 321w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 530px) 100vw, 530px\" \/><br \/>\n<p id=\"caption-4947\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The quiet valley piste between La Toussuire and Saint Colomban des Villards.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"content-container\">\n<h2>La Toussuire: first impressions<\/h2>\n<div class=\"inprofile2col\">\n<div class=\"content\">\n<p>The following morning we float out on a fresh dusting of snow beneath a cloud-filled sky and head down to the lifts. The high-speed 6-seater <strong>T\u00eate de Bellard<\/strong> hauls us smoothly to <strong>2225m<\/strong> while we get a feel for conditions and snow-cover, which are impressive, given that we\u2019re here so late in the season. At the top we head over to <strong>Les 2 Croix<\/strong>, a pair of reasonably short drag-lifts which get us to <strong>2431m<\/strong>, where in clearer conditions we\u2019d be taking in <strong>vast panoramic views<\/strong> of our surroundings. We\u2019ll just have to imagine it for now, while awaiting the forecast fine weather to arrive. In the meantime we spend the rest of the day exploring some of the pistes below the <strong>T\u00eate de Bellard<\/strong>, which currently has the best snow conditions above <strong>La Toussuire<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Having got that out of our system, we head back to our apartment, lock our skis away and head back out minus ski gear to spend some time discovering the layout of the village itself and what it offers in the way of shops and services. Although not exactly epic, we\u2019ve enjoyed what turned out to be a relaxing day, and can already see why so many French families keep returning each season. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"inprofile2col\">\n<div class=\"content-right\">\n<p>The following day finds the scenery transformed by a cloudless sky, so we head straight back to <strong>L\u2019Ouillon<\/strong> in search of the panoramic views we\u2019d previously been denied. This time we finally get some idea of the vast scale of the linked ski area, and there\u2019s a whole lot more out there currently hidden away out of sight, the first on our checklist being the <strong>Saint Colomban des Villards<\/strong> sector, currently tucked away out of sight to our right. After launching off on the red-graded <strong>Ouillon 1<\/strong> connector piste we pick up <strong>Col de Bellard<\/strong>, a much longer red which hugs the side of one of the most spectacular valleys in which we\u2019ve ever skied. Thanks, Arnie. <\/p>\n<p>Further down the red feeds seamlessly onto the blue-graded <strong>Liaison Techette<\/strong>, which enters the tree-line, morphs into <strong>Bouyans<\/strong> (still blue), passing a welcoming and beautifully-sited <strong>mountain bar\/restaurant<\/strong> before the final drop into <strong>La Pierre<\/strong>, the lowest point in the ski terrain above <strong>Saint Colomban<\/strong>. We\u2019ve just completed <strong>1331m of vertical drop<\/strong> in a single, unbroken run through the kind of scenery most skiers would kill to explore. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"content-container\">\n<div class=\"inprofile2col\">\n<div id=\"5026\" style=\"width: 550px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone wp-caption wp-caption-text alignleft\"><br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"530\" height=\"330\" aria-describedby=\"caption-5026\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mountainpassions.com\/winter\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/mountain-restaurant-st-Colomban-Les-Sybelles-29584.jpg\" alt=\"View from piste of skiers on sun terrace of mountain restaurant, St Colomban, Les Sybelles\" class=\"left-image size-full wp-image-5026\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mountainpassions.com\/winter\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/mountain-restaurant-st-Colomban-Les-Sybelles-29584.jpg 530w, https:\/\/www.mountainpassions.com\/winter\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/mountain-restaurant-st-Colomban-Les-Sybelles-29584-150x93.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.mountainpassions.com\/winter\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/mountain-restaurant-st-Colomban-Les-Sybelles-29584-250x156.jpg 250w, https:\/\/www.mountainpassions.com\/winter\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/mountain-restaurant-st-Colomban-Les-Sybelles-29584-350x218.jpg 350w, https:\/\/www.mountainpassions.com\/winter\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/mountain-restaurant-st-Colomban-Les-Sybelles-29584-200x125.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.mountainpassions.com\/winter\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/mountain-restaurant-st-Colomban-Les-Sybelles-29584-500x311.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.mountainpassions.com\/winter\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/mountain-restaurant-st-Colomban-Les-Sybelles-29584-321x200.jpg 321w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 530px) 100vw, 530px\" \/><br \/>\n<p id=\"caption-5026\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Late in the season and diners on the restaurant terrace at St Colomban are bathed in sunshine.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"inprofile2col\">\n<div id=\"5029\" style=\"width: 550px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone wp-caption wp-caption-text alignleft\"><br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"530\" height=\"330\" aria-describedby=\"caption-5029\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mountainpassions.com\/winter\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/mountain-scenery-above-st-Colomban-Les-Sybelles-29653.jpg\" alt=\"Skier on mountainside beside snow-covered valley above Saint Colomban, Les Sybelles, French Alps\" class=\"right-image size-full wp-image-5029\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mountainpassions.com\/winter\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/mountain-scenery-above-st-Colomban-Les-Sybelles-29653.jpg 530w, https:\/\/www.mountainpassions.com\/winter\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/mountain-scenery-above-st-Colomban-Les-Sybelles-29653-150x93.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.mountainpassions.com\/winter\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/mountain-scenery-above-st-Colomban-Les-Sybelles-29653-250x156.jpg 250w, https:\/\/www.mountainpassions.com\/winter\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/mountain-scenery-above-st-Colomban-Les-Sybelles-29653-350x218.jpg 350w, https:\/\/www.mountainpassions.com\/winter\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/mountain-scenery-above-st-Colomban-Les-Sybelles-29653-200x125.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.mountainpassions.com\/winter\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/mountain-scenery-above-st-Colomban-Les-Sybelles-29653-500x311.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.mountainpassions.com\/winter\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/mountain-scenery-above-st-Colomban-Les-Sybelles-29653-321x200.jpg 321w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 530px) 100vw, 530px\" \/><br \/>\n<p id=\"caption-5029\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">There's a surprisong sense of freedom and remoteness skiing in the valley above St Colomban.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"content-container\">\n<div class=\"inprofile2col\">\n<div class=\"content\">\n<p>A combination of the lowest altitude in the ski domain and fast-approaching springtime have produced slushy conditions around the village, but the access run remains skiable and this sector could suddenly become much more so if a snow-laden depression were to sweep in before (or after) the end of the season.<\/p>\n<p>We\u2019ve seen it happen from time to time, a thought which we hold onto while contemplating the currently lush green forests during the first return haul on the <strong>Ormet 4-seater chairlift<\/strong>. At the <strong>1466m<\/strong> top station we take the blue-graded <strong>Plan Fin<\/strong> piste down to <strong>1313m<\/strong> to meet <strong>Charmette<\/strong>, another fixed 4-seater. The lift makes a steep getaway, then eases high above the long scenic blue cruise we\u2019d skied earlier before dropping us at <strong>1809m<\/strong>. An all-too-brief run down <strong>Grand Creux<\/strong> (blue) brings us to the Mont Cuinat draglift, for the memorably long, slow haul we&#8217;d glimpsed while peering into the valley from T\u00eate de Bellard, prior to our descent into the valley.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"inprofile2col\">\n<div class=\"content-right\">\n<p>By the time we reach the (<strong>2078m<\/strong>) drop-off point we\u2019re more than happy to glide down the blue-graded <strong>Liaison Bellard<\/strong> and relax in the sun on the final haul on the <strong>Col de Bellard<\/strong> 4-seater chairlift. The Col itself accesses a wealth of off-piste terrain, while at the top of the lift lies <strong>L\u2019Ouillon<\/strong> (2431m) and the prospect of blue, red and even black onward pistes through more jaw-dropping scenery down to the <strong>Chalets d\u2019Olle<\/strong>. <\/p>\n<p>We opt for the blue-graded <strong>Longe Combe<\/strong>, the kind of dreamlike cruise we\u2019re powerless to complete without at least one quick pause for photos. At the bottom we reach both the <strong>high-speed 6-seater Eau d\u2019Olle chairlift<\/strong> (which takes skiers making for <strong>Le Corbier<\/strong> or <strong>La Toussuire<\/strong> back to <strong>L\u2019Ouillon<\/strong>) and its companion the <strong>Petit Perron 4-seater<\/strong>, which continues onward to the <strong>2271m<\/strong> Petit Perron summit. We take it, make a bracing drop on the blue-graded <strong>Blanchons<\/strong> and the <strong>Rocher<\/strong> red all the way down into <strong>Saint Sorlin d\u2019Arves<\/strong> \u2013 an unbroken vertical drop of a little over 670m. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"image-container\">\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1130\" height=\"530\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mountainpassions.com\/winter\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/mountain-scenery-above-La-Toussuire-Les-Sybelles-29658.jpg\" alt=\"Wide view of skiers reaching chairlift, La Toussuire, Les Sybelles, French Alps\" class=\"centered-image size-full wp-image-5031\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mountainpassions.com\/winter\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/mountain-scenery-above-La-Toussuire-Les-Sybelles-29658.jpg 1130w, https:\/\/www.mountainpassions.com\/winter\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/mountain-scenery-above-La-Toussuire-Les-Sybelles-29658-150x70.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.mountainpassions.com\/winter\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/mountain-scenery-above-La-Toussuire-Les-Sybelles-29658-250x117.jpg 250w, https:\/\/www.mountainpassions.com\/winter\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/mountain-scenery-above-La-Toussuire-Les-Sybelles-29658-350x164.jpg 350w, https:\/\/www.mountainpassions.com\/winter\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/mountain-scenery-above-La-Toussuire-Les-Sybelles-29658-200x94.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.mountainpassions.com\/winter\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/mountain-scenery-above-La-Toussuire-Les-Sybelles-29658-500x235.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.mountainpassions.com\/winter\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/mountain-scenery-above-La-Toussuire-Les-Sybelles-29658-540x253.jpg 540w, https:\/\/www.mountainpassions.com\/winter\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/mountain-scenery-above-La-Toussuire-Les-Sybelles-29658-530x249.jpg 530w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1130px) 100vw, 1130px\" \/>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"content-container\">\n<div class=\"inprofile2col\">\n<div id=\"5049\" style=\"width: 550px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone wp-caption wp-caption-text alignleft\"><br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"540\" height=\"336\" aria-describedby=\"caption-5049\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mountainpassions.com\/winter\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/skiers-under-chairlift-above-La-Toussuire-Les-Sybelles-29649.jpg\" alt=\"High view of skiers under chairlift with big mountain view, La Toussuire, Les Sybelles, French Alps\" class=\"left-image size-full wp-image-5049\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mountainpassions.com\/winter\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/skiers-under-chairlift-above-La-Toussuire-Les-Sybelles-29649.jpg 540w, https:\/\/www.mountainpassions.com\/winter\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/skiers-under-chairlift-above-La-Toussuire-Les-Sybelles-29649-150x93.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.mountainpassions.com\/winter\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/skiers-under-chairlift-above-La-Toussuire-Les-Sybelles-29649-250x156.jpg 250w, https:\/\/www.mountainpassions.com\/winter\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/skiers-under-chairlift-above-La-Toussuire-Les-Sybelles-29649-350x218.jpg 350w, https:\/\/www.mountainpassions.com\/winter\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/skiers-under-chairlift-above-La-Toussuire-Les-Sybelles-29649-200x124.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.mountainpassions.com\/winter\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/skiers-under-chairlift-above-La-Toussuire-Les-Sybelles-29649-500x311.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.mountainpassions.com\/winter\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/skiers-under-chairlift-above-La-Toussuire-Les-Sybelles-29649-321x200.jpg 321w, https:\/\/www.mountainpassions.com\/winter\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/skiers-under-chairlift-above-La-Toussuire-Les-Sybelles-29649-530x330.jpg 530w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 540px) 100vw, 540px\" \/><br \/>\n<p id=\"caption-5049\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Skiers admire the big mountain views from one of the red-graded pistes at La Toussuire. <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"inprofile2col\">\n<div id=\"5050\" style=\"width: 550px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone wp-caption wp-caption-text alignleft\"><br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"540\" height=\"336\" aria-describedby=\"caption-5050\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mountainpassions.com\/winter\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/skiers-on-wide-piste-above-La-Toussuire-Les-Sybelles-29666.jpg\" alt=\"Skiers on wide open piste among snow-capped mountains, La Toussuire, French Alps\" class=\"right-image size-full wp-image-5050\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mountainpassions.com\/winter\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/skiers-on-wide-piste-above-La-Toussuire-Les-Sybelles-29666.jpg 540w, https:\/\/www.mountainpassions.com\/winter\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/skiers-on-wide-piste-above-La-Toussuire-Les-Sybelles-29666-150x93.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.mountainpassions.com\/winter\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/skiers-on-wide-piste-above-La-Toussuire-Les-Sybelles-29666-250x156.jpg 250w, https:\/\/www.mountainpassions.com\/winter\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/skiers-on-wide-piste-above-La-Toussuire-Les-Sybelles-29666-350x218.jpg 350w, https:\/\/www.mountainpassions.com\/winter\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/skiers-on-wide-piste-above-La-Toussuire-Les-Sybelles-29666-200x124.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.mountainpassions.com\/winter\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/skiers-on-wide-piste-above-La-Toussuire-Les-Sybelles-29666-500x311.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.mountainpassions.com\/winter\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/skiers-on-wide-piste-above-La-Toussuire-Les-Sybelles-29666-321x200.jpg 321w, https:\/\/www.mountainpassions.com\/winter\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/skiers-on-wide-piste-above-La-Toussuire-Les-Sybelles-29666-530x330.jpg 530w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 540px) 100vw, 540px\" \/><br \/>\n<p id=\"caption-5050\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Cruising on wide open pistes with stunning mountyain scenery.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"content-container\">\n<div class=\"inprofile2col\">\n<div class=\"content\">\n<p>When we\u2019d set off the plan for today had been to take a relaxed amble over to this point and back again with photo-stops along the way, saving other distractions until another day. However, the present fine weather (which experience has taught us never to assume will hold) had tempted us to abandon that idea and make what looked like being a quick detour round to <strong>Saint Colomban<\/strong>. It was absolutely worth it, but the four-lift return route had proved more time-consuming than expected, which is why we\u2019re taking what can no longer be called a lunch break at around 14.50. Our protesting leg muscles tell us just how far we\u2019ve come, and how heavy snow conditions have been on the final, lower sections. <\/p>\n<p>With the return journey still to tackle, we can\u2019t hang around too long, so soon find ourselves heading back out and riding the <strong>Les Choseaux high-speed 6-seater chairlift<\/strong> up to <strong>Les Perrons<\/strong>. At <strong>2620m<\/strong> it\u2019s yet another <strong>panoramic viewpoint<\/strong> but we have to press on, launching off on <strong>Vallons<\/strong> \u2013 a long, blue-graded cruise back to <strong>Chalets d\u2019Olle<\/strong>, to ride the <strong>high-speed 6-seater Eau d\u2019Olle chairlift<\/strong> back to <strong>L\u2019Ouillon<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"inprofile2col\">\n<div class=\"content-right\">\n<p>A determined run down the blue-graded <strong>Pierre du Turc<\/strong> brings us to <strong>Le Chamois<\/strong>, a short and relatively undemanding drag-lift climbing to just below the viewpoint of Pierre du Turc (<strong>2305m<\/strong>), from which there\u2019s a choice of onward runs back to <strong>La Toussuire<\/strong>, with a vertical drop of around 550m. If you\u2019re feeling fit then you have some steep but wide reds to enjoy, one of which (<strong>Bellard<\/strong>) has a steeper and often mogulled black feeding onto it. If, however, you want to take things calmly, or your legs are shot after big mileage then the decision is simple: take the blue-graded <strong>Marmotte<\/strong> (or <strong>Cr\u00eates<\/strong>, followed by <strong>Gorges<\/strong> or <strong>Marolay<\/strong> then <strong>Soleil<\/strong>) all the way down. There\u2019s also a more scenic ridge-hugging option, starting on Marmotte, then peeling off onto <strong>Moyenne Verdette<\/strong> and then joining <strong>Combourci\u00e8re<\/strong> for a final cruise down to the village. For us it\u2019s perfect, since it takes us right past our accommodation.<\/p>\n<p>After a long day seeing the sights in perfect weather we relax a little for the rest of our stay in Les Sybelles, and make a point of driving over to ski <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mountainpassions.com\/winter\/ski-resort-reviews\/ski-albiez-montrond\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Albiez-Montrond<\/a>. Our verdict? <strong>Les Sybelles<\/strong> have come of age, and add up to a major ski area \u2013 and the scenery is indeed stunning.<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mountainpassions.com\/winter\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/1_heart1.gif\" alt=\"MountainPassions heart icon\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"A super-friendly, practical base from which to ski the vast Les Sybelles, or simply keep the family entertained closer to home. Solid value, capable lift system and surprisingly wide choice for dining out.","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":4947,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"_themeisle_gutenberg_block_has_review":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[317,326],"tags":[338,343,352,357,438,512,549,558,651],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v23.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>La Toussuire Ski Resort Review - French Alps - MountainPassions<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"La Toussuire is a super-friendly and practical base from which to ski the vast Les Sybelles. 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Solid value, good lift system and plenty to entertain families.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.mountainpassions.com\/winter\/ski-resort-reviews\/alps\/ski-la-toussuire\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"MountainPassions\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/Mountain-Passions-422318654644495\/?ref=hl\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:author\" content=\"http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/MtnPassions\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2015-09-17T09:11:46+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2019-04-12T10:27:21+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.mountainpassions.com\/winter\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/Skier-valley-St-Colomban-Les-Sybelles-French-Alps-29651.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"530\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"330\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Roger Moss\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@MtnPassions\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@MtnPassions\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Roger Moss\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Estimated reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"8 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.mountainpassions.com\/winter\/ski-resort-reviews\/alps\/ski-la-toussuire\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.mountainpassions.com\/winter\/ski-resort-reviews\/alps\/ski-la-toussuire\/\",\"name\":\"La Toussuire Ski Resort Review - French Alps - MountainPassions\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.mountainpassions.com\/winter\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.mountainpassions.com\/winter\/ski-resort-reviews\/alps\/ski-la-toussuire\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.mountainpassions.com\/winter\/ski-resort-reviews\/alps\/ski-la-toussuire\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.mountainpassions.com\/winter\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/Skier-valley-St-Colomban-Les-Sybelles-French-Alps-29651.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2015-09-17T09:11:46+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2019-04-12T10:27:21+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.mountainpassions.com\/winter\/#\/schema\/person\/ea32a1a1cf2b7d5e8492ef0bee6214a1\"},\"description\":\"La Toussuire is a super-friendly and practical base from which to ski the vast Les Sybelles. 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