Heading to L2A for a week early March for my "stag" week - essentially a useful way to get a completely free pass from OH to go skiing with my mates for a week.
Fancy paying homage to Doug Coombs at La Grave whilst there.
Recommendations - for routes, guides, guiding companies, go via the lift route or drive across early....
Skied a lot of offpiste, mostly in NZ clubbies (ridiculously variable) or Hokkaido. Not huge amounts of experience in terrain as big and bad as La Grave though. Not adverse to skinning, fit and able but not massively experienced.
All any any suggestions welcome!
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
You can go over to La Grave from L2A.
However if you really want to *ski* La Grave like Coombs then stay on the right side of the mountain.
Its not cheap - but a guided week at skiers lodge would give you the best adventure skiing possible in the alps.
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?
I Second the part about saying in la grave at skiers lodge if you are there to ski - they run a great operation geared towards skiers that want a great guided experience and also chase the snow via vans - their guides are first rate. If the snow isn’t good at la grave they will take you elsewhere to montgenerve etc. although less stag options if you want to party.
The Link from l2a can close in bad weather etc so if you are set on staying in L2a better off driving for a day or two in LG. lG has lots of different options for abilities and a good guide will set you up well. If you can ski the nz clubbies (craigieburn etc) you will find heaps to ski - LG similar to the nz clubbies with no grooming and sometimes long gaps between snow so can also be variable but March is a good time of year and also great touring.
Guide suggestions below if only there for a day or two all IFMGA.
Thomas vialletet - very energetic and also photographer. Married to a kiwi so English good. Website is his name no space dot com.
The guides burea can also source guides.
Guidelagrave.com
Cyril dupeyre
Benjamin ribeyre
Erin smart
Could also try skiers lodge but more set up for those staying with them for the week. Some of the above guides also work for skiers lodge.
We did a day with Snowlegend last year. We booked the night before and drove across in the morning from Oz/Alped'Huez. If you are just planning on one day at you may want to wait to see what the weather is like during your week and pick the best day accordingly.
I was with a bunch of mates who are good on piste skiers but limited experience off piste.
We just did the main Chancel and Vallons routes and had a great day. I'm sure they can tailor the routes to suit the ability of your group. We had a great time with Snowlegend but I'm sure there are many other excellent guiding options as above.
Whatever you do....do it
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Bring your harness and crampons and get yourself over to a showing off the La Grave segment of this fil for some tasty route ideas!
Yes, much better to stay in La Grave, though it is possible to walk slightly uphill along the ridge from there top of the Les2 alpes skiing to get to the La Grave Area.
But if you ski at all in La Grave without a guide follow the main routes that are well skied. There are lots of very steep couloirs but also cliffs to go off accidentally as I once nearly did.
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
I'm quite an experienced skier, but I'm not sure I'd ski La Grave without a guide. You'll get much more out of it and be safer.
After all it is free
After all it is free
Thanks all for suggestions.
Group I'll be with are very varied - one recovering from ACL recon so will be getting back on with greens, one hasn't skied anything off piste (ever) and only has about 5 weeks on snow total, so I don't think staying in lG would be their cup of tea! Driving down so will have the car set up for winter driving to get over there.
@perthpowchaser, yup - Craigie, Temple and Olympus were by far and away my faves, hard to pick between them. Was lucky enough to have not one, but two 15-30cm days at Craigie this August in upside down winter. Will look into your suggestions for guides too - thanks!
@iainm, would absolutely not be going without a guide. I'm a good skier, but I enjoy not dying more than saving the price of a guide....
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.
There's a new film about La Grave just been released, so all you hot shot off piste dudes can watch and get some ideas.
Me, I'll just watch and appreciate the skills and gnarliness displayed.
FAQ
Poster: A snowHead
