the Val d'Aran·Spain
Photo: Jordi Costa Tomé · Pexels
The Aran valley faces the Atlantic and catches the snow, giving long north-facing descents, the Aigüestortes peaks next door, and multi-day hut traverses through the national park. It is the best backcountry snow in the country.
In season: Jan–Apr · Peak: Feb–Mar
Big, committing descents and glaciated-feeling terrain that demand avalanche skills and stable conditions. Baqueira's lifts give quick access; the hut traverse is a serious four days.
Short introductory tour from the Baqueira side
The most-skied summit here, straightforward and superb
Big north-facing descent, the classic hard day in the valley
Four days across the national park, refuge to refuge
Base in the Aran valley near Baqueira. Carry transceiver, shovel and probe, check the Aran/Catalan avalanche bulletin, and hire a guide for the bigger north faces.
Ski touringNorway
Summit-to-sea descents launched from a boat — skin up from the shoreline, ski back down to it.
Ski touringNorway
Eight days skiing and sailing in the high Arctic, where the rifle in the guide's bag is not decoration.
Ski touringJapan
A week timed to Siberian storms that drop fifteen metres of the lightest snow on earth over a season.
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