We’ve asked the guides of Monte Rosa to share their insights on one of the most fascinating and demanding expressions of skiing — steep skiing.
Here’s what they told us: where, when, and how to practice it safely and consciously.
Steep skiing is the most technical and demanding form of off-piste skiing, done on slopes with an angle of more than 40°.
While the inclination can be measured, the idea of extreme is personal — for some, it’s the thrill of the angle; for others, it’s the quiet focus it demands.
The Monte Rosa guides agree on one essential truth: before chasing any steep line, every skier must know their own limits.
Beyond that threshold, pleasure fades and risk takes over.
That’s why steep skiing begins with self-awareness, skill, and the guidance of experienced professionals.
Between Alagna and Gressoney, Monte Rosa offers countless steep skiing routes, from cult classics to hidden gems known only to locals.
Here, the terrain changes constantly: narrow couloirs, wide glacier slopes, and remote valleys — all shaped by snow, wind, and time.
But there are no certainties in steep skiing:
Snow quality shifts from day to day.
Weather and temperature can transform a descent in hours.
Your own energy and focus make the biggest difference.
The steep skier is someone who knows how to woo the mountain, waiting patiently for the perfect moment — where awareness replaces haste, and the thrill lies in balance, not recklessness.
A beautiful 40° couloir that demands stable snow. Twenty turns — the first few often with small jumps — lead into gentler 35° slopes. The perfect warm-up for the legendary Balma.
A short but intense descent, beloved by those nostalgic for the old Indren cable car. Around 40° with tight bends and a historic feel — but avoid it on warm days.
Close to the lifts accessing the Balma Valley, this is the perfect introduction to steep skiing. A 45° rocky entrance followed by wide, forgiving slopes that let you release your adrenaline in long turns.
Visible but rarely untouched, this 45° slope requires solid technique and good snow cover. The ideal choice for confident freeriders aiming to rejoin their more cautious friends below.
A side couloir of the Vallone della Balma, around 35°. Wide, scenic, and fun — but often icy, so sharp edges are essential.
A 40-meter, 45° entrance opens into long, even slopes between 25° and 30°. Over 1,000 meters of pure joy — like that song you never get tired of replaying.
A narrow 45° entrance that widens into the Olen Valley — the perfect first “date” with steep skiing. Excellent for off-piste skiers ready to test their precision and control.
A true must-do for expert steep skiers. A 60° entrance and exposed traverse lead to the powdery slopes of Punta Vittoria — pure glory for those who dare.
Meaning “small castle” in Walser German — 800 meters of tight, technical turns at 45°–50° with jumps and bottlenecks. Only for those with total terrain awareness and full control.
Wild, remote, and perfectly shaped. A steep 45° slope below the Lys Glacier, exposed to the sun and reachable only by those who know exactly what they’re doing.
This is the crown jewel of steep skiing in Gressoney.
Don’t choose a random slope — choose experience.
If it’s your first time tackling steep skiing on Monte Rosa, go with a local IFMGA-certified guide from Alagna, Gressoney, or Champoluc.
The Monte Rosa Guides won’t just accompany you — they’ll teach you:
how to evaluate snow and slope stability,
how to control descent angles safely,
and how to move with precision and awareness on steep terrain.
With the Guided Freeride Monte Rosa program, you’ll gain both knowledge and confidence — learning to move beyond the line between adventure and excess, in full harmony with the mountain.
Write to us for advice, guided experiences, or tailor-made training programs.
Because on Monte Rosa, steep skiing isn’t just a discipline — it’s an art.
