TR: La Grave, Chamonix, Verbier, January 2007

[jumpturn]

What I did on my January vacation in France when the ice climbing sucked (no 6es to do), the rock climbing was too hot! (and a 3 hours drive), and the skiing piss poor below 2000m.

Answer: Skied off-piste above 2000m with the benefit of lift service so you run all the laps your legs can stand.

Checked out La Grave, the Grands Montets, and a day at Verbier.

Danger, you're taking your life in your hands



The bunny slope at La Grave (Le Vallon chimes in about 40º?)



Detail of the beginner couloir at La Grave



Seriously, this T-Bar runs from 3200m to 3550m to access the beginner skiing on the glacier (and tons of major descents)



And the views on the way home from the office aren't bad: La Meije with alpin glow (higher than the Aguille de Midi by a couple of meters)



Of course there are other venues: Skinning up the Rognons Glacier at 3300m with the Argentiere Galcier below, Chamonix



More or less on-piste skiing on the Rognons Glacier, Grands Montets



Definitely getting off piste now



Skiing by some ice climbers on break



Watch out for the crevasses on the Rognons Glacier



The front side glacier (45º at top) off the Grands Montets



Better not fall lest you land in the crevass



And if you drive over the Col des Montets, Verbier with the Mount Blanc Range behind



Mont Font: Off-piste moguls at 3300m (45º and much easier without the pack!)



Looking down a 1000m off-piste section leading to a tram at 2000m

[Mrs Roo]

Of course there are other venues: Skinning up the Rognons Glacier at 3300m with the Argentiere Galcier below, Chamonix

This photo is beautiful, as is the one of La Meije. Lovely stuff!!

[dn4989]

I want to go there really, really, really,really,really, bad.

[edg]

Kind of puts the whole Jackson 'This Mountain is like nothing you've skied before' into perspective.

edg

[bobber]

......and on the opossite site:

[jumpturn]

......and on the opossite site:

The opposide side, at the little 3400m resto.....
That's great!!!

[IridePow]

Nice first posts there jumpturn.

Welcome!

[LeeLau]

This makes North American resort skiing look like baby poo. Thanks for that. Too bad its lost in all the non-skiing related crap lately