Sarenne — The Longest Black Run in Europe (16km) to Wine

How to Complete

4 steps to experience this fully

1. ⛰️ 1

   Locate the Sarenne Glacier From Pic Blanc Summit

   adventure Free

   Identify the glacier you'll ski alongside for 10km

   You're about to ski the longest black piste in the Alps — 16km of uninterrupted descent, dropping 1,800m vertical. The first 10km runs ALONGSIDE the Sarenne glacier, a journey through every Alpine life zone: Glacier → high alpine → treeline → forest → village. From the Pic Blanc cable car exit (3,330m), look for the black diamond 'Sarenne' sign. Before you drop in, trace the route with your eyes — you can see the first 3km from the summit. The glacier is the white mass to your right.

   🔄 BACKUP: If visibility is poor, ask a lift operator to point out the Sarenne start. They know it — it's the legendary run.

   🍷 Log Memory
2. ⛰️ 2

   Ski Through the Treeline Transition — From Ice to Forest

   adventure $$

   Notice the moment the landscape transforms from alpine to forest

   Around km 10 of the run, you'll experience the most psychologically satisfying moment: the treeline transition. For 10km, you've been in severe, high-alpine terrain — rock, ice, no vegetation. Then suddenly: trees. You've skied THROUGH the treeline, descending 1,500m in altitude in fast-forward through climate zones. Look up and notice the tree canopy, then look back up the mountain — you can see the Pic Blanc in the distance, still white and barren. That's how far you've come. The last 6km to Huez village is green run — cruise and reflect.

   🔄 BACKUP: If weather/visibility prevents seeing the transition, feel for it — the temperature warms noticeably when you enter the forest.

   🍷 Log Memory
3. 🍷 3

   Toast at Huez Village — 1,800m Below Where You Started

   wine $

   Celebrate finishing Europe's longest black run with local wine

   You just skied 16km and dropped 1,800 vertical meters. Your legs are shaking. This is earned wine — not just resort après-ski. Order a glass of Mondeuse (local Savoie red grape) or Chignin-Bergeron (local white) at any café/bar in Huez village (Bergers district, lower part of resort). The satisfaction comes from the physics: you started at 3,330m touching a glacier, and now you're at 1,500m in a village, holding wine made from grapes grown in the valley you can see below you. Ask: 'Is this from Oisans or Grésivaudan valley?' (Both visible from Huez.)

   🔄 BACKUP: If Savoie wine isn't available, any Rhône or Alpine wine works. The ritual matters more than the specific bottle — you just skied the longest run in Europe.

   🍷 Log Memory
4. 📜 4

   Find the 16km Marker — Proof You Skied the Full Distance

   Optional

   history Free

   Locate the finish marker or signage confirming the full Sarenne length

   The Sarenne's 16km length is FAMOUS — it's billed as the longest black piste in the Alps, possibly the world. The measurement starts at Pic Blanc (3,330m) and ends at Huez village (1,500m). You just skied a distance most people drive. Look for signage at the finish saying '16km' or 'longest black run,' or ask at the bar: 'Where's the Sarenne finish marker?' It's a point of resort pride — they'll know.

   🔄 BACKUP: Take a photo of your GPS/ski tracking app showing 16km and 1,800m vertical. That's your proof. Post it — people will be jealous.

   🍷 Log Memory