You might not even know where Andorra is, let alone that it has some very reliable ski touring with combined with great access. Andorra is a tiny country in the Pyrenees, a roughly 20 km by 20 km circle of mountains between Spain and France in the east of that mountain chain. It is literally all mountains, and while it has the reputation of the duty free shop of Southern France and Catalonia, it also has the longest ski season in the Pyrenees and wonderful access to lots of intermediate terrain serviced by over 25 free backcountry cabins spread throughout the country. If you are exploring the Pyrenees it does make a worthwhile stop, and is a perfect place for the intermediate ski tourer looking to do some backcountry hut skiing.
While the snow is variable and the terrain is limited, the weather is often good – even in winter – and a lot can be done in a short period. While it does not compare to the Alps, there are many fun tours here without the hassles of the Alps – lower avy danger, no glaciers, less people etc. A tour of the cabins in well worth it, with plenty of small chutes and longer cruisers to keep the pure ski tourer happy: for peak bagging and fall-and-you-die lines, the more serious of us must head north east to the bigger mountains of the Alps. But for those content with racking up 3000m of vert of over 5 or 6 runs on ego building spring snow and returning to a cabin for the evening, Andorra is worth the trip.
The best base is Pas de la Casa as the touring is out the door in every direction. It is a pure resort town though, set up for the hordes of English and Dutch who come for the cheap lift passes and reliable snow. The capital, Andorra la Vella, doesn’t have a whole lot more ambience but feels a little more like reality with normal people going about their everyday life. It is lower and to access the snow you will have to drive or take a bus. |
