Conquer Europe's steepest piste - 80% gradient, no escape

How to Complete

3 steps curated by Wine Memories

1. ⛰️ 1

   Take the Saulire to the Edge of Sanity

   adventure Free

   2,738m summit, 360° views, and the entrance to Europe's steepest.

   Ride the Saulire télépherique (140-person cable car) to 2,738m and find the narrow gap in the rocks that leads to Le Grand Couloir. Look at the angle—it starts at 35% grade, narrows to 2 meters wide, then drops to 80% maximum gradient. Only 5% of people who ride up attempt it. Stand at the entrance. Feel the mountain. On clear days, you can see Mont Blanc from here.

   🔄 BACKUP: Even if you don't ski it, the views from here are spectacular - wine at the summit restaurant is a good consolation.

   🍷 Log Memory
2. ⛰️ 2

   Commit to Europe's Steepest (No Turning Back)

   Optional

   adventure Free

   692m of ungroomed terror at 80% gradient - once you start, you finish.

   This is the steepest marked piste in Europe: 692m long, 340m vertical drop, maximum gradient 80-85%. The run is UNGROOMED but patrolled and avalanche-protected. Once you start, there is NO ESCAPE—the mountain funnels you down with Croix des Verdons on your left, towering cliffs on your right. Ask ski patrol about conditions before dropping in. Commit fully. Take your time. Pick your line.

   🔄 BACKUP: If conditions look bad or confidence wavers, there is NO shame in skiing the groomed alternatives. The mountain will still be there.

   🍷 Log Memory
3. 🍷 3

   Recover with Wine at the Bottom

   wine $

   You just skied Europe's steepest - or wisely chose not to. Either way, wine.

   Le Grand Couloir exits into the Méribel/Courchevel ski area—find the nearest terrace with sunshine and collapse with a vin chaud (mulled wine, €5-8). This is traditional recovery. If you completed the run, you've earned it. If you chose wisely not to, you've still earned it—knowing your limits is skiing smart. Tell the bartender what you just did. They'll have stories of the couloir.

   🔄 BACKUP: La Folie Douce is nearby at the Saulire intermediate station - bigger party, but further to ski.

   🍷 Log Memory

Insider Tips

• ✦

  Only 5% of people who take the Saulire lift attempt this run

• ✦

  Conditions vary between moguls and powder - check with ski patrol

• ✦

  No escape once you start - commit fully or don't start at all

• ✦

  The run is only 2 meters wide at the narrowest point