Cruising the Alps:
Sports Facilities
La Thuile
A tiny village surronded by peaks
It is a small but picturesque alpine location on the historic
Piccolo San Bernardo Pass road. Situated between the Mont Blanc and Vanoise
massifs it is surrounded by peaks which are over 3000 meters and is dominated by
the Rutor glacier,which can be reached by helicopter. La Thuile is connected
with the beautiful French resort of La Rosière, and is only 20 minutes by
car from the famous Courmayeur.
Ski slopes
La Thuile has perhaps the best skiing in Valle d'Aosta! There is always
crisp snow, natural and artificial, because the sun never shines directly
on the slopes. The gentle slopes of the Piccolo San Bernardo plateau offer
easier skiing than the steeper wooded ones of La Thuile. Run #2, which winds
through the woods near the town and up to Planibel, is technical and demanding.
It becomes very technical when it enters the #9 loop. Run #3, which is a
variation of #2, is also rather difficult and technical. Run #25, along
the Belvedere, is very scenic. There are all kinds of downhill runs, also
some very difficult ones which expert skiers can enjoy.
For the more audacious
there is the run which was recently laid out for the World Cup downhill
race. When you ski down it is hard to believe they just shoot down it without
slowing down. It is probably more difficult than the Val d'Isere Bellevarde
run used for the 1992 Olympics. The longest slope is #7, which is 11 km
long and runs from Chaz Dura (at 2579 meters) and ends in town (at 1441
meters).
Heli-skiing on the Rutor
It is certainly the most beautiful and fascinating run in
the Valle d'Aosta. One can do back-country skiing on the Rutor glacier
while enjoying the view of twenty, magnificent 4.000 meter peaks. Once
one has reached the peak which looks down on the town it takes another
hour of constant skiing to reach the bottom of the valley. It is an
unforgettable adventure.
Break-points
La Clotze, located at the beginning of runs #2 and
#3, is the one preferred by young skiers. At the bottom of Chaz
Dura there are two other winter alpine shelters, Da Corrado and Roxy Bar,
the latter located in a very windy spot. On the slopes of the Piccolo San
Bernardo there is the Riondet, which
is one of the best restaurants to taste the local cuisine. In the evening
it can be reached by ski-doo. To return to town one can ski down by torch
light. A very suggestive experience.
  
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