Punters day trip to La Grave

A snowHead

Bit of background, been skiing / snow boarding La Grave since 97 with guides.

Over the last couple of years I've skied there a few times on my own before but have stuck to the main runs and when more people have been around, this time I wanted to explore a little further afield.

I had been up three times last week when I was on the Euro Avalanche Course, and we took it in turns to "lead" the group but again we stuck pretty well to the main runs.

Last week and again this week the mountain almost seems devoid of people, which can be a little disconcerting when you're out up there on your own as it is a truly a vast area.

I struck lucky in that when I arrived at the top station could see that they had opened the glacier drag lift up that takes you to 3,600m.

As I was on my own I did not want to venture too far but scored three great runs in untracked before heading off down for one run all the way to the bottom of the valley to let the dogs out the van and have some lunch.

After lunch back up again, and this time I wanted to ski routes below P2 so opted for a run down Chancel before cutting across the Breche and back on to Vallons before heading to P2 and the trees.

Last run wanted to head off towards the Couloirs du Lac, made a bit of an error in that I missed the route for the easier Banane and ended up taking Lac Couloir which has a very gnarly entrance side slipping with just enough room for the skis with the final bit over some blue ice, once in snow was superb.

Was well pleased with the day and looking forward to be back there in ten days time with some mates, and this time with Per our guide mate who has said I can continue with my exploration with him on my shoulder Toofy Grin

Yesterday was sort of planned after the snowfall on Monday with me looking at forecasts and chatting to Per and opting for the Wednesday over the Tuesday as I thought viz would be an issue and you don't want to be skiing La Grave in bad viz.

Anyway for those that might want to read more, it's all here and have uploaded some 30 plus images here

A snowHead

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

Weathercam, nice. Thanks for sharing.

You need to Login to know who's really who.

Charliebigpotatoes, hope you saw what I was up to last week, kept thinking of your location, as I dug three of them there Toofy Grin

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

Weathercam, looks like a great day out. Thanks for putting the pics up.

You'll need to Register first of course.

Nice - think I'm too much of a punter to ski La Grave solo, at least away from the "standard" routes. Mainly cos it's a bit different from calling the nearest pisteur's hut should S*** happen.

Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

Never skied La Grave. Would love to but my regular ski buddy lost his cousin in an avalanche there in the early 90s and we've been sworn off going there to avoid giving his mother a heart attack Crying or Very sad

After all it is free

I've been a couple of times, both with Easiski. First time was in April, it was beautiful weather, was well tracked after the Derby and there was a big group of us including a lot of youngsters. It seemed rather benign tbh (I know it's not). 2nd time was in January a couple of years ago and the weather closed in and visibility was awful. 2 runs from the top to P2 and given the option of skiing down or taking the gondola I gladly rode down.

April 2009

January 2012

Hopefully should get another trip over this winter.

I've skied Vallons down to P1, but not sure I would like to repeat it, those huge icy moguls towards the bottom nearly finished me off. I couldn't get out of bed the next morning.

*Ski* the Net with snowHeads

Edit multiple post

snowHeads are a friendly bunch.

[quote="betterinblack"]

snow reports

Looks like a busy day!

You know it makes sense.

Good man

Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

'Lac Couloir' looks like the entrance to 'Hidden Couloir', I presume they're one and the same? We did it a couple of years ago with offpisteskiing after a week without snow. Needless to say, the entrance was quite spicy but the remainder is a little tamer than Banane and shorter IIRC. Conditions look rather good.

A snowHead

Sharkymark, like I said been skiing / boarding LG since 97, being on your own is totally different to being in a group, though hopefully I'll look back at this and think what was the big deal rolling eyes

I often drag this vid out as I still think it encapsulates what it's like to score great conditions both here in Serre and La Grave, plus a great sound track and you will not see better rooster tails (at the end) and it was way back in 2001 before Youtube etc

And four of us from that vid will be ripping with the same guide in ten days time (hopefully)

Babylon - La Grave 2001 - Simon Bedford from Weathercam

http://vimeo.com/37009823

A snowHead

OUr very first trip to Serre Che was towards the end of the 2001 season . Amazing snow conditions.

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

Proper back in the day! Some pretty awesome face shots at the start.

You need to Login to know who's really who.

Weathercam, that video is awesome. Were you snowboarding or skiing back then?

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

meh, back then was snowboarding, the guy with no helmet taking big long fast turns and doing a lot of the filming, so often had the first tracks Toofy Grin

Guy in the red helmet (snowboarding) is out with us along with the "hucker".

And Per (the guy riding the Swallow Tail at the end) is the guide.

Stopped snow boarding after quite a few big touring trips as it became obvious that touring and snow boarding is not the best fit.

Plus growing old gracefully skiing is so much better on the body as those that know the traverses in La Grave to P1 will testify.

And one of the skiers getting facefulls of powder stopped for around ten years after a bit of a day in La Grave when he was in two avalanches, one in the morning and one in the afternoon, both quite "safe" if there is such a thing, but freaked him big time Shocked

You'll need to Register first of course.

Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

Weathercam, yeah saw on you Lyngen video that you were using approach skis and a board. Must have been heavy!

After all it is free

richjp, ah, could be. Patou's on the other side of the lake to Banane, isn't it? I think the hidden couloir is next to Banane and I remember it being relatively easy to take the wrong route. Patou has more of a traverse, some of which is quite spicy!

Patou is further along counterclockwise along the lake from banane.
Weathercam, good work.

*Ski* the Net with snowHeads

Wasn't meant to be over there till this Wednesday, but Sunday night saw texts and emails flying around to make a plan based on the forecast and the snow that was starting to fall.

So early Monday dug the van out and headed over the Col which was one hell of a gnarly drive with me doubting if the lift would be open as it was so windy.

Met my mates in the Castillian (as ever) and we had three La Grave virgins with us, one a very very good skier and two guys who had skied off piste but not to this degree.

Our guide was my good friend Per who had done the commission earlier in the morning.

Conditions were superb in the morning with great viz, after lunch we lost three of the group due to tired legs, and conditions deteriorated but enough "couloir" light to do Trifide and Bananne.

http://youtube.com/v/YL5o8lT9dBc&feature=youtu.be

And more pictures here

snowHeads are a friendly bunch.

Weathercam, Lovely pics... will be there at halfterm. Missed last year due to injury. Properly exited now Laughing

snow reports

Back over there yesterday, ski touring above Chazelet - weather was foul later on and worse today but we're back up the hill this morning

Help!!

Punters day trip to La Grave

snowHeads Forum Index >>> Off Piste