5 Extreme Inbound Ski Lines: La Plagne & Les Arcs

It can be a challenge to find extreme slopes and terrain inside the boundary at a ski resort. Paradiski in France, with its above the treeline terrain, offers great opportunities to explore back country features without leaving the ski area. I found 5 such lines. All of them were accessible from a ski slope and emptied back out on to a ski slope. While they were controlled for avalanches because they were inside the ski area boundary and above groomed ski slopes, it was still important to be aware of avalanche risk.

Line 1 - This line was under the Aiguille Rouge tram in Les Arcs. It was extremely steep and long, and emptied back onto the Arandelières red slope. I've never seen terrain this long and steep in bounds at a U.S. ski resort.

Line 2 - This line was accessible from the Sources red slope in La Plagne and emptied out on the Lognan red slope near Belle Plagne. It required some hiking, but nothing too strenuous. And the couloir-like feature made it totally worth it.

Line 3 - This line was at the top of the Crozats chairlift, just off the Barrières red slope in La Plagne. It was very short, but provided some fresh powder turns before rejoining the Tunnel blue slope.

Line 4 - This was a great line in La Plagne that was accessible from the Carina red slope. After about 25 turns of very steep terrain, it emptied right back out on Carina.

Line 5 - This was probably not "extreme." Accessible from the Glaciers 2 gondola, it was essentially a large, tree-less bowl with many changes in steepness, emptying back onto the Rochu black slope.