03/08/2026
A piste map is not just a colourful suggestion of where to ski next. It is a compact guide to the mountain... and some of its smallest symbols carry the most important information. ⛷️❄️
A marked ski route, itinerary or dashed descent should never automatically be treated like an ordinary groomed piste. Depending on the resort, it may be ungroomed, less frequently patrolled or effectively off-piste terrain, even where it has been marked and avalanche-controlled. 🏔️
The legend is therefore not the boring corner of the map; it is the part that tells you what sort of terrain you are actually entering.
🚠 Lift symbols matter too. A line leading uphill might represent a gondola, cable car, chairlift, drag lift or moving carpet; information worth checking before committing yourself to a route, particularly with children, beginners or anyone who considers button lifts personal enemy number one!⚠️
A red run in one resort may feel noticeably steeper, narrower or less forgiving than a red somewhere else, because gradients, grooming standards, snow conditions and local classification all vary. North American resorts use a different system again, including green circles, blue squares and black diamonds.🔵 🔴 ⚫️
Piste numbers and names help confirm your location at junctions, while arrows can indicate the intended direction of travel or clarify how pistes connect. Warning symbols may mark cliffs, avalanche-prone terrain, closures or other hazards that are considerably less decorative than they first appear.
Our best advice? Photograph the map legend before setting off, download the resort map in advance and never assume two resorts use every symbol in exactly the same way.📍
Because knowing where you are going is useful. Knowing what you are skiing into is rather more important. 🎿🗺️
Save this before your next ski trip...and send it to the friend who always says, “I’m sure this way is fine.”
