Serre Chevalier 1400
Villeneuve
By Ray "Ray of the Mountain" Stroud
The slopes above Villeneuve are split into two areas, that above the Aravet telecabine, also served by the Casse de Boeuf four man chairlift and that above the Frejus telecabine also reached by large telecabine (Pontillis) and then the Frejus, a short three man chairlift.
At the bottom of the Aravet telecabine is a large nursery area and draglift (Mickey) that is floodlit and open to all two nights a week. At the top of the Aravet telecabine is a second nursery area with two “travelators” or “magic carpets”. There are two watering holes here, both providing table service and self service with good sized terraces.
The Aravet (green) starts here and the Marteau (blue) can be joined, both providing easy skiing back to Villeneuve. Skiers can also cut onto the Campcella (blue) from a short distance down the Aravet piste in order to return to Chantemerle. Access to higher ground is provided by a new fast six-man chairlift “Le Foret”.
Snowborders and skiers can use the jumps in the extensive snowpark below the Foret lift. The top of the Foret accesses good reds and blues and a short ski brings one to yet another of the fourteen restaurants at altitude, this is also reachable by non skiers, being less than fifty metres from the top of the Casse de Boeuf chair. A black piste, of the same name starts here and will take you back to the bottom of the chair, usually a good ski all season due to an abundance of artificial snow, if you want something a little easier take the Marteau (blue) which starts at the same point.
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