My French is none too good but I think I've got the gist of it. Whilst I sympathise with your views it is a little hard to argue against the locals improving their tourist income at a slight cost to the aesthetics of pure off-piste skiers. And my impression is that it is only a slight effect, though that might be down to my poor French
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
English, please? Even google translate is useless...
Quote:
The La Grave must launch a tender in 2016 for the new cable car dealership in June 2017. "What they want to do, to be told?", Denis Creissels puts the challenge would have wanted his contract be extended to yield to a private operation. He says having two potential customers.
Under the Mountain Act, the common support infrastructure remains master of its long-term future. Elected in charge of the case, Bruno Keeps fixed objectives are difficult to reconcile such an operator Compagnie des Alpes, this Les Deux Alpes, Isère slope, and Serre Chevalier, on the other side of Lautaret. The guide, who was digging the cave to the cable car (3200 m), the Col des Ruillans, is conscious of seeking the rare bird: "We want to stay on the niche of the off-piste. Especially not track back the town! "And to think of passionate local investors ... According to experts, it takes 3 to € 5 million for the unit to reparte winded rate for 40 years. It will also take over the small neighboring resort of Chazelet, deficit. "Leave to extend the contract period," according elected.
A Aiguille du Midi in the Southern Alps
But a new dynamic, the town wants to develop the summer. "Remove the lift on the glacier slopes away with and make a teleported to the Dome de la Lauze (3560 m). In short, it could become the South of the Southern Alps needle, encourage tourists. And change of economic model. " Up there, the view extends to the Ecrins MontBlanc. La Grave become a small Chamonix without excess, for never did ascend a highway Romanche. The National Mountaineering School started here. In 1890, we even thought of a cog railway to the Meije. For Creissels, we are in the dream. True to a conventional view of the ski binding real estate and development for him La Grave missed the boat, not having built beds and connected to the cable Chazelet.
Today the summit equipment, old lift the skier reached, pulled by a rattrack reports to the local folklore. And two tracks maintain confusion with the spirit of place. Yet they make La Grave highest French field. Title to which the station has never communicated, preferring boast 2,100 m elevation backcountry.
I assume it's something to do with no-one getting the money to maintain/update/replace the lift?
the Le Dauphine article article simply proposes concept of a new gondola to the Dome de la Lauze.
rather than existing finish at 3200m. which is, for now, an interesting idea but nothing more than that....
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Think the real more immediate problem is the ongoing road fiasco / farce.
My own POV (based on a few conversations) is that if there are not enough customers in LG (the current owner is contracted to operate the lift) but then there might be a "technical" problem so the lift will not run etc
A SIMPLE MACHINE:
THE LIFE OR DEATH OF THE LA GRAVE CABLECAR
Coming November 8, 2015
The La Grave cablecar is an icon of big-mountain freeskiing, a unique lift that accesses some of the most classic unmarked and unpatrolled steep-skiing descents in the Alps. As La Grave faces historic challenges—its main road closed by rockfall and the continued operation of the cablecar in doubt—we take an insider's view of “Le Telepherique” and what’s at stake in the uncertain future of this backcountry mecca.
Latest rumor seem to be a temporary single track road on other side of lac will finally open late October.
This could be very prone to avalanche / snow closure. Which could make getting to LG from Grenoble complex / uncertain.
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
@Haggis_Trap, Have you looked at the other thread
After all it is free
After all it is free
^ had a quick look just now
according to my contacts the temporary road should be open by winter ?
however as you say it might be slow / prone to closure / there for 5 years until new tunnel.
Have signed up to the euro avalanche course in Jan and have booked flights to Geneve (perhaps foolish... time will tell)
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
Certainly had more than their fair share of setbacks recently. Light at the end of the tunnel? The EUR 400/500k gives some financial security to the present arrangement, allowing that to continue and there is no reason why that funding should change the feel of La Grave at all other than in a positive way by reassuring the local community that La Grave's main attraction will be there for longer - no downside to that funding - Bravo and phew - a thoroughly "good thing".
So, with the immediate future of the old lift hopefully secured, it makes investing in a new lift to access the Dome de la Lauze that much more attractive for potential investors/bidders. From the La Grave side, the old lift would still provide a choke point restricting access to the potential new lift so no change there other than opening up the terrain above to pedestrian visitors like Aiguille du Midi which they mgiht want to emulate to expand the summer clientele. Glacier 3000 at Les Diablerets gets a similar trade in pedestrians, both winter and summer - but not the same scale as Aiguille dM. I can't imagine the locals in La Grave wanting a Glacier 3000-style brushed aluminium restaurant, summer roller coaster, Bernie Ecclestone's tribute to Formula One and an aerial walkway up there though - it doesn't quite sound like what I'd like La Grave to be in twenty years time.
That new lift into Dome de la Lauze would be pointing straight at LDA (who are named candidates for investing Compagnie des Alpes). A new lift perched on Dome de la Lauze might act as a beacon visible from the LDA glacier calling all comers to make the trek across - "Look Petunia, how do we get to that lift?". If LDA did invest in a new lift there then they'd want to provide access to it from their adjacent domain - presto, La Grave could become an extension to LDA.
Also, if someone is succesful in their tender, wouldn't they also want to take over the lease for the old lift or might there be two operators on the same side of the mountain? complique.
You're right - loads of conjecture here: fear of commercialisation and change and I'm not even a conservationist - god knows what the more environmentally conscious might say on the topic.
the Le Dauphine article article simply proposes concept of a new gondola to the Dome de la Lauze.
rather than existing finish at 3200m. which is, for now, an interesting idea but nothing more than that....
Sweet, thanks!
Still sounds like I should try to get there sooner rather than later though...
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
^ Do it : or you will be one year older when you do
it has been rumored that L2A wanted to buy La Grave for 20+ years.
If they wanted to run a piste down the Chancel / Vallon de Meije it would probably have happened by now ?
Both domains need each other - indeed I was told L2A even helped fund a new cable on the telepherique 10 years ago ?
Either way there now seems to be mutual understanding / accpetance that La Grave's attraction is the lack of commercialism and groomed pistes.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
I need to go there this year. Anyone up for a couple of days fly drive to Turin?
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
Last year had friends come out Thurs to Tues and the like flying BA Gatwick to Turin and they too got crazily good deals on flight and car hire, plus did not have to demean themselves by flying RyanNazi air
@Haggis_Trap, not the brightest move flying to Geneva can you amend to Turin ?
That said Geneva to Chambery is not too bad and then you'll go Chambery Frejus tunel, then turn off at Oulx over Col Montgenevre drop down to Briancon then up over Lautaret (passing chez moi) and then down to LG.
Presume you're renting a car? In which case being a Scotsman you'll love the price of the Frejus tunnel and I know a friendly Sassanach who might be able to send you out the tunnel tickets at a hugely discounted price for you to use
In what role are you doing the course, as some one in the industry or just doing it out of interest as it were?
I did it a few years ago and have not looked at a slope ever again without asking myself a series of questions.
I'll be in Chamonix for the season but myself and a couple of others are planning to come over to LG for a week at some point. Exactly when is dependant on snow conditions.
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
@weathercam : there aren't any direct flights to Torino from Scotland.
Plus I could get to Geneva for just £60 (plus have a mate who lives in Geneva that can ski with weekend before).
If the road is not happening then I will just need to suck up the long drive via Frejus tunnel.
In which case I might check out the Val Frejus ski area en-route http://live.skiplan.com/moduleweb/valfrejus.php
Doing the course towards L3 ISIA stamp (rather than the BASI off piste one).
Have friends who did it previously - and both rated it highly. Good to know you also found it worthy!
Flew to Turin with Ryanair from Stansted last weekend, there were no Nazis on board, flights on time and reasonably priced.Car hire cheap as chips. If you live in Scotland or North East you either drive in the UK or drive abroad. Stansted is not too bad a drive for us, we've done it a few times, although we prefer driving these days, but for a short trip it's not feasible.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
@Hells Bells, sorry but having been on the receiving end of the "pikey" practices on a couple of occasions I despise them and all Michael O'Leary stands for.
I can see that they are trying hard to be rid of the image that won them numerous accolades as the worst airline of the year etc but it's not until it goes a wee bit pear shaped will you truly find out how bad they are and they don't give a flying feck about the poor end user.
@Hells Bells, sorry but having been on the receiving end of the "pikey" practices on a couple of occasions I despise them and all Michael O'Leary stands for.
I can see that they are trying hard to be rid of the image that won them numerous accolades as the worst airline of the year etc but it's not until it goes a wee bit pear shaped will you truly find out how bad they are and they don't give a flying feck about the poor end user.
I use them a lot as they go to a lot of places from my nearest airport. The printing ticket log in rubbish along with £100 for a ski bag is a real pain.
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
@Weathercam, I've never had a bad experience while flying with them, it gets me from A to B, and has sometimes been our only option. Gatwick wouldn't have worked last weekend and nor would flying via Ams or Paris.
After all it is free
After all it is free
Continuing off topic but BA to Turin always works out cheaper for me than Ryanair given I can take my board bag as my 1 piece of checked luggage.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
I agree completely
I remember once arriving late at the airport thanks to roadworks and a tailback from hell. We had left 1.5 hours earlier than normal and it all got used up, still we were there just in time for baggage check in. My wife dropped me outside airport and went to park car. I got to check in, one bag was overy weight allowance by .5 kilo. I had measured at home and it had come up 2 kilos under, were my scales out or theres I think I know the answer. I did not want to argue so offered to pay £20 uplift. Reach into pocket to find wallet has dropped out (thankfully in the car when I ring wife) Wife is 5 minutes away, they ask her to run, I explain that she is 4 months pregnant and won't be running. They closed the flight when I could actually see my wife from the baggage check in desk, she was literally 30 ft away on the concourse and i pointed to her to the clerk. We did not get flight, we had to buy 2 new flights the next day and pay for a novatel at stansted as my wife was too tired to go home and back again after all the stress they caused her. I asked the person behind the till if she felt causing a pregnant women this level of stress was acceptable and got the we have rules sir line. Nazi.
No humanity no flexibility, they are scum and I have never flown with them since and have taken great joy in telling everyone about that story.
Thankfully there was no long term harm to either my wife or our daughter, who is beautiful:)
Ryan air will never get another penny from me.
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
@Hells Bells, I know I've been in the same position and have had to use them, flying to Lourdes last time from Stansted and all was ok, but like I say, have a bad incident and you will find out what they are really like the post above illustrates so well.
I know we are Southern elitist snobs and so are most of the media that has a pop at them but thankfully we have more of a choice down here.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
By the way, last season they had already replaced the cable on the bottom half of the La Grave cable car. Just the top half to do. (At least I think it was that way round)
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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