The world’s scariest ski runs
If you like your ski slopes fast and furious, these perilous pistes should really get your adrenaline pumping. Just one word of advice, leave your hip flask at home – you’ll need a clear head to contend with these bad-boys…
1. Corbet's Couloir, Jackson Hole, Wyoming, US
Hard-core skiers consider Corbet’s the pinnacle in extreme ski runs. You can reach the summit via cable car and, if that’s enough to put you off, simply watch the skiing spectacle if you chicken out. However, if you’re still game to make the formidable leap, you must first pluck up the courage to jump from the daunting initial drop. Most skiers have find they have to leap three to four metres before they hit the snow, plunge forward to regain balance, then negotiate a sharp turn to avoid a craggy set of rocks. Yikes!
2. The Swiss Wall, La Chavanette, Avoriaz, France
Whilst the initial twists and turns of the La Chavanette run are pleasant enough, its not until you reach the ominous ‘Swiss Wall’ that the hairs on your back will stand on end. Considered one of the most speedy descents on any piste map, the sheer overhang of the Wall is so steep that you will struggle to see what lies ahead and can even be fatal in icy conditions. If that’s not enough to put you off, the warning sign at the top reading ‘For experts only’, might just make your decision for you.
3. Tortin, Verbier, Switzerland
In the right conditions, Tortin can be a piece of cake, but attempt it when the snow is icy or less plentiful, and you may underestimate the beast! Skiers can reach the run via a traverse where they must pick their spot before negotiating a sheer slope. If in doubt, leave this one to the pros – the further you go, the more terrifying it becomes – and there’s no going back…!
4. The Diving Board, Alta, Utah
Not for those with a nervous disposition, the aptly named ‘Diving Board’ in Utah’s magnificent Alta region is more of a jump than a run, where skiers must contend with not one, but two formidable planks. If the thought of launching yourself 30 feet from a rugged rock outcropping leaves you feeling weak at the knees, you can join the crowds who watch the death-wishers under Alta’s Supreme lift.
5. Two Smokes, Silverton, Colorado
Testament to its hazardous reputation, the Two Smokes run at Silverton Mountain in Colorado is guide-only, so this is not for those who like going it alone. Negotiating craggy rocks and trees, this 53-degree rock channel is the skier’s challenge of a lifetime.
For further reading, check out this online travel guide.