World Tour. Off-piste skiing can be dangerous, and sometimes lethal, due to the risk of avalanches, hidden obstacles, crevices, extremely steep runs, and other hazards. In the 2012-13 season, a skier was killed by an avalanche on the Col de la Mouche and two others died at the Bec des Etagnes. Verbier is one of only a few resorts to contain a mountain with no pistes coming down it (Mont Gelé). On rare occasions, it is also possible to ski 700 vertical metres from Verbier (1500 m) to Le Châble (800 m) in the valley below, though such a run now entails going through terrain with felled trees and other obstacles. The off-piste run from Col des Gentiannes (2,950 m) down to Le Chable is a better option, but it is important to check that snow conditions are good and that there is no avalanche risk. Also, some of the trails from Col des Gentiannes to Le Châble lead to dead-ends and dangerous rockfaces, so it is essential to be familiar with the terrain before attempting to ski down to Le Châble from Gentiannes. The nearest heli-ski landing spots are Rosablanche, Petit Combin, and Trient Glacier. Verbier is a stop on the most commonly taken route by skiers of the Haute Route from Chamonix to Zermatt. Ski and snowboard schools Various ski and snowboard schools offer private lessons, group lessons, clinics, and performance coaching. Mountain-guide companies and a few independent mountain guides complete the offerings. Ski and snowboard schools include Performance Verbier, Alpinemojo Ski and Snowboard School, La Fantastique, Altitude Ski and Snowboard School, New Generation Ski School, European Snowsport and the Swiss Ski School. Summer skiing In 1983, 2 T-bar lifts were installed on the glacier to allow skiing all year. The lifts took 7 minutes and 30 seconds to ride and had a rate of 2,400 people per hour. The summer skiing last operated during July 1999. In April 2012, the website SeeVerbier.com published a report as part of an April fools joke claiming that the resort would re-open for summer skiing during June. As a result of exceptional weather conditions, Verbier was able to offer skiing on 13 and 14 July 2013. 1,630 people attended the event. Summer In the summertime, there are 400 km of hiking trails and hikers can follow the tracks of the chamois and ibex through the mountains, some of them covered with