 Poster: A snowHead
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I would really appreciate some help with a few questions about La Grave.
How difficult are the itinerary routes down from the top of La Grave, and are they marked?
How do they compare to the itinerary routes in Verbier or the route down from the top of the Les Grands Montets in Chamonix?
Is a guide necessary if I stick to the main trails?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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wmmmw, The routes aren't marked. There are no trails.
On a good day the main two routes are fairly obvious, but there are cliffs hidden in the trees that have killed people...
IMV it's not worth going to LG (for the first time) without a guide.
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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?
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they aren't really itinerary routes and they aren't marked. there do *tend* to be signs warning you before you get yourself into real trouble
if you go on a nice day when it hasn't snowed for a little while, you could probably find your way down the two main routes without incident but:
1. you could also take a wrong turn and end up lost or worse
2. the main routes are fun but there are so many other things which are not obvious that you will be missing out big time if you don't have someone showing you round
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Thanks for the quick replies.
How does the route down compare to the areas I have mentioned?
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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We were there recently in poor (but not zero) visibility and I don't think we'd have had a clue where to go without our guide. No markers and very few skiers to ask for directions.
And in good visibility, as the others say, you'll have much more fun with someone to show you the more interesting aspects of La Grave!
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wmmmw,
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the top of the Les Grands Montets in Chamonix
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Skiing level is about the same (I assume you are talking about Pylones and Point de Vue).. but route finding much more complex. There is no 'piste map' or equivilent to follow. You don't have the luxury of skiiing on a piste first to learn your way about. LG not patrolled either.
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It sounds like the main risk is getting lost rather than difficulty of slope.
Is the skiing on a glacier. If so is there the associated risks e.g. cravasses
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wmmmw,
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main risk is getting lost
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and finding yourself somewhere you cannot ski out off, or climb up from. Get a guide !
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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.
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| wmmmw wrote: |
| It sounds like the main risk is getting lost rather than difficulty of slope. |
well sort of but you could end up on something very difficult indeed if you take a wrong turning
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| wmmmw wrote: |
It sounds like the main risk is getting lost rather than difficulty of slope.
Is the skiing on a glacier. If so is there the associated risks e.g. cravasses |
The itineraries shown on the map are not on the glacier at all as far as I recall. However just because they are marked as "itineraries" on the map that does not mean they can be compared to itineraries in other resorts. As others have said in La Grave they are virtually unmarked and there are times when the obvious looking route is not the easiest route. There are places where short traverses, which you will probably not notice, around and or over small ridges lead to easier ways with better skiing.
One of the routes can also be prone to avalanches from above and only a guide can be a decent judge of the danger. Remember there is no avalanche safety clearing in La Grave.
As far as the glacier skiing is concerned, all off piste skiing on glaciers should be considered as having a crevasse risk. I am sorry, but the fact that you have to ask that question suggests that your experience is a bit limited.
Two people died trying too find a way off the glacier in la Grave about six weeks ago. Another person a week before that miraculously survived a night on the mountain after getting lost.
La Grave is not to be messed about with.
Get a guide.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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I am sorry, but the fact that you have to ask that question suggests that your experience is a bit limited.
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You are right my experience of this type of skiing is limited.
It seems like the best idea is to get a guide, if for nothing else than just to find the route down.
From the replies it sounds like La Grave is very different to the itineraries in Verbier and unpisted blacks on Les Grands Montets in Chamonix. When I done these they were very well marked and had lots of skiers on them. I skiied fromn the top of Les Grands Montets on Easter Sunday this year in 15m visibility and it was still very easy to follow the trail.
One more question;
The itinerary in Verbier from Mont Fort to Tortin had signs describing it as glacier skiing however there was all sorts of "experianced limited" skiers on it and no specialist equipment in sight. Was I on a glacier?
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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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wmmmw,
Only the two classic routes vaguely compare to anything on the GM....that is Chancel and Le Meije and they will be 2000mtr vertical descents from the P3 ( top of the gondolas ) to P1.
Mont Fort to Tortin is not remotely in the same league....IMV. There are no pistes to follow...only well worn tracks possibly and the standard of those skier's tracks might be very very high.
As others have said, most skiers will be with a guide and pretty well equipped so unless you are comfortable in high alpine routes, don't even think about it without one. On a good day...you might route find if you know what you are doing...or if you are lucky. The consequences of not knowing what you are doing or being lucky could quite easily be tragic
Plenty of places in the alpes has hairy terrain like Le Grave but you aren't likely to end up there by accident ...or you really really really shouldn't, but at LG, it is lift served, and then potential trouble.
You may not see other groups at all... as they don't put too many people on the mountain and the area is huge.
Mont Fort down to Tortin has crevasses off the side of the run...they are plain to see, mostly.
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Thanks for all the help.
I am off to Alpe d'Huez on Saturday and i was considering a trip to Les Deux Alpes and possibly la Grave. I now think I will be stick to Les Deux Alpes and Alpe d'Huez.
Maybe in a couple of seasons with a bit more experience I will not be so tight and get a guide and give it ago.
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You know it makes sense.
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wmmmw, As said above; it's not the skiing but more the mountain navigation and risk evaluation skills that you need for this type of terrain... plus altitude survival techniques just in case things go wrong. It is not an environment in which to take risks. I went down vallons de la Meije last year with a certain sH who knew it like the back of her hand. Fantastic terrain, beautiful surroundings and great snow if a little thin.
There is plenty of glacier skiing in the Alpes where pistes are marked and the area checked for crevasses, this is rather different to true off piste areas.
http://pistehors.com/backcountry/wiki/Hautes-Alpes/La-Grave-Off-Piste
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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wmmmw, get yourself a guide in ADH and sample some wild big mountain skiing which is less crowded than La Grave!
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Poster: A snowHead
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dont you think that the name "la GRAVE" is slightly ominous and maybe suggestive?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| 3thr3e wrote: |
| dont you think that the name "la GRAVE" is slightly ominous and maybe suggestive? |
It does rather but that is not the reason for the name of the village.
The village dates back at least several hundred years, way before the days of skiing or recreational climbing, as it was a coaching stop on one of the traditional routes between France and Italy. I asked both our hotelier and one of our local French guides for the origin of the name.
The French word "grave" can translate into our word "serious", however there is also the French word "gravelle" which is the equivalent of the English "gravel" and the French "graver" meaning to engrave or gouge.
The most popular explanation is that the village takes it's name from the gravel in the river bed although no one I spoke to was absolutely sure.
The second suggestion because the village sits above a small gorge, is that the village takes it's name from the gorge which has been gouged or "engraved" by nature.
Does anyone know for sure?
I agree that the name in English is very appropriate.
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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?
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Out of interest, has anyone skied the Derby? Looks a hoot!
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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| Sideshow_Bob wrote: |
| Out of interest, has anyone skied the Derby? Looks a hoot! |
Go now - you still have time!
This year's event is tomorrow April 4th!
I am no good at posting links but if you enter "derby la grave" into google you can read all about it. Perhaps someone could post the link?
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I wish! Don't think I can get from London to La Grave for kickoff tomorrow morning, plus I'd want a recce of the hill first! Have any SHs done the race? The record time of just over five minutes sounds damned quick for any descent of over 2k vertical, let alone completely unpisted and untracked terrain. I'd love to see vids of the winning runs, serious hucking. I wonder if they (the fastest guys) ski all-mountain boards or SG/DH planks?
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Sideshow_Bob, the race doesn't always go all the way back down to the valley so that might make the time a bit less impressive. it's still seriously quick tho. never been, but i hear people get some big air of the moraines
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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.
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FAQ
I know several people who've done it. All enjoyed it, most enjoyed the party afterwards more - that's legendary. 