 Poster: A snowHead
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I'm off to La Grave 26th Feb for a long weekend, using Snowlegend guiding service. Any hints or tips.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Steve, I've only just seen your post so it's a bit late now! I'd be intereted to hear your report as I live in Grenoble so can access La Grave easily for a w/e. I haven't made it up there yet but intend to before the end of the season.
My skiing work colleagues rave about it for the quality of skiing and beautiful surroundings. I hope you get / had good snow and weather...
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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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Steve - I hope you're having a great time right now on the slopes. When you get back, can you give us some details including price? I'm really interested.
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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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Dave and Cedric,
I'm back! Waaaaahay. I have just had the best skiing experience of my life!
Fantastic terrain, really demanding skiing, couloirs, steeps, glaciers, (when was the last time you put a climbing harness on to go skiing?) icy bump runs through trees, fresh powder yesterday one week after the last snow (if you know where to go) . Stunning, stunning mountain enviroment. Tiny village, hard core, no night life after 10 - if you're still awake you're not skiing hard enough.
Physically it's massively demanding, there's 2,150M of vertical and to ski it all in one go leaves you absolutely drained. You need to be a strong advanced skier with a fair bit of off piste experience and you must be physically fit.
GET A GUIDE. GET A GUIDE. GET A GUIDE.
It is easy to get confused, there are no pistes, negligble markings, no safety ropes, no ski patrol, it is a pure mountain environment. But they take safety very seriously, everyone carrys avalanche packs and transceivers even when risk is as low as 2. They pride themselves on knowing their limits and abilities and adjusting their routes and skiing to that. If the visibility went while you were up there and you were unguided you would be in real trouble.
We put our own travel and accomodation together and were guuided by Didi and his mates (www.snowlegend.com) and they were fantastic. 70€ per day gives you guiding in groups of 5-6, skis (B2,B3 Scratch BCs in great condition) ava pack, transceiver, harness, helmet. Days pass 30€.
This really is the true essence of skiing. You, the mountain and your ability. Forget the flash bars, nightclubs, fancy ski gear shops get back to how it's really meant to be.
A final word of warning, it will spoil you forever, every where else will feel like a compromise.
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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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Ah but when you live in Grenoble who cares?
Great report Steve and glad you had an awesome time - I was thinking about you as I was skiing in powder above the Sarenne gorge in Alpe d'Huez under clear blue skies on Saturday.
I'll defintely have to get a guide and give it a go. Sounds like you'll be back... Thanks!
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Thanks a lot Steve...gives me something to look forward to, if not this season, then maybe next! (I need a couple of these before I put together enough money for heliskiing).
Well done!
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One reason to be in La Grave in a month's time is the Derby de la Meije. 2150 of freeriding, performed by 1,000 competitors.
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All I skied last time was powder, couloirs, and trees; overrated place, you can see why I'm not going back there again! Do try Jean-Yves Hubaud, UIAGM guide, 260 euros/day the last time I checked his website. Top guide- checked the fall of one our party down Freaux couloir last year.
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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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David I heard about that from a couple of colleagues at work and was planning to go, as it sounds awesome. However I'll be in Flaine over the period repping for the Ski Club - doh!
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Pleased you had such a good time, La Grave, is on my must do list, although sounds like I'd better do it sooner rather than later or spend some time in the gym.
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