Slopes can't be steep enough for you? Then the next challenge awaits you in Switzerland. With the "Black Wall", the Glacier 3000 ski resort has gained a new black slope of superlatives. Even the approach to the slope is extraordinary. It leads through a 265-meter tunnel through the mountain. More news from Les Diablerets: The rebuilding of the burnt-down Botta restaurant at the Scex Rouge mountain station is also making progress.
The steepest slope in Switzerland
Since the winter of 2022/2023, the Glacier 3000 ski resort in the Swiss canton of Vaud has a new highlight: the Black Wall. This black slope is not for the faint of heart – or legs. After all, the three-kilometer descent from the Cabane midway station to the Col du Pillon demands a fair amount of courage and skill from anyone who wants to conquer it.
With a maximum gradient of 46 degrees - or to put it another way, 104(!) percent - it is currently the steepest slope in Switzerland. It is even one of the three steepest groomed runs in the world. Thanks to its location on the northern slope, the Black Wall also scores points for its snow reliability.
For the upper part of the run, there is alternatively the non-prepared ski route Pierres-Pointes (No. 115).
The Glacier 3000 ski area now offers expert skiers three high-level runs that will make their thighs burn: the eight-kilometer Red Run, the black Olden run (6 km) and the new Black Wall.
Ride from the top to Col du Pillon possible
With the new slope, it is now also possible to ski a stretch of six kilometers in one piece from the highest point of the ski area at 3,000 meters to the Col du Pillon (1546 m). Until now, taking the 'Col du Pillon-Cabane' cable car was the only way back to this valley station.
Watch out, though: The Black Wall run is really only for very good, experienced skiers!
Even for the snow groomers this slope is a challenge. In order to be able to groom the upper section at all, a 1,400 meter long cable winch had to be placed in the rock face.
Through the tunnel to the slope
Using this area for skiing is not entirely new. From 1963 to 1999, the Pierres Pointes area was already a popular downhill run. At that time, a cable car led up to the slope. However, in the course of the renovation of the facilities, it was dismantled.
The aim now was to open up this area again, but with as little interference with the landscape and nature as possible. Therefore, instead of building a new ropeway, a tunnel was dug. Thus, even getting to the starting point of the Black Wall run, through the mountain, is a bit of a thrill.
The tunnel is 265 meters long and leads with a slight gradient of 14 percent from the Martisberg run to the foot of the Gemskopf rock face, where the Black Wall starts. This makes it the longest ski tunnel in Switzerland. The track in the mountain is not artificially snowed. In fact, here you do not ski on snow, but on an indoor ski carpet. Once you are through the tunnel, there is no turning back.
Facts and Figures
| Length | 3 km |
|---|---|
| Difference in altitude | approx. 1000 m |
| Difficulty | black, extremely difficult |
| Max. gradient | 46° (104 %) |
| Location | Northern slope (Cabane-Col du Pillon) |
| Length | 265 m |
|---|---|
| Width | 2.50 m |
| Height | 3.0 m |
| Gradient | 14 % |
| Surface | Indoor ski carpet |
| Construction | 6 months |
The costs for the Black Wall including the tunnel amount to about 2.6 million Swiss francs.
Reconstruction of the top station underway
There is also news for the top station at Scex Rouge. After the devastating fire last year, reconstruction is moving forward. The fire broke out in September 2022 in the Botta restaurant on the fourth floor of the top station. The self-service restaurant Le 3 on the 3rd floor also suffered irreparable damage. No one was injured.
The aerial tramway below was spared thanks to the fire protection measures, so skiing operations were able to run without major restrictions in the 2022/2023 season. The cause of the fire is still unknown.
Work on the reconstruction has been underway since April 2023. From the outside, the appearance of the new mountain station will be almost identical to the former one. Swiss architect Mario Botta will maintain the striking shape of the "Devil's Pitchfork."
The interiors, on the other hand, will be completely redesigned. This will result in a gain of around 35 square meters of space per floor. Fire protection has also been improved once again. To this end, additional fire escapes and a completely new fire extinguishing system with fog machines have been installed.
Opening of the new restaurants in 2024
The two restaurants Botta and Le 3, which will be completely separate in the future, will offer a total of 400 seats on two floors. Plans include spacious, brighter rooms and new panoramic corner windows.
The former self-service Restaurant Le 3 is getting a new concept. Guests will order and pay via a QR code. The dishes will then be served to the table. Standing in line with ski boots and carrying trays will be a thing of the past.
In addition, a 250-square-meter panoramic terrace with a view of the Peak Walk suspension bridge and numerous four-thousand-meter peaks, including the Matterhorn, is being created on the building's roof.
Energy efficiency also played a role in the project's design. More than 600 solar panels are planned on the southwest facade. The energy thus generated can cover a large part of the restaurant's consumption. The heat generated by the ventilation system of the kitchen and cold rooms will be used to produce hot water.
The new restaurants are scheduled to open in the spring/summer of 2024. Until then, the temporary restaurant "Le Carnotzet" will continue to be open on the Scex Rouge terrace, with seating for 70 inside and 70 outside. For the time being, the ski area's main restaurant will thus remain the Col du Pillon restaurant in the valley.
The reconstruction of the two restaurants is expected to cost around 23 million Swiss francs.
