Mini Summit 2005: Yurp/La Grave

[Mulletizer]

All this chat about North American minis is making me feel distinctly uneasy. I won't be able to make any of the summits...

There was a thread mentioning a 2005 Yurp mini but I can't find it. Anyway, I already said I would gladly help fix something up in La Grave and show people around. The dates mentioned were the final week of January.

Anyone interested?

Here are 5 good reasons why you should come:
Ripzalot's TR (http://tetongravity.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=5712&highlight=mini)
Truth's TR (http://tetongravity.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=5826&highlight=mini)
Roo's TR (http://tetongravity.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=5867&highlight=grave)
Roo's movie (http://tetongravity.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=10119&highlight=grave) (hope it's still up)
Brownmonkey's video (http://tetongravity.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=6909&highlight=mini) (ditto)

The offer of a warm Mulletastic welcome is open to all anyway (obviously) but a gathering would be a lot of fun.

[divegirl]

So, where would we fly into? Hostels nearby, because we're cheap? Just curious.

[Buster Highmen]

I'm interested, but I likely won't be going this year.....

[Mulletizer]

Originally posted by divegirl
So, where would we fly into? Hostels nearby, because we're cheap? Just curious.

Fly into Lyon or Geneva. Lyon is easier - 2.5hr transfer (Geneva 4hrs and tricky transfer unless you hire a car).

There is plenty of cheap accommodation in La Grave. Hostel/Gite from about 12-15 Euros per night. Reasonably nice apartments from about 80 Euros per week, depending on how many people you are prepared to share with (which works out cheaper than hostel because you can cook your own food so save on restaurant bills). The campsite is free in winter (and peopel do camp sometimes in January) :)

Buster: you know you want to, I know you want to. Do it mang... :D

[natty dread]

I'm seriously considering a La Grave trip this year, mini or not.

[Mulletizer]

Originally posted by natty dread
I'm seriously considering a La Grave trip this year, mini or not.

[Mr Burns]Eeexcellent[/MB] :)

[Hicks]

Just one question: WHEN?:cool:

If they do the biometric passports over there, probably no one from here will ever make it there again.:rolleyes:

[Mulletizer]

Originally posted by Mulletizer
The dates mentioned were the final week of January.

I believe the Roos are also planning to be nearby in Alpe d'Huez at that time.

[Hicks]

Seems I'm gettin' drunk.:p

[Mrs Roo]

Originally posted by Mulletizer
I believe the Roos are also planning to be nearby in Alpe d'Huez at that time.

That's right. We're planning the week of the 22nd Jan. We'll stay in Alpe D'Huez and split the skiing between Alpe D'Huez, La Grave and maybe Serre Chevalier. There is dirt cheap accomodation in Alpy Doopy and we are hoping to have a few cars down there so we may be able to ferry a few maggots between resorts.

Please come...............pleeease!!!! Remember the karaoke challenge, Divegirl!

[splat]

I'm definitely interested, even though the dates fall at the same time as SIA and ispo. But then, I never know what I'm doing until I've already pulled the trigger.

[divegirl]

Originally posted by Mrs Roo
Please come...............pleeease!!!! Remember the karaoke challenge, Divegirl!
Oh, I most certainly do!! I've been dying to go to Europe again, especially France. I haven't been in 3 years! Crime!! I'm seriously considering ditching all my other plans for this. Wait...plans, what plans? Plans are made to be broken, anyway ;)
Really, I'm truly considering it. I'm hoping others will, too, because it's fun to travel with people. Maybe if I buy my ticket now, there will be no escape!

[Mulletizer]

Originally posted by divegirl
Really, I'm truly considering it. I'm hoping others will, too, because it's fun to travel with people. Maybe if I buy my ticket now, there will be no escape!

You know you want to. Do it! :D

[edg]

Hmm... Maybe the 2006 (I'll be 18) I'm encouraged by my cheap busses, and those still should be cheap 2006...

The only problem I could foresee for that is homework... Hell, who needs it? I'll just catch up :D Put me down for 2006, Mulletizer! (If I'm lucky I'll have no lessons monday morning, too. That way I'd get a chance for a shower that isn't freezing cold in the school changing rooms!)

edg

[Mulletizer]

Bump until people commit. :)

edit: spelling

[bad_roo]

For sure I am committed.

[Hayduke]

Will not miss it this time. I paid for my spot last time & got called home by the minister of war - that won't be happening again.

[snowfunk]

Greetings for my first post here! A friend and I are already tentatively planning a trip to La Grave next year and would be interested in possibly hooking up. Our thoughts were to stay at Skier's Lodge there for a week-long guided trip but perhaps it would be good to have options to visit other areas and ski with folks from the site/states. Also thinking of a week in Switzerland to follow....Zermat, andermatt.

Thanks for the TR links and photos.

[Buster Highmen]

Originally posted by bad_roo
For sure I am committed.
No question there.

[bad_roo]

http://gallery.consumerreview.com/webcrossing/images/IMG_5334.jpg

Just saw this picture again and started jonesin'!

Snowfunk - you're welcome to join us.

[Ripzalot]

i'm in but you probably already knew that. :D

nice pic!

[truth]

<----- is in and has scores to settle.

I'm gonna own those stairs.

[Buster Highmen]

Which finger of god is that again?

[Cosmic Bandito]

I can get to Lyon for the same $ amount that it would cost me to fly to Jackson Hole.

Very interesting.

Is goat cock expected on the menu this year?

[Odin]

<-- is in and will be in Yurp for 2 weeks in Jan

[truth]

Originally posted by Buster Highmen
Which finger of god is that again?

The middle one of course.

[vertigo]

am definitely up for that, have met ripzalot but no other mag's yet. should hopefully be in la grave quite alot over the winter money permitting!

[subtle plague]

Hmm id love to....
but it depends on my university schedule. maybe i can spare a few days.
But i definitely cant plan in advance... :(
and i think the conditions will play a major role in my decision....

[Ripzalot]

bring on the pow! :D

[Buster Highmen]

I don't know about this Ripzalot fellow. Any sort of gastrointestinal references and I'm in another gondola.

[Telepath]

Just to help people decide....:

Glisseur looking down Pan du Rideaux. Good day :D
http://www.bmskier.com/valleyx1.jpg

Gazing down the lower part of hop's second run on this years euro visit.
http://www.bmskier.com/valleyx2.jpg

Gazing up at hop in his second run on this years euro visit. Access is kinda "european".
http://www.bmskier.com/valleyx3.jpg

Just a little Serre Che inbounds terrain.
http://www.bmskier.com/valleyx4.jpg

Hop getting a very indecent (but rather interesting...) proposal at the Pub in La Grave.
http://www.bmskier.com/valleyx5.jpg

[Lostinthetrees]

Friday I came in from la Vallee du Queyras thru le col du Lauteret. Flowers are in full bloom!!! Amazing sight to walk along and see the ground sparkle with colors and patterns.

Worth a mid-week trip to see the floral display and enjoy the high country. Not sure about the weekends now. Friday late afternoon the traffic was bumper to bumper in many sections of the road coming up from Grenoble towards la Grave. French leemings arriving in droves on their "national holiday". We were headed the other way (towards Grenoble) and made great progress.

May be up this year. Too early to tell. 3+ hour drive from Geneve.....depending on weather conditions and time of day. Skip driving it Friday late afternoon and Sat AM. Never want to leave LG on a Sunday late afternoon as traffic all the way to Grenoble would be solid and slow. Mid-week trip for me.

LITT

[Glisseur]

Late January is the perfect time to go there IMO, most of the long runs down to road are normally in best condition by then, it's still pretty cold and snow conditions are generally better. Best part is that French people don't like to freeze their petit butts off so less crowds. But I warn you, the Pub will be a disaster next winter, crap music (no more Ramones, Turbonegro, Black Sabbath and other great stuff) and worst of all: no free beer for anyone :(

Some more La Grave pics:

View down the valley from the top of Pan de Rideau:
http://www.glisseur.com/TGR/PDR1.jpg

Looking up from halfway down the same run:
http://www.glisseur.com/TGR/PDR2.jpg

2200+ vertical straight off the t-bar, Orcière and Chirouze down from the Girose glacier:
http://www.glisseur.com/TGR/Girose.jpg

Telepath looking for a cup of coffee just before the crux part of Chirouze Right:
http://www.glisseur.com/TGR/BarksChirouze.jpg

French superhero Zee Brain doing a small rappel into...
http://www.glisseur.com/TGR/MaisonNeuve1.jpg

...Couloir de Maison Neuve:
http://www.glisseur.com/TGR/MaisonNeuve2.jpg

[supercastor]

Originally posted by Glisseur

2200+ vertical straight off the t-bar, Orcière and Chirouze down from the Girose glacier:
http://www.glisseur.com/TGR/Girose.jpg


This *is* a forbiden picture. One shouldn't even spell "La Gr***" entirely ;)

TheBrain was up there a few days ago (view from the lac du Poncet)...
http://perso.wanadoo.fr/thebrain-skipass/Small_TheBrain_Naked_LaGrave_CampingLacDuPontet_20 040703.jpg

hope this does not make this thread NSFW ;)

[Glisseur]

Originally posted by supercastor
This *is* a forbiden picture. One shouldn't even spell "La Gr***" entirely ;)
Uhu, a Skipasseur I presume, bienvenue monsieur. But you're right, I've never, ever, seen any pics at all like that on skipass.com...;)

[bad_roo]

I've had a lousy morning. Thanks a bunch for brightening it up. Fantastic shots.

Glisseur - not operating the bar then? That place felt less like a bar and more like an extension of our lounge last season. Who's running it now?

[Jiehkevarri]

I'm seriously considering a La Grave trip this year, mini or not.

Me too.

Pan de Rideau, anyone?:D

Seems like it was in quite scary condition this year!My friend on the in-run (2nd pic)...dood's words, loosely traslated from Finnish, "allright, here we are now"...:)

http://www.biglines.com/photos/blpic20208.jpg

http://www.biglines.com/photos/blpic20209.jpg

[Glisseur]

Originally posted by bad_roo
Glisseur - not operating the bar then? That place felt less like a bar and more like an extension of our lounge last season. Who's running it now? No, f****g way!!! I had enough of the a**hole company running the place and quit my job mid March or something, just couldn't take it anymore. Left in style though, threw a huge party on my last night, got proper hammered, played Who the F**k is Alice? in German and My Way by Sid Vicious as last songs and left the bar in a complete mess :D. Guess I wasn't voted employee of the month... No bad feelings towards Pelle and Skiers Lodge/Guideservice but Swedish tour operator Langley Travel can burn in hell :mad: as far as I and the whole of LG are concerned.

PDR wasn't in too good conditions early this year, the steep face looked like a narrow couloir and the upper traverse was hardly ever skiable. Me and Hop gave it a shot once (in flat light...) and it was really shitty, something like 10 cm of losely bonded snow that was completely scraped off with every turn. Not that funny considering it's steeper than 50 degrees up there.

Slightly tilted camera there Jiehkevarri? ;) Compared your pic to the one of me, think they're shot from almost the same spot coming off the lower traverse:

http://www.biglines.com/photos/blpic20209.jpg
http://www.bmskier.com/valleyx1.jpg

[Telepath]

Originally posted by Glisseur
Guess I wasn't voted employee of the month...

You have my vote :D and prolly those of most LG locals. And who cares what the employer thinks?

....btw I might have to post a few more pics from the last party, hehe.

[supercastor]

Glisseur (Tobias?) -> Le PDR is not that steep, there was a harsh topic about this on skipass, summarized by the following picture

http://www.skipass.com/members/pics/00010386-6.jpg

depends of the snow conditions though, but I also felt the picture of J. was a bit biased ;)

[Glisseur]

supercastor-> yup that's me, mutual friends I guess? Or maybe you even paid a vist to Maison le Peyrou last winter (2003)? Castor (isn't that French for beaver???), the name rings a small bell in my mind.

I was talking about going into PDR from the upper traverse, and the top part before the place where the lower traverse cuts in is a bit steeper than the rest of the face as it flattens out a little bit towards the bottom. Just as that picture states.

[Hicks]

Jiekhevarri,

next time you're bullshittin' on the angulation better make sure you tilt the snow tracks too.;)




http://www.biglines.com/photos/blpic20209.jpg

Else will try to get off work at least for an extended weekend to meet you guys down there.:cool:

[hev]

i'm definately interested.

[supercastor]

Glisseur> yup, mutual friends (dude, fils etc.) and a couple of nights in the pub (swallowmania this winter). Castor is actually the french word for beaver, without the sexual meaning of the english word ;)

I never had the opportunity to make it by the upper traverse, we had to give up the only time we tried this season, it looked really icy and troublesome from the brèche de la girose.

one more pic from this traverse (closing day 2004, Fils on the skis, Man behind the camera)

http://romane.darlix.free.fr/2004/lagrave/Picture6.jpg

[bad_roo]

More La Grave stokeage...

http://swoard.dyndns.org/swoard/gallery/albums/album01/F1000029_JPG.jpg

http://swoard.dyndns.org/swoard/gallery/albums/album01/F1000026_JPG.jpg

http://swoard.dyndns.org/swoard/gallery/albums/album01/F1000040_JPG.jpg

http://swoard.dyndns.org/swoard/gallery/albums/album01/F1000019_JPG.jpg

http://swoard.dyndns.org/swoard/gallery/albums/album01/F1000013_JPG.jpg

http://swoard.dyndns.org/swoard/gallery/albums/album01/F1000046_JPG.jpg

http://swoard.dyndns.org/swoard/gallery/albums/album01/F1000001_JPG.jpg

http://swoard.dyndns.org/swoard/gallery/albums/album01/F1000048_JPG.jpg

*images courtesy of Bertrand Boone

[supercastor]

La Grave with a Swell board strapped under your feet and fresh powder to hit,
I'll give 3 month of summer for a one day like this.

http://fotoskipass.free.fr/swallowmania/image/img_0405.jpg

[Jiehkevarri]

oh yeah... I'm not saying that photo isn't slightly tilted.

Actually, I wasn't even around when the pic is taken. shooted by my friend. I've only been in LG in spring 2001. Skied the pan de rideau though...and as I remember it wasn't THAT steep.

Anyway, it also depends from the point the picture is taken. IMO Glisseur's photo is a lot more realistic (even if the pic in my post wasn't tilted)

So, my apologies, I didn't try to brag anything, just to bring some more stoke. (awesome pictures in this thread by the way. Keep'em coming...LG is great place!!!)

[snowfunk]

This site has some cool routes in the area with photos. Just click on the guy with the binoc's.

http://www.skierslodge.com/2Frameindex.html

Now my buddy's winter plans are up in the air, so to speak, as he may have just landed a ski-guide job at Mt. Bailey snowcats in Oregon. I'm still interested in the summit though. :)

[Mulletizer]

Hehe, arguments about the gradient of PdR. Nothing new there... ;)

Last time I skied it (actually the only time so far) I measured it. That was in early January 2002. The steepest part was high skiers' left, just below the entrance to the NE Couloir. The gradient was just about 50 there. Most of the face (below and to skiers' right) was more like 45, and between 40 and 45 (closer to 40, I guess) right above the rimaye.

No one (that'll be you Glisseur) believed me that it was 50, but I swear it was. :D

BTW My experience was that 69mm 174 tele skis are not the ideal tool for that descent... :rolleyes: Guess they beat snowlerblades though :D

[verbier61]

Originally posted by Mulletizer
Hehe, arguments about the gradient of PdR. Nothing new there... ;)
The steepest part was high skiers' left, just below the entrance to the NE Couloir. The gradient was just about 50 there. Most of the face (below and to skiers' right) was more like 45, and between 40 and 45 (closer to 40, I guess) right above the rimaye.


Hey Mullet, interesting to know that you actually measured gradients...... what (and how much) were the steepest slopes in verb? :confused:

[Mulletizer]

Measured with an Ortovox clinometer laid on a flat ski pole laid on the snow surface - not the most accurate of tools but as good as anything on an uneven snow surface I reckon.

I didn't measure much in Verbier - wasn't as interested in that sort of safety aspect as I perhaps should have been. I skied a fair bit with someone who did though. A couple of measurements I remeber from stuff we skied together: the steepest section on "Highway" was about 40; the steepest pitch (the top one) on the N face of the Bec des Rosses was about 58. That was the steepest thing I have ever skied.

[verbier61]

Originally posted by Mulletizer
the steepest pitch (the top one) on the N face of the Bec des Rosses was about 58. That was the steepest thing I have ever skied.

:eek:

58 is pretty scary, eh? BTW, it's a pity the xtreme staff almost didn't post pics on skiers doing the bec this year. Just 3-4 pics, nothing serious compared to the tons dedicated to boarders. Yeah I know they were almost all locals, but why forget them? The verb ride web site is improving, but still poor compared to the xtreme. Budgets must be very diferent, though

[bad_roo]

http://www.natives.co.uk/resorts/ver/xtreme.jpg

he he.

[bad_roo]

How do the measurements you took on the PdR compare with the upper section of Les Enfetchores?

[subtle plague]

Concerning Verbier: Do you guys know the name, the steepness and the route in general from the Mont Fort down to the lake ? not the "normal " one going down backside, but the one where you traverse up on the ?ridge?(damn what's "grat" in english?)and end up on a small glacier ?

a friend of mine ,who is doing gnar gnar in cham( so he is pretty reliable :D), said it was around 45° but i just couldn't believe it.
i would say more about 40° although i may have misjudged it because it was a pretty wide open field and not a steep colouir.

[Mulletizer]

Originally posted by bad_roo
How do the measurements you took on the PdR compare with the upper section of Les Enfetchores?

Having never got myself up to the top of Les Enfetchores I can't really say. I believe there's a very steep pitch just below the Breche de la Meije but that it doesn't normally hold snow so is rapelled. I think most of the Enfetchores itself is relatively mellow - 35-40. Could be wrong though.

SP: I've always called it the North Face of Mont Fort. I've heard some people call it "Cat Walk" (because of walking the ridge, I assume) but I always knew the hike from the top of Gentianes-Tortin to skiers' right to get into "Superbowl" as "Cat Walk". There are plenty of different names people give to lines in Verbier...

There are few different routes down there. Quite far skiers' left is the most open, if I remember correctly, and between 40 and 45, closer to 40, I think. Skiers' right is about the same although it has several cliff bands and a few steeper sections. Experience says that it's a bad spot to pre-release.

[verbier61]

Originally posted by subtle plague
Concerning Verbier: Do you guys know the name, the steepness and the route in general from the Mont Fort down to the lake ? not the "normal " one going down backside, but the one where you traverse up on the ?ridge?(damn what's "grat" in english?)and end up on a small glacier ?

a friend of mine ,who is doing gnar gnar in cham( so he is pretty reliable :D), said it was around 45° but i just couldn't believe it.
i would say more about 40° although i may have misjudged it because it was a pretty wide open field and not a steep colouir.

plague, from the mont fort you can go virtually everywhere :D
north, to the dam and then nendaz?
east, arolla and them zermatt?
west, to gentianes?
south, lac de mauvoisin?

none of them are SOOOOO steep as the bec des rosses. N and E might be pretty dangerous if you get lost, though

[verbier61]

Originally posted by Mulletizer
SP: I've always called it the North Face of Mont Fort. I've heard some people call it "Cat Walk" (because of walking the ridge, I assume) but I always knew the hike from the top of Gentianes-Tortin to skiers' right to get into "Superbowl" as "Cat Walk". There are plenty of different names people give to lines in Verbier...


Barrage? :confused:

[Glisseur]

Originally posted by bad_roo
How do the measurements you took on the PdR compare with the upper section of Les Enfetchores? Woah, wanna go touring? ;) Les Enfetchores is actually pretty flat, kinda like les Vallons, except for the short face coming down from Breche de la Meije but you can rarely ski there, you either rappel or walk/climb down. Try tilting your head 90 degrees next time you have a look at it and you'll get a better idea on how steep (or flat) it really is.


Originally posted by Mulletizer
Last time I skied it (actually the only time so far) I measured it. That was in early January 2002. The steepest part was high skiers' left, just below the entrance to the NE Couloir. The gradient was just about 50 there. Most of the face (below and to skiers' right) was more like 45, and between 40 and 45 (closer to 40, I guess) right above the rimaye. You skied in from the lower traverse, right? The upper part feels and looks a little bit steeper.


Originally posted by Mulletizer
No one (that'll be you Glisseur) believed me that it was 50, but I swear it was. :D No way dude, the steeper you say it is the cooler it makes me look :D

This feels like a discussion worthy of skipass.com ;)

[subtle plague]

Yes mullet, north face is what he called it too.
a prerelease is not recommendable though :)
and i guess he and i are both right as you expressed correctly :D
40-45° is always a good measurement. ;)

i have to ski the pan de rideau to compare hrr hrr (and i havent done the trifides too....(well i did a side entrance some years ago with the skierslodge guide who died last year.. :( .. poor philipp....)! )

[bad_roo]

I skied Trifides Zero last season with Glisseur and Mulletizer and I'd estimate that to be about 45 degrees at its steepest spot with most of it running at just over 40. Not too tricky in decent snow. That's wheer the vidcap for Mulletizer's avatar was taken. He's not on a monoski. ;)

[subtle plague]

NOT on a mono ski ???? :D
i thought he's one of those derelicts from the 80s still lingering in la grave...

reminds me of that really really weird chick we met down in the forest one day who "showed" us why you should not become a fucked up ski bum....(alle of her utterances consistes of some incoherent babbling and she had the ugliest eyerings i have seen.. EVER. and ive seen a lot considering that we have a 5day party called carnival here :D) .she WAS on a mono ski. scary.. ;)

edit: isnt the entrance part(first 30-40m) of the trifides, even of the main one, closer to 50 ? we could not ski it around new year because only the lower parthad a decent coverage this year....(an i couldnt even do that because i had lost my buddies and skied with my girlfriend... :( . )
they saw some one huck into zero from the third one....pretty impressive they said. (it wasnt one you madmen was it ?? ;) )

[bad_roo]

No excuse for monoskiing. Even if you are a freak.

[subtle plague]

Originally posted by bad_roo
No excuse for monoskiing. Even if you are a freak.
my new signature.
thanks :D

[bad_roo]

Originally posted by subtle plague
edit: isnt the entrance part(first 30-40m) of the trifides, even of the main one, closer to 50 ? we could not ski it around new year because only the lower parthad a decent coverage this year....(an i couldnt even do that because i had lost my buddies and skied with my girlfriend... :( . )
they saw some one huck into zero from the third one....pretty impressive they said. (it wasnt one you madmen was it ?? ;) )

There was a huge ass rock barring the entrance to Trifides Zero when I skied it. Mulletizer and Glisseur just kinda skipped around it into the chute but I didn't fancy that and stood there for a while eyeing my enemy. I eventually stepped onto it and jumped in. The run didn't seem that steep but that might be because I was then concentrating on catching those two loonies. It's not much steeper than the Banane.

[subtle plague]

Originally posted by bad_roo
It's not much steeper than the Banane.

hrr hrr.
ok. so its slightly above 35° ? :D
but you may be right about the upper part... it didnt seem THAT steep looking up from the middle part. but that was a long time ago. Im getting scared easier every year. must be the age hrr hrr

hmm so you hucked the rock ? i pussied out every time this year when facing my nemesis....(you can see it in the video...the one where i sneak around through the small trees on the right side. at least i stomped the whimp version... :rolleyes: )

[CantDog]

What would a trip like this cost minus airfare from the east coast? Yurp summit would last a week right? And assuming I'd do it in traditional dirtbag fashion, no foofoo stuff for me.

[bad_roo]

Originally posted by subtle plague
hmm so you hucked the rock ? i

Hucked would be a massive overstatement. Stepped onto, dollystepped along the top of and then stepped gingerly off is closer to the mark.

Cant - La Grave is all about the dirtbag stuff. I don't think it's possible to get too foo foo there if you tried. A six day lift ticket is 150 Euros.

[CantDog]

Originally posted by bad_roo

Cant - La Grave is all about the dirtbag stuff. I don't think it's possible to get too foo foo there if you tried. A six day lift ticket is 150 Euros.

Thats nice, hopefully the dollar will start kicking euro ass before january. What about getting to La Grave, whats the best airport to fly into? Are there hostels in town?

[bad_roo]

Grenoble is the closest but not so easy to get flights into. Lyon St Exupery is probably the best bet. Coaches run from there to Grenoble and from Grenoble up to La Grave (except when the Col du Lautaret closes and then you need to get rescued by us).

Mulletizer and Glisseur are the guys to speak to about accommodation in town. It's not a big place. There will probably be beds in Chalets de la Meije that you can crash in with Ripzalot, Truth and co in January that will be pretty cheap if you get full occupancy.

So it's all pretty affordable and easy to manage. There's plenty of good folk on hand to help you out.

[Mulletizer]

The best airport is Grenoble (about 1.5hrs from LG) but I doubt TransAtlantic flights fly into there. Lyon is about 40mins further away. If you fly into London or Amsterdam or Franfurt and have to change to get to the Alps then aim for one of these two. Geneva is further still and there's no public transport from there to the Southern Alps (=expensive so bad for the dirtbag) so try to avoid it.

There are some dirt cheap hostels in La Grave, around the $10-$15 p/n mark. I am hoping I'll be able to help the needy with floorspace but won't know until closer to the time what room-mates are up to then so can't promise much. Might be able to hook people up with somewhere very cheap/free hopefully.

LG can be done way cheaply. You can dirtbag a week for little more that $250 (including your pass but no travel costs) and quite possibly less if you hold off the beer in the bar (it's cheap to buy though - about $5 for a 24 can crate of nice 330ml beers).

[Mulletizer]

BTW, I don't know if Truth, Ripz and co have booked a place to stay already but the apartments in the Hotel de la Meije (above the pub) are now fully up an running. They appear to come in about 10 or 15 euros more expensive than the Chalets but appear much roomier on the floorplans and have similar facilities. Might be worth checking out.

[Glisseur]

Originally posted by subtle plague
reminds me of that really really weird chick we met down in the forest one day who "showed" us why you should not become a fucked up ski bum....(alle of her utterances consistes of some incoherent babbling and she had the ugliest eyerings i have seen.. EVER. and ive seen a lot considering that we have a 5day party called carnival here ) .she WAS on a mono ski. scary.. Know who you're talking about and you're right, she's totally FUBAR from all kinds of chemical and herbal substances. A typical French La Grave local I'm afraid, these people are usually extremely hostile and annoying and refuse to as much as look your way even though they know you've been there twice as many years as they have. If you're French and take as many drugs as they do then you're ok... TGR always talk about the Jackson hardcore scene but the LG one's in it's own league sometimes, it's gotten better in the last few winters but some of the "locals" still piss me off.

I would say that none of the Triffides are steeper than 40 degrees at any part (except for a few meters in exceptional conditions). The main couloir is prolly around 35 for the most part and a bit steeper above the rock at the entrance, but close to 50? I doubt that. Zero should be about the same, maybe even flatter and Triffide Two is slightly steeper. Just my opinions having skied them a couple of times :)

Now it really sounds like skipass.com in here...

[bad_roo]

Imagine three cartoons. On the first there is a bike rider leaning about ten degrees from vertical. In his thought-bubble you see him leaning like Mick Doohan, right on the limit. This rider, when he comes to a corner that is sharper than he initially thought, or needs to tighten his line, thinks I'm over as far as it's possible to lean and to lean any further would be impossible. So he straightens up and brakes in the corner, causing him to run wide and off the road / track. This is the most common scenario when riders run out of bends.

The next scenario is his brother. This time the cartoon shows the rider leaning as far as it's possible to lean and yet in his thought-bubble you see him leaning about ten degrees from vertical. In this case the rider's self-evaluation is that he has plenty of lean angle left, and when he comes to a corner that is sharper than he initially thought, or needs to tighten his line, he leans further -- but as he is already at his limit, he just levers the wheels off the ground and once again crashes out of the corner.

You then see a third character whose lean angle is about twenty degrees and his thought-bubble is about twenty degrees. When this rider comes to a corner that is sharper than he initially thought, or he needs to tighten his line, he knows exactly how much bank angle he has left, and just leans the bike over sufficiently to make the corner. But he still doesn't know how steep Trifides Zero is.

[hop]

I have no clue how steep Trifide 0 and 1 are but they didn't seem nearly as steep as the pitch on Pan du Rideau right below the high entrance. Trifide 1 reminds me a lot of dropping in to West Cirque at Whistler, but it's about 5 times as long.
But then again, couloirs with open outruns never feel as scary to me as big open faces with rocks everywhere above bergschrunds.

[CantDog]

Thanks for the info guys, its only July and already the ball is in motion... Most likely I wont make a decision until fall until what I'm going to be doing, but now I've got decide between a week in Yurp and 3 in Maine, or a month out west in my car.

Those pictures are amazing btw, and I like the idea of finnish chicks. Or norwedges.

[subtle plague]

Originally posted by Glisseur


I would say that none of the Triffides are steeper than 40 degrees at any part (except for a few meters in exceptional conditions). The main couloir is prolly around 35 for the most part and a bit steeper above the rock at the entrance, but close to 50? I doubt that. Zero should be about the same, maybe even flatter and Triffide Two is slightly steeper. Just my opinions having skied them a couple of times :)

Now it really sounds like skipass.com in here...

yeah what ive said. it didnt look THAT steep(i thought i read it around skierslodge and their route porn flash photos somewhere..... well thought i did.... i guess i didnt...), but id say definitely above forty in the steep beginning.....the lower part is pretty laid back though.
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vous n'avez pas skiez le supersteep ! il n'est pas plus des 52° !!
il est 30° !
vous etes ne pas un skieur !

now were talking skipass.com :D:D

[Mulletizer]

Hehe, classic summer pissing contest. I know I am really bad at estimating gradients and that people don't believe me even when I have measured them so I'll shut up before I embarass myself... :)

[Buster Highmen]

Regarding getting to La Grave from the US, I've gone in via Geneva and then trained to Grenoble. Getting from Grenoble to La Grave can be complicated, but the Skiers Lodge (La Chaumine) will likely give you a ride for a few bucks. Ask for Pelle and plead dirtbag and Zappa.
Alternatively, you can take the train down through Gap and up to Briancon, but it's a long ride.

I've also been told that flying into Torino (Turin) is an option.

[Telepath]

Pelle doesn't run Skiers Lodge out of La Chaumine anymore; he's based with Langley Travel (fukkrs) at the Hotel des Alpes in the center of La Grave. While I'm not to fond of the hotel operators Pelle runs the guiding biz himself and he's still cool. La Chaumine also still operates a guiding biz, but Pelle and a few other guides ain't there anymore. The place is still cool though.

I'll also say go to Lyon if possible; easiest airport to use when relying on public transport. Geneva works if you're hiring a car. If getting picked up by someone Turin (or in the worst case Milan could work). Train to Briancon via Gap should only be done for the heck of it (or if you're going to Serre). Lyon is by far the easiest. Grenoble is closest if flying in from a larger european city like London.

[Glisseur]

Originally posted by Telepath
If getting picked up by someone Turin (or in the worst case Milan could work)Just tell me about it... ;) ;) ;)

[Buster Highmen]

Originally posted by Telepath
Pelle doesn't run Skiers Lodge out of La Chaumine anymore; he's based with Langley Travel (fukkrs) at the Hotel des Alpes in the center of La Grave. While I'm not to fond of the hotel operators Pelle runs the guiding biz himself and he's still cool. La Chaumine also still operates a guiding biz, but Pelle and a few other guides ain't there anymore. The place is still cool though.

Do they use the Ventelon building as a hotel anymore? It's a wind leaky shack, but I liked Pelle.
Shows how out of the loop I am. Anyway, do each of these operations runs vans to the Grenoble train station still? It's an option. But I defer to your expertise.

[Telepath]

Originally posted by Buster Highmen
Do they use the Ventelon building as a hotel anymore

Yeah. I dunno when you were there last; but they've remodelled and enlarged the place in Ventelon (that's the place called La Chaumine) like three or so years ago. Now it's bigger with a lot more room for bar and restaurant and huge terrasse etc.

I think they both run transfers, at least at La Chaumine. Pelle at the Hotel des Alpes now gets most of his clients through swedish tour operator Langley Travel and they run their own bus transfer from the airport as well as a few clients that jump off from the Serre-bound bus.

But the best bet is prolly contacting Mulletizer or someone else who'll be there; they'll be able to put you in contact with someone owning a car and in need of cash ;)

[Buster Highmen]

I've been there 3 times 96, 97 and 98. First time I did it w/ La Chaumine and subsequent times stayed in Briancon.

So it's been a while.

At the time, the flights from London to Geneva + train to Grenoble was cheaper than the flights to Lyon or Grenoble. That may have changed. In addition, I just wanted to see Geneva after reading about it in books by expats.

I'll get back there one of these years. But for the next year, my kids are too small to take on a trip that long with crappy airline air.

I always get some sort of lung infection when I fly to Europe.

[Superstar Punani]

Originally posted by Buster Highmen
I just wanted to see Geneva after reading about it in books by expats.



The descent into GVA alone gives me a throbbing boner.

[Mulletizer]

La Chaumine is for sale, I believe. If you like it you can buy it. I know they are keen to get rid of it pretty badly. How quickly can you say "maggot timeshare possibility"?. :D

I don't think the flights have changed massively but the trains are a nightmare. My advice is to avoid rail from Geneva to Grenoble like the plague. My mother flew into Geneva early doors (like 7 am) in 2002 and she got to Grenoble at 4pm. That's nine hours a 135km journey. Just not worth losing a day's skiing for IMO. Hop can elaborate - he had similar experiences, I think.

Most Trans-Atlantic flights seem to use London, Amsterdam or Frankfurt as a hub IME - from there you can generally specify pretty much any airport to go to as a final destination for the same price. It might take an hour or two's wait longer to go to Lyon or Grenoble than Geneva but, believe me, it'll be worth it at the other end. And if you stop in Amsterdam there are "ways" of "burning" time. :D Shit, I can only imaginme what would happen if Superstar Punani had a few hours spare there.

I'll have a phone and wheels. In worst cases I should be able to help out although I will not - repeat: will not - drive to Geneva to pick anyone up.

[Telepath]

Originally posted by Mulletizer
La Chaumine is for sale, I believe. If you like it you can buy it. I know they are keen to get rid of it pretty badly. How quickly can you say "maggot timeshare possibility"?. :D Heh. A sweeter place for a euro maggot lair (or do you say "carcass"?) is hard to find.


Originally posted by Mulletizer
It might take an hour or two's wait longer to go to Lyon or Grenoble than Geneva but, believe me, it'll be worth it at the other end. Agreed.


Originally posted by Mulletizer
I will not - repeat: will not - drive to Geneva to pick anyone up. Well, given your experience with picking up people flying into Geneva I'd advise against being picked up by you anyways ;)

[Buster Highmen]

Originally posted by Punani
The descent into GVA alone gives me a throbbing boner.
I'm told a cold slap on the wrist has the same effect on you.

[Glisseur]

Originally posted by Mulletizer
La Chaumine is for sale, I believe. If you like it you can buy it. I know they are keen to get rid of it pretty badly. How quickly can you say "maggot timeshare possibility"?. :DHow quickly can you say "just gonna run down to the ATM and get 1.2 million €"? :)

[bad_roo]

This looks more like the budget. ;)

http://www.green-acre.com/properties/05gui01.htm

http://www.green-acre.com/pics/05gui01.jpg

http://www.green-acre.com/pics/05gui01_2.jpg

[Ripzalot]

Originally posted by bad_roo
This looks more like the budget. ;)

http://www.green-acre.com/properties/05gui01.htm



it's got potential. 17 rooms....

275000 EUR / 17 MAGGOTS = 16176 EUR for lodging for life at la grave. not a bad deal....hmmmmm?

[Lostinthetrees]

Got me interested. Only about 3.5 - 4 hours to Geneve; depending on road conditions and traffic around Grenoble.

What are the maintenance bills per year over the last 5 years?

Heating system type and last updated?

Roof type and last updated?

Potential income from rentals during winter & summer?

Price sounds good to me if we can make some income to cover our expenses and no major renovation needed. I would like to have a look at it and have some questions to be answered before I jump in. Anyone traveling down to see it?
LITT

[bad_roo]

I'm sure Mulletizer will dissuade you. Let's just say it's tres rustic.

[mildbill.]

Originally posted by Ripzalot
it's got potential. 17 rooms....

275000 EUR / 17 MAGGOTS = 16176 EUR for lodging for life at la grave. not a bad deal....hmmmmm?

[the dude] i'm just gonna go find an ATM [/td]

[Mulletizer]

Originally posted by bad_roo
I'm sure Mulletizer will dissuade you. Let's just say it's tres rustic.

Hehe, yeah, there's a reason why it is cheap. It is in Valfroide - a village above La Grave. Because it is in a major avy runout the village is uninhabitable in winter (it was the scene of one of the worst avalanche disasters in French history) so forget winter summits. There's no mains power, mains water or mains drainage. I don't know if that building is plumbed into a spring but people in the other houses up there have to carry water to their homes in buckets. And carry their dirty plates to the spring to wash them. The road to it is pretty ropey too. A hotel it ain't - more of a youth hostel. And the village is called "Valfroide" for a reason... Other than that it should be great. ;)

On a cheerier note - I just got confirmation that my accommodation for the winter is sorted. December to the end of May. Pretty happy about that :D

So, who else is coming to this summit?

[Lostinthetrees]

OK. I know the location of the village. Bummer no winter access. Frog-et-it.

Yeah, I would be interested in coming down for a few days. Plenty of space in my SpaceWagon. I can bring TeleAl and Ripzalot w/ me.

Travel w/ peau de phoque, cord and harness. Went too far off-piste last season at Glacier 3000, got freaked and realized I would like to ski until I am 80. Always want a quick-out alternative.

LITT

[truth]

Originally posted by Mulletizer


On a cheerier note - I just got confirmation that my accommodation for the winter is sorted. December to the end of May. Pretty happy about that :D



Funny, I was just talking about my new digs in La Grave last night. ;)

[Mulletizer]

[Ben Stiller]Do it... Do it...[/BS]

[Ripzalot]

bump....

is this thing a go or what? i'm trying to get a read on dates for a friend who wants to join. about all i can tell is roo & the mrs will be there for a week starting jan 22?

anyone else going have some dates in mind?

[Telepath]

Hmm, anything between beginning of Jan and untill the end of trade show season (ends with ISPO first or second weekend of Feb) means I'm unable to show up :( Mid-Feb onwards means a bigger chance of passing by; but too much is still up in the air for me to prefer certain dates.

If I'm around the Serre Che guided & goaded tours will be in full operation though ;)

[Buster Highmen]

Mmmm...larches....

[Mulletizer]

Originally posted by Ripzalot
anyone else going have some dates in mind?

Yeah, December until June... :D

Gloating aside, I think you might meet maggots if you come about the same time as last year, last week in February. I reckon that's the best week when you balance likely snow conditions vs crowds. Anyway, I'll be there all winter and willing to show around anyone who pitches up whenever.

[bad_roo]

I originally plumped for January 22nd cos it seems a great time to get a nice quiet resort with decent snow.

Plus it'll give me a week to recover before heading out to Jackson. ;)

[Hayduke]

I'm going to be in shamonicks for January but was thinking about coming down to LG to hook up with whoever's there for the last week.

[Ripzalot]

Originally posted by bad_roo
I originally plumped for January 22nd cos it seems a great time to get a nice quiet resort with decent snow.


i'm shooting for this week as well. good timing as swallowmania (http://www.swallowmania.com/) is the following weekend.

[supercastor]

I'll probly be around too, with some friends from skipass... BN and me were talking about making some photo-shoots (he's a first class ski photographer, check the new Millet ads this winter) and maybe an article about this invasion ;) If nobody minds, of course.

[Mulletizer]

Easyjet ( http://www.easyjet.com - bit of a no brainer that ;) ) have just announced a route from London Stansted to Grenoble. Now you Londoners have no excuse. Be there. :)

[verbier61]

my issue with the LG mini is related to my oldest kid (to be 13 in January). I bring him to his ski class in verb every WE in january to march. If I find a way to stick him to other people..... or, better, if I convince him to come to the mini with me, then count on me (or we) too. I'll stay tuned

[ulty_guy]

almost forgot about this. at any rate, starting to think more seriously about going. only thing i'm worried about is the gf being a bit out of her depth (and me to a lesser extent), how's access to le 2 alpe?

roo- is your missus going? seems like mine and yours may be of similar ability.

mullet- check your pm, i have a proposition for you ;)

[Spamhelmet]

...how's access to le 2 alpe?
...

That is not a problem,in a good weather.
From the top of the T-Bar you have a 5-15min slide/walk to Le Döö.
Only problem is if the weather decides to turn funky when you are coming
back from Les Deux.
Had that happen few years ago,didint notice the weather was changing untill the top was in clouds. Returnign to Grave was quite slow in a whiteout/snow..

How did the the summer-before-this summer affect the T-Bars?
Heard something that they were melted of the slope and rendered useless..
True?

[vertigo]

so are you all going to be out there around 22nd? i've met up with ripzalot, but would love to ski with some other maggots too, and i'm planning to be out in la grave as much as possible this winter! just need to know some concrete dates so i can sort out some flights!

[bad_roo]

only thing i'm worried about is the gf being a bit out of her depth (and me to a lesser extent), how's access to le 2 alpe?

roo- is your missus going? seems like mine and yours may be of similar ability.


In good conditions the main runs of Vallons de la Meije and Chancel aren't much trickier than a typical European red piste, but conditions can vary enormously. I'm gong to take Mrs Roo at Christmas for a couple of days to see how she fares with it and then we'll be back on w/c the 22nd January.

[bad_roo]

How did the the summer-before-this summer affect the T-Bars?
Heard something that they were melted of the slope and rendered useless..
True?

The ground opened up and ate one of the pylons. This hasn't been a bad summer for glacier ablation but the resort didn't open the glacier to skiers until well into this last season.

Hopefully we'll have some decent early season cover so you won't have to go crevasse hopping. This is what you're skiing over...

http://www.la-grave.com/webcam/l_3200.jpg

[bad_roo]

The landlord for that house in Alpe d'Huez wasn't prompt enough in replying to his emails, sooo...

I just pulled the trigger on one of the Chalets de la Meije in La Grave for the week.

IT'S ON, FUCKERS!

[edg]

Garrr, wish I could go... :( The times offered by easyjet aren't goo enoug though (If cheap) :( Ah well, next year maybe...

edg

[bad_roo]

Dude, you do know that Easyjet are travelling from Stansted to Grenoble from the 5th January dontcha? £44 return. Then a coach up to resort. Doesn't get any simpler than that. ;)

[edg]

Dude, you do know that Easyjet are travelling from Stansted to Grenoble from the 5th January dontcha? £44 return. Then a coach up to resort. Doesn't get any simpler than that. ;)
Problem being, would only be able to do the weekend - and the times don't fit (A late Fri/v.early say and then a late sun would be good, but they don't seem to be available :()

edg

[Spamhelmet]

Seems to be lot of triggerhappy people around... :)


Just pulled mine.

La Grave 18 december to 2 of january.

JIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!

http://www.highandlow.nu/stora/platser/Meije.jpg

[bad_roo]

More...

http://www.lagrave-lameije.com/webgalerie_hiver/47.jpg

http://www.lagrave-lameije.com/webgalerie_hiver/Grave_14.jpg

http://www.lagrave-lameije.com/webgalerie_hiver/Grave_03.jpg

http://www.lagrave-lameije.com/webgalerie_hiver/Grave_04.jpg

http://www.lagrave-lameije.com/webgalerie_hiver/54.jpg

http://www.lagrave-lameije.com/webgalerie_hiver/53.jpg

http://www.lagrave-lameije.com/webgalerie_hiver/Grave_39.jpg

http://www.lagrave-lameije.com/webgalerie_hiver/33.jpg

http://www.lagrave-lameije.com/webgalerie_hiver/Grave_24.jpg

http://www.lagrave-lameije.com/webgalerie_hiver/Grave_02.jpg

http://www.lagrave-lameije.com/webgalerie_hiver/13.jpg

[Telepath]

Just pulled mine.

La Grave 18 december to 2 of january.
You're norwegian, right? You going with a tour operator of sorts or just figuring out things yourself?

Things are complately up in the air / confused right now, but knowing my previous history there's a fair chance that I might end up being around that valley if the snow is good.

[Ripzalot]

another trigger pulled! booked chalets de la meije today for jan 21-29

STOKE IS RISING....

[tonghands]

I've been avoiding this thread because of the monetary effect it could have on me, but damn. Hmmmm. Interesting.

[Spamhelmet]

You're norwegian, right? You going with a tour operator of sorts or just figuring out things yourself?

Things are complately up in the air / confused right now, but knowing my previous history there's a fair chance that I might end up being around that valley if the snow is good.

Nope, not a norweigian. A bit more east...

Going just by ourselves, flying to milan and getting a car from there.
Staying in La Grave but,then cruising around Montgenevre,Serre,Les 2,Huez,
if neccessary.
Just by staying in LG instead serre we saved so much money that we can afford a rental.

Seems like LG is opening the lift on the 18 december too...so shouldnt be
too tracked there... :D

[Telepath]

Seems like LG is opening the lift on the 18 december too...so shouldnt be too tracked there... :D
I wouldn't think so, no. Could be very very good.

[Mrs Roo]

almost forgot about this. at any rate, starting to think more seriously about going. only thing i'm worried about is the gf being a bit out of her depth (and me to a lesser extent), how's access to le 2 alpe?

roo- is your missus going? seems like mine and yours may be of similar ability.

mullet- check your pm, i have a proposition for you ;)


I am going but we will have cars. If it gets a bit much (and the big boys want to go it alone) she can join me and my pal for the odd day in one of the nearby resorts i.e. Alpe D'Huez, Deux Alpes etc

[ulty_guy]

thanks, lady roo. the lady is outta town for about a week, so planning will have to wait a bit.

[snowfire]

I'm in until about the 24th. WE fly back out of Geneve on the 25th. If everyone is going to be in La Grave, we'll try to make it- I'm sure we'll be in the area somewhere. If you're starting on the 22nd... well, two days is better than nothing.

Everyone else I talked to in my thread, still planning on meeting up with you for turns somewhere along the line! :D I need to start booking hostels for around New Year's, probably in Lyon at that point. Haven't quite gotten up the balls to call a French hostel yet and dumbly blurt out "bonjour, parlez-vous anglais?" :confused:

:D

[Tri-Ungulate]

Glisseur,

Are you going to make it to this mini? Would you be going direct from Diavolezza to La Grave? Do you know if any others who might be doing this?

[supercastor]

Was in La Grave thuesday with Le Dude and DLF... We wanted to have a look at the Auberge Ensoleillée which is sold 500k€...

Here is what the mountain looks like. Plus a view of the glacier on the other (dark ;) ) side (Les 2 Alpes)... It snowed quite a bit since ;)

[Spamhelmet]

Soo-oo , whos in LG from the 18th dec. onwards?

Mullet,Glisseur,Telephil?

Arriving there in the evening of 18th, hitting the slopes on sunday.

[Lostinthetrees]

Haven't quite gotten up the balls to call a French hostel yet and dumbly blurt out "bonjour, parlez-vous anglais?" :confused:
:D

It is a great opening line and you will get an answer. Almost all connected w/ tourism industry are happy to help (outside of a few elitists in Paris) and can speak some English. It is understood by most Europeans.

San souci, relax and enjoy the ride,
litt

[Lostinthetrees]

another trigger pulled! booked chalets de la meije today for jan 21-29

STOKE IS RISING....

Rpz,
Got some space for me? I will be down for 4+ days...or, maybe the entire week. If no space, I got the camping gear and I hear it is free. If no space, can I borrow your shower each night? Yes, I will bring my own towel. :rolleyes:

Ridesharing? how about TeleAl?
litt

[Mulletizer]

Soo-oo , whos in LG from the 18th dec. onwards?

Mullet,Glisseur,Telephil?


I'm there from the 1st December :D

[Spamhelmet]

Pffft...so i guess its "game on" then...

http://www.la-grave.com/board/photos/16oct2004.jpg

[Hayduke]

I'll be heading down for a couple of days on 22nd/23rd or so. Anyone got an idea of travel time by car from Chamonix?

[Lostinthetrees]

I'll be heading down for a couple of days on 22nd/23rd or so. Anyone got an idea of travel time by car from Chamonix?

From Geneve (airport side) about 3.5 with dry roads and weekday, non-rush hours traffic. Pretty much 2 lane road (1 each direction) starting from outside Grenoble all the way to La Grave (and Briancon). Grenoble has some nasty traffic jams...get off Autoroute early, not in center of town. Hopefully, you won't find yourself behind a large trailer&truck or camper sitting at the end of a long string of anxious cars trying to pass.
litt

[Hayduke]

Cheers Litt. I reckon I'll head down on the 24th then. 6 weeks left in my job then I'm free!!

[Lostinthetrees]

Cheers Litt. I reckon I'll head down on the 24th then. 6 weeks left in my job then I'm free!!
Hayduke,
24th Dec?
Are u going to be around for the Euro-summit last wk Jan.?

I am thinking of coming up to Argentiere mid-Dec to take a Glacier Travel course from Chamonix Experience. Idris reco'd them to me. Know of them? Is their 1 day course "solid" or, is there another outfit you would reco?

Yes, I have always admired your avatar...mmmmmm.
Also, read the Monkey Wrench Gang a couple times. Very entertaining read.
litt

[Hayduke]

Litt, I meant 24th Jan. (heading to LG from Cham) - That way I avoid the weekend traffic.
No idea about Chamonix Experience I'm afraid. I'll ask my cousin if she has any info- she's lived there for a few years & is bound to have heard of them.
I'll get to Cham on 2nd Jan. I'll pm nearer the time & hopefully hook up if you're still about.

Edward Abbey rules!!

[Odin]

I'll be in France/Switzerland/Austria from the 10th of Jan to the 31'st if anyone would like to meet up.

I will be in

La Grave
Chamonix
Garmisch
and other places where the snow is good.

[KANUTTEN]

Me and a couple of friends will be staying at the skiers lodge for that week. So if you are going to hang around in la grave in that time it would be great to hook up.

[Ripzalot]

yet another maggot confirmed. that books up the chalet de la ripzalot. any desperate stragglers will have to floor it. :the_finge

GET YER STOKE ON!!!! :D

[snowfire]

I'll be in France/Switzerland/Austria from the 10th of Jan to the 31'st if anyone would like to meet up.

I will be in

La Grave
Chamonix
Garmisch
and other places where the snow is good.

ooh ooh me! I'll be in those countries basically the same times, flying out the 25th Jan after a couple days at La Grave mini. I'm definitely hitting that and Cham, and many other places... never heard of Garmisch, wht is it like?

[TeleAl]

I'm in, but I must either:

a) leave Tuesday after skiing; or
b) arrive Wednesday night.

Which do you recommend? Is the beginning or the end of the summit a better time to be around (snow conditions aside)?

I might just arrive Wednesday night before the Summit begins, and stay through until Tuesday. And then, maybe I will bust back over after teaching all day Wednesday.

[Hicks]

never heard of Garmisch, wht is it like?

Garmisch has some sweet hidden spots to be found, but there are better areas close by (Arlberg, Innsbruck region a.o.)...
Most of the slopes run thru the forest, not many open bowls plus it gets crowded on weekends when people from Munich invade the resort.

[bad_roo]

Spoke to Mulletizer yesterday. He was skiing under bluebird skies in Serre Chevalier on Friday, set off back to La Grave, only to encounter a storm atop the Col du Lautaret. By the time he'd got to La Grave ther was 20cm of fresh in the village. They still hadn't opened the gondola yet due to avalanche danger but it's nearly game on in the valley.

[Odin]

GAME ON!

Time to plotz! no?

I'll bring the dirty pillows if you bring the feathers!

W00t!

[bad_roo]

All my plotzing is done and dusted. Ferry booked, accommodation sorted, now I'm just waiting for Ullr to get off the khazi.

[Lostinthetrees]

All my plotzing is done and dusted. Ferry booked, accommodation sorted, now I'm just waiting for Ullr to get off the khazi.

Ullr has been kind-of-in and kind-of-out in the Alpes so far this season. 3 weeks to go and it better start storming....

Got a bed, too. See ya.

[Tri-Ungulate]

So right about now is Ullr kind-of-in or kind-of-out?

i.e. what kind of skis would be ideal?

[bad_roo]

The skis I'd bring at the moment are the fat skis you were skiing on a year or so ago - good, but not so good that you don't mind giving them a mild whanging.

Plenty of time for it to snow between now and the 22nd.

[Jiehkevarri]

I'll be in LaGrave from 18th (or19th) of February to 25th with couple of friends. I guess there's alot of our fellow countrymen already...

But look for a guy in all black outfit w/ 193cm Head 103's (trying to stay in command on those beast...they're just on the edge of being too burly skis for me...already scared of the possible, or should I say obvious, steep parts with a bit harder snow...:))

[bad_roo]

But look fora guy w/ 193cm Head 103's (trying to stay in command on those beast...they're just on the edge of being too burly skis for me)

Two in one resort?

[Jiehkevarri]

heh...now that's a funny coincidence(spelling?)...

Let's make a competition who can ski more backseated in the afternoon, let's say from 14.00 on? The looser buys beers in the town...

They're not that bad though...check out my reply to your ealier thread about the skis. (Gotta hit the gym way more often before the trip though...:))

[Lostinthetrees]

I have not given up hope. I am still going. Snowfall or no snowfall. (and, it will snow next week.)

- I am interested in meeting the mags that cruise this board. Who knows? Someone may even get along with me.

- I have been to La Grave in Summer, took the cabine to the top, wandered thru the "ice cave", and did some hiking around the glacier. It is kick-ass terrain in any season.

- I would like to ski the pistes at (and, at least look at the off-piste terrain) at Deux-Alpes and Alpes-Huex (sp?). Bad Roo, are u hosting some "tours".

- I am bringing my skins and crampons. 4 me skinning is a great alternative. I always enjoy the climb. Col de Galibier is nearby, too. Anyone else into randonnee?

- Also, if nothing happens snow-wise, then I am very interested in taking a randonnee across the glaciers w/ a guide. Bringing my harness, too. Typically you only need harness, a carabiner or 2, crampons, and axe. Rental of the gear runs ~ 10 - 15euros. Guide(s) supply rope and other essentials. Anyone interested in splitting the costs for a guide?

Arriving Weds PM (19th) after 10PM. Staying until afternoon of 25th. Ready on Thursday for being shown around.

later, litt

[Telepath]

I would like to ski the pistes at (and, at least look at the off-piste terrain) at Deux-Alpes and Alpes-Huex (sp?). Bad Roo, are u hosting some "tours".
From Saturday I should be able to guide in Serre at least. Know the Alpe offpiste pretty well too; can't find my way around the pistes there though.


I am bringing my skins and crampons. 4 me skinning is a great alternative. I always enjoy the climb. Col de Galibier is nearby, too. Anyone else into randonnee?
Same again, from Sat I'm up for anything. Mulletizer knows the col pretty well too s he might be up for something as well, as is possibly Glisseur.

[Telepath]

Two in one resort?
One of my old pairs are in Serre. I might be able to borrow them one day. Mulletizer has a pair too.

[Ripzalot]

forecast shows a nice dump leading into the summit....so WHERE'S THE STOKE????

:FIREdevil :FIREdevil :FIREdevil

[TeleAl]

FYI
I am delaying my arrival date, from Wed (tom.) to ???.

I will probably arrive during the weekend.

[Telepath]

so WHERE'S THE STOKE????

:FIREdevil :FIREdevil :FIREdevil
It's sitting here trying to figger out tickets and logistics so I can roll into town Saturday morning :D

[bad_roo]

A foot and a half of snow predicted on the mountain for today to do a repair job. 24 hours for that to consolidate a bit and then some more snow to refresh things on Thursday. Things are looking up.

[Odin]

So, the storm predicted to hit at least the suisse alps no esta aqui? There was intermittant snow off and on in town, but we had temps of +6 and the plows were finally able to clear the ice from the road. I heard it was snowing up top but the camera didnt show much accumulation, I took today off. I will probably check it out and then head on back to Fronch land tomorrow. Should be in lagrave/serre thursday or friday.

Anybody got a shower for moi to use?

[Lostinthetrees]

So, the storm predicted to hit at least the suisse alps no esta aqui? There was intermittant snow off and on in town, but we had temps of +6 and the plows were finally able to clear the ice from the road. I heard it was snowing up top but the camera didnt show much accumulation, I took today off. I will probably check it out and then head on back to Fronch land tomorrow. Should be in lagrave/serre thursday or friday.

Anybody got a shower for moi to use?

TeleAl's cellblock A in Leysin has access to a shower. It's worth the stop. If Leysin gets 30 - 40cm it is worth staying. PM him.

Storm not where??? Got that wrong!!! see "Snow for Euros" thread for the latest.

[Lostinthetrees]

Change of plans:

Leaving Geneve Thursday AM to arrive in La Grave for dejeuner. If anyone wants to purchase an afternoon ticket I would like to hook-up. PM me and I will share cell phone/natel #.

[Mulletizer]

It's dumping here!

LITT - I still have a couple of tickets for the lift that are good until Friday. They are going cheap :) (selling them for a friend) Call me when you are on your way if you want them. +33679252765 Beware, Mrs Mullet might answer :)

[Lostinthetrees]

It's dumping here!

LITT - I still have a couple of tickets for the lift that are good until Friday. They are going cheap :) (selling them for a friend) Call me when you are on your way if you want them. +33679252765 Beware, Mrs Mullet might answer :)

Thanks! Won't be pulling into LG until ~12:30 on Thursday. Figured a 1/2 day tic would do me. If your tic is less expensive than 1/2 day, then I would be very interested.

Friday tic, 4 sure! I would like to buy 1. Snowfire and SO would be very interested in the other 1. They plan to be down Weds nite or Thursday. Depends on pow levels at Argentiere :)

btw. need the "Mullet-tour" if you are skiing Thurs and/or Fri. 1st time on snow (at LG!). my # will be in your PM. you SMS?

[ulty_guy]

been totally out of the loop on this one cause i'm always very last minute with my vacations, but...

b.a. is only £86 to turin. i'm looking to fly out friday night 28/1/05 and back on either the 1st or 2nd of feb. any of you guys still going to be around?

[Telepath]

i'm looking to fly out friday night 28/1/05 and back on either the 1st or 2nd of feb. any of you guys still going to be around?
Probably. I think I'll be staying around LG until like the 1st or so, then I've prolly going to spend a few days in CH before having to be in Munich on the 5th for ISPO.

[Mulletizer]

been totally out of the loop on this one cause i'm always very last minute with my vacations, but...

b.a. is only £86 to turin. i'm looking to fly out friday night 28/1/05 and back on either the 1st or 2nd of feb. any of you guys still going to be around?

I'll be around. :)

Just got off the hill. I took an extreme staircase huck to flat last week so was taking it gingerly, hence the short day... We got a good 25cm in resort, about the same up to P2. The trees were wicked nice :D The Vallons got even more - around 40cm I guess although it was well tracked when I got there. There doesn't seem to have been too much wind on the snow in most places either. Starting to look good for the mini, especially with more snow forecast.

[Odin]

70 cm in Engleberg

[bad_roo]

Stay the until the weekend at least. Looks to be right in the epicentre of the storm.

[Odin]

going to, I am going to be a bit late to the summit perhaps.

[ulty_guy]

ok, gonna talk to the gf tonight. probably will be flying solo.

[ulty_guy]

OK, booked the flight to turin b/c it's just too damn cheap not to. the converstaion with the gf last night was deemed inconclusive as to whether or not she was coming. if she does some, la grave may be a bit too big for her. i'm going to be that she doesn't come and that i end up hitting la grave solo.

getting in friday night (28/1) to turin about 18:00 and flying out tuesday night (1/2), hopefully i get to use these damn tix!

[Mulletizer]

Nice one Ulty. :)

[TeleAl]

TeleAl's cellblock A in Leysin has access to a shower. It's worth the stop.

Cell Block A.
Word is getting out.
Excellent.