Dropping 2,000 vertical metres, La Balma is one of the signature runs in Monte Rosa. Bringing skiers from the top of the Punta Indren lift through to Alagna, the route snakes over six miles down steep pitches, open east-facing bowls, narrow gullies and through tiny hamlets of ancient stone farmhouses and granaries. If you weren’t going so fast, we’d advise taking your camera for photos.