cable car Verbier's ski domain ranges from 1500 m (Verbier Village) up to 3330 m (
Mont Fort) from which there is a panoramic view of the Alps encompassing the
Matterhorn Cervin,
Dom,
Dent Blanche,
Dent d'Hérens, Grand Combin and
Mont Blanc massif. It is part of the "Four Valleys" ("4 Vallées") ski area, which includes the ski resorts of Verbier,
Nendaz,
Veysonnaz,
La Tzoumaz, and
Thyon with a claimed total of 410 km marked runs. However, an independent expert measured that the real extent of marked runs is 164 km rather than 410 km. The ski area is divided into four sectors: Medran, Les Savoleyres, Mont Fort and Bruson. Verbier forms the western section of the 4 valleys ski area. A 4 Valley pass allows a tour all the way from Verbier to La Tzoumaz, Nendaz, Veysonnaz,
Les Masses, Thyon and back. The Verbier section of the 4 Valleys ski area has recent lifts made by
Leitner, CWA, Poma and Garaventa AG, all operated by Téléverbier SA. In Verbier alone, there are 35 lifts (within the Verbier, Savoleyeres/La Tzoumaz and Bruson sector). A standard Verbier pass gives access to this entire sector, 33 standard ski runs, two
snowparks, one "Jardin de Neige" (a relatively flat area that is used for small children learning to ski), four cross-country pistes and two walking areas.
Off-piste Verbier is known for its off-piste and itinerary runs. Amongst these are popular mogul fields Tortin, Gentianes, Mont Fort and Plan du Fou as well as more advanced itineraries Vallon D'Arbi and
Mont Gelé (which are often closed). Notable off-piste runs are the Backside of Mont Fort, Bec des Etagnes, Stairway to Heaven, Highway, Marlenaz, Croix de Coeur, Bacombe, Col des Mines, Creblets, Couloir de la Banane, Col de la Mouche, The Rocky Garden, The Hidden Valley (down to Auddes-sur-Riddes), Couloir des Dix, Col de la Banane, and the less accessible
Bec des Rosses, annual host for the finals of the Freeride World Tour. Off-piste skiing can be dangerous, and sometimes lethal, due to the risk of avalanches, hidden obstacles, crevices, extremely steep runs, and other hazards. In the 2012–13 season, a skier was killed by an avalanche on the Col de la Mouche and two others died at the Bec des Etagnes. Verbier is one of only a few resorts to contain a mountain with no pistes coming down it (Mont Gelé). On rare occasions, it is also possible to ski 700 vertical metres from Verbier (1500 m) to Le Châble (800 m) in the valley below, though such a run now entails going through terrain with felled trees and other obstacles. The off-piste run from Col des Gentiannes (2,950 m) down to Le Chable is a better option, but it is important to check that snow conditions are good and that there is no avalanche risk. Also, some of the trails from Col des Gentiannes to Le Châble lead to dead-ends and dangerous rockfaces, so it is essential to be familiar with the terrain before attempting to ski down to Le Châble from Gentiannes. The nearest heli-ski landing spots are
Rosablanche,
Petit Combin, and
Trient Glacier. Verbier is a stop on the most commonly taken route by skiers of the
Haute Route from
Chamonix to
Zermatt.
Ski and snowboard schools Various ski and snowboard schools offer private lessons, group lessons, clinics, and performance coaching. Mountain-guide companies and a few independent mountain guides complete the offerings. Ski and snowboard schools include Performance Verbier, Alpinemojo Ski and Snowboard School, La Fantastique, Altitude Ski and Snowboard School, New Generation Ski School, European Snowsport and the Swiss Ski School.
Summer skiing In 1983, 2
T-bar lifts were installed on the glacier to allow skiing all year. The lifts took 7 minutes and 30 seconds to ride and had a rate of 2,400 people per hour. The summer skiing last operated during July 1999. In April 2012, the website SeeVerbier.com published a report as part of an
April fools joke claiming that the resort would re-open for summer skiing during June. As a result of exceptional weather conditions, Verbier was able to offer skiing on 13 and 14 July 2013. 1,630 people attended the event. ==Summer==