Crevacol, Saint Rhemy En Bosses

The official website lists 22 km of pistes, between 1,640 and 2,450 metres, with a total vertical drop of more than 800 metres. Despite its limited size, Crévacol offers fairly long runs and a greater variety of terrain than the small number of lifts might suggest.

The ski area is served by two fixed-grip chairlifts and a conveyor lift for beginners. The Saint-Rhémy chairlift serves the lower section, while the three-seater Arp du Jeu–Testa Bassa reaches the ski area’s highest point. The lifts are basic and not particularly fast: the two-seater Saint-Rhémy chairlift is the oldest, while the three-seater Testa Bassa, equipped with a loading conveyor, reaches 2,450 metres. On normal days, the low visitor numbers nevertheless offset the uphill travel times and make it possible to ski without queues.

The pistes are particularly suitable for intermediate skiers, who can find panoramic red runs, changes in gradient and descents long enough to provide a varied day’s skiing. The Testa Bassa, Combette, Merdeux and Saint-Rhémy pistes cross broad, open slopes in the upper section and more enclosed terrain as they approach the valley floor. More advanced skiers will find some challenging sections and the Competizione piste, used by ski clubs for training and races.

Beginners have the La Rosière learning area, served by a conveyor lift, as well as several easy pistes on which to consolidate their technique. Moving from the learning area to the rest of the ski area nevertheless requires a reasonable level of confidence, as many of the main runs include sections of intermediate difficulty. Crévacol is therefore particularly suitable for families with children who have already acquired the basics of skiing, while complete beginners will find a compact but limited teaching area.

The upper Gran San Bernardo Valley often receives abundant snowfall, even when other parts of the region remain drier. The upper section of the ski area also offers interesting possibilities after a snowfall, but its predominantly sunny exposure can quickly transform the snow during mild periods. Artificial snow covers approximately 6 km of pistes and mainly supports the lower sector and the return route; full opening of the ski area therefore remains more dependent on natural snowfall than at the large ski areas in the Aosta Valley.

Crévacol is also known to freeride and ski touring enthusiasts. The open slopes and side valleys in the Gran San Bernardo area offer numerous itineraries, but terrain outside the pistes is neither controlled nor secured. It is therefore essential to consult the avalanche bulletin, carry avalanche rescue equipment and, when unfamiliar with the area, rely on a mountain guide.

At the bottom of the lifts there are car parks, a rental shop, a ski school and several refreshment outlets, while a wider choice of hotels and services can be found in Saint-Rhémy-en-Bosses, Étroubles and the other villages in the valley. In the nearby locality of Flassin, it is also possible to go cross-country skiing and use the snow play park.

Crévacol is a compact, affordable resort far from the crowds, suited to those who prefer skiing in a natural environment without chasing large numbers or state-of-the-art lifts. Its limitations are its small size, slow chairlifts and incomplete artificial snow coverage; its strengths are the vertical drop, uncrowded pistes, sunshine and the authentic atmosphere of the upper Gran San Bernardo Valley.