La Grave/La Meije Ski Week

La Grave/La Meije Ski Week – France

February 10 – April 5, 2009

Cost: TBD
(Based on Number of Days and Skiers)

Difficulty Level: Advanced Ski
Participants should be solid black diamond skiers and be in good physical shape. No technical climbing experience is necessary, although previous experience backcountry skiing/skiing is recommended. Ability to ski in variable terrain necessary.

La Grave, France is ‘the’ free-riders paradise. Unlike any other ski area in the world, La Grave boasts 7050 vertical feet of lift-accessed, steep, challenging, off-piste terrain. The area is uncontrolled, meaning there is no avalanche control, no ski patrol, no ski school and very, very few skiers on the mountain. You must wear a beacon, shovel and probe at all times, and often wear a climbing harness as well. Mountaineers and extreme skiers from all over the world make pilgrimages to La Grave. The town is in Les Hautes Alpes region of France and is two hours from Chamonix and four hours from Geneva. It is a charming, French village with a few bars, shops and rustic restaurants, along with the most unbelievable terrain rising sharply up from your cozy hotel window.

Skiers considering joining our La Grave ski weeks should be confident black diamond skiers. Skiing in La Grave is true ski mountaineering, so any climbing skills you have may be utilized as well.

Each day starts with breakfast and a quick meeting with the guide to plan the route for the day. A typical day in La Grave involves riding the three gondolas to the restaurant at 3200m. At that point, we put on our harnesses and continue up two poma lifts to the summit of the glacier, the “Dome de La Lauze”. From there, depending on snow conditions, visibility, snow stability and other factors, your guide will select which route to attempt. And, of course, no ski day in France is complete without a full three course lunch! Each day we will sample some of La Grave’s culinary treats including: raclette, tartiflette, cheese fondue & flaky croissants. After a full afternoon of skiing, the day ends with a vin chaud (hot wine) at one of La Grave’s local watering holes, Le Castillon. Throughout the week, be prepared for lots of cheese, chocolate, and lots of powder and steep terrain!

For those interested, La Grave also offers world-class ski touring opportunities.

In 2009, our La Grave ski weeks will be led by Alpenglow’s owner, Adrian Ballinger. Adrian discovered La Grave two years ago, and guided there for the past two seasons. Now he’s considering picking up and moving there!