THE SCENE:British tourists abound throughout the ski season, and you're far more likely to hear the Queen's English being spoken than French. Ski and snowboard rentals at a shop at the base of the mountain start at about $22 a day. The 5,577-foot vertical descent on the north face of Le Fogliettaz (accessed from the top lift) is another famed off-piste challenge. Hire a guide and drop off the back bowl from the top lift, hike a bit and you'll be surrounded by pristine meadows thick with the white stuff. One of the best-loved backcountry routes is to Le Monal, a farming village that's uninhabited during the winter. The lower slopes are great for beginners, while adventurous types head to the top to reach a powder keg of backcountry. Four chairlifts (including a new high-speed six-seater opening for the 2006-07 season) access acres of groomed slopes and endless off-piste terrain. And on stormy days, when the lifts at many of the big resorts are closed, the tree runs at Sainte-Foy deliver the goods. With few traverses (flat areas) and lots of off-piste options, the mountain is particularly attractive to snowboarders. The mountain's northwest-facing slopes and sheltered location keep it out of direct sunlight most of the day, which means more staying power for powder. You'll rarely wait more than a few minutes for the lifts. THE SKIING:On powder days, valley locals (including ski instructors from the big resorts) pass up making first tracks at Val d'Isere and Tignes for a shot at Sainte-Foy. powder hounds with an aversion to mega-resorts and families looking for luxurious lodgings and easy access to great ski terrain in a quiet, rural environment. But most visitors to the region bypass it for the bigger - and far more crowded - mass tourism resorts of Val d'Isere, Les Arcs and Tignes (all within 30 minutes of Sainte-Foy).īEST FOR. Sainte-Foy Station (the base village) is just off the main road that cuts through the Isre Valley. Plan on a 2 1/2 -hour drive from either airport. Visitors can fly into Lyon, France, or Geneva to access this growing, family-style resort within easy striking distance of the Haute-Savoie region's top terrain. But there's no poured concrete here: The mountainside chalets are built from local timber, stone and slate, and much of the development has taken an enviro-friendly slant. A newcomer to the Alps, the resort opened in 1990 a few miles uphill from the original village of Sainte-Foy Tarentaise. The reward in skiing at Sainte-Foy Station in the Tarentaise Valley comes in the form of shorter lift lines and longer-lasting powder - not to mention the small-town vibe and Mont Blanc views.
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