LA GRAVE MINI SUMMIT - THE RIPZALOT REPORT

[Ripzalot]

I bailed a little early from the La Grave mini summit, so here is the the early report... please excuse my grammer, spelling, and sentence fragments. I'm still suffering from post-trip high. :) For those not in the know, La Grave is a unique and serious ski resort in the southern French Alps. There is only one lift and no groomed pistes. (There used to be several drag lifts on the glacier but they have been closed due to being eaten by last summer's heatwave. Oh yeah, they have now installed a chair from just below the 2400 station, but it's rather useless.) It's all high alpine offpiste type routes down, so pretty much experts only.

Saturday - I'm up at the buttcrack of dawn doing the 4 hour drive down to La Grave. As I make my way up the mountain road from Grenoble, it starts snowing and it doesn't stop all day long. I decide to stop at Les Deux Alpes on the way and ride for a half day, as I wait for the others to arrive. The avalanche warning is 5 (out of 5!) and it's snowing with near total whiteout visability. Only the lower runs are open. After a short tour of the west side, I make my way to the only tree run that I can find across the valley on the east side. Good powder, knee to thigh deep all thru the trees. After 4 top to bottom runs, my legs are over. A good warmup for La Grave.

Sunday - First day up La Grave with bad_roo and brownmonkey . It's still snowing with low visibility, not quite as bad as on Saturday. Avalanche warning is 4. They seem to rate the avalanche risk here one lower than the regional bulletins. Several days up to the summit have been a 5 and the local news rated the region a 5, with several special news stories specifically about the high avalanche risk. Oh well, we're here and we want to ski! La Grave is only open to 2400m, so we ride in the trees from 2400 to P1 (1800m) with a run down to the village at midday. The trees were super fun - thigh to hip deep snow just flowing down like water at times. :D I think we were all beat by about 3pm. That night, Chad arrives from Chicago. Unfortunately, KLM does him the extra favor of rerouting all of his baggage to God-knows-where, so he's bunged until his gear arrives. To make matters worse, Monday is gonna be going off... :eek:

Monday - A peak out the window reveals blue skies and a beautiful sunrise hitting the Alpine peaks. La Grave is open to 3200m! We're about a half hour late up the first lift, not super eager to be the first ones up due to the high avy warnings, still 5 according to the news, and a 4 according to the La Grave personnel. We arrive at the top to find a monstrous view of the peak La Meije and the huge powder-laden mountain below us. There are already tracks all over the place, so people must not be too worried about avys. We spend the day throwing huge carves in big powder. Both right and left of the 3200 station are wide open and super fun runs. Note: snowboarders (like me) must suffer thru the dreaded traverses at the end back to P1. Not easy and not a whole lot of fun either! Nonetheless, La Grave delivers the goods. Awesome day! :D :D :D And truth's bags arrive that evening. :D

Tuesday - We head over the pass to Serre Chevalier to search out some leftover pow in the trees. As we head over the pass the weather changes from cloudy and overcast to sunshine, but windy. The upper alpine slopes are all wind-scoured, firm but still soft enough to carve on. The pistes are unbelievable. We spent the afternoon doing Bode Miller impersonations down a looooong red/black piste run. Andy found an interesting under-the-chair route that took us down a series of steep bumps and drops all the way down. Excellent day! :D

Wednesday - Back to La Grave. With the arrival of mulletizer, we finally have a guide. Back up to 3200m for a series of interesting decents. On the first descent, I have to bail as my snowboard can't handle the traverse. So I do a couple of open bowl runs in packed powder down to P1. We hook back up and then mullet leads us down a very fun and beautiful route through two couliours. The first is Banana Couliour. As we approached it, all you can see is a white lip and a wall of rocks going straight down. :eek: I think I manage three turns the whole way down. The snow was pretty hard packed and mogulled out which made for some pretty tricky turns on a 177 snowboard. Falling is not an option here. Little did I know this was only the warm up for the next couliour. :eek: :eek: After a short traverse, we're lead into a fun gully which I opened up at full speed, almost missing the entrance to the Freux Couliour. This couliour is steeper and probably 4 times longer than the first. Like Banana, the top is super steep and mogulled out. I think I managed about seven or eight turns on this one. Mulletizer loses a ski about a third of the way down. The run out is filled with debris so we cross over into the tress and make our way down to the final (super nasty!) traverse. No real trail thru the trees, just traverse as best as you can on your own. I lose my goggles someplace, probably hanging from a branch someplace. Other than that, it was a astounding run! :D :D

Pics to follow...

[Ripzalot]

Saturday, Les Deux Alpes
http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/3712/img51420em.jpg

http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/5117/img51433gb.jpg

http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/1705/img51442lz.jpg

[Ripzalot]

Sunday, La Grave
http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/1237/img51485ij.jpg

2400 to P1 tree run
http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/2977/img51456pk.jpg

http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/5932/img51479xh.jpg

http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/4926/img51639tf.jpg

http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/650/img51681qi.jpg

http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/7190/img51725iw.jpg

http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/6697/img51846dv.jpg

http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/2949/img51857ox.jpg

http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/9410/img51915xc.jpg

[Ripzalot]

Monday, La Grave
http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/8528/img52010ds.jpg

http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/631/img52021pl.jpg

Moi
http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/2817/img52062no.jpg

Moi again
http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/7717/img5207x5ss.jpg

http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/4558/img52128og.jpg

http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/804/img52435gx.jpg

http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/9493/img5256x6br.jpg


What people are riding here...something is wrong with my board's tail

http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/7475/img52633od.jpg

I found a rock! :(
http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/7720/img52640ka.jpg

Chancel
http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/4226/img52749qm.jpg

http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/8974/img52767kj.jpg

http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/8458/img52868tr.jpg

[Ripzalot]

Tuesday, Serre Chevalier
http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/4439/img52883rw.jpg

http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/4021/img52905xh.jpg

The Mini-Summitteers - Truth, BrownMonkey and Bad Roo
http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/143/img52947ad.jpg

A huck gone wrong....
http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/8164/img5303x3yl.jpg

http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/3278/img53065em.jpg

http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/8549/img53139ik.jpg

http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/9656/img53230nx.jpg

[Ripzalot]

Wednesday, back at La Grave

http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/7467/img53341sq.jpg

http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/2523/img53487hr.jpg

La Meije
http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/7524/img53493gy.jpg

Simon checks out the Banana Couliour
http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/105/img53561qx.jpg

Andy rips the couliour
http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/7515/img53600sx.jpg

http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/3553/img53638cp.jpg

http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/7579/img53656wp.jpg

The Freux Couliour

http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/9397/img53714oo.jpg

http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/9123/img53755qg.jpg

http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/6231/img53770ff.jpg

http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/8129/img53908pq.jpg

Sunset over Le Meije
http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/5715/img54034ff.jpg

[Karl Stall]

great report, but a bit understated don't you think. sounds amazing. sucks about truth's ski equip.

[up an down]

great pics!

[ulty_guy]

damn, nice. just couldn't swing more than a few days away from work, unfortunately.

[The AD]

Originally posted by Ripzalot
http://gallery.consumerreview.com/webcrossing/images/IMG_5148.jpg

"des pentes raides" Does this translate to "panty raids?" What's that got to do with avalanches? ;)

Those are awesome photos, thanks for posting.

[bagtagley]

If you can't understand the warning signs, does that mean you can just ignore them?

Nice TR Ripz, looks like a blast.

[xboat]

holy freakin' shit!!!!! caw!! caw!! CAW!!!

i know it takes a bunch of time to not only take the pics but also upload and do up a trip report. you sir are the MAN!
thanks a bunch.

get a pic of someone launching off into this background - that would be sweeeeet!

http://gallery.consumerreview.com/webcrossing/images/IMG_5201.jpg

truth - you still planning on the mini?

[The AD]

Originally posted by bagtagley
If you can't understand the warning signs, does that mean you can just ignore them?

Of course. "Risque Fort 4. That doesn't sound that bad, let's go!"

[PlayHarder]

Nice.

[sick.bird]

CAW! CAW!! CAW!!!

[rightcoast]

thanks...great pics!!

[board]

WOW ! Great pics and tons of them too !

[Cornholio]

Excellent! Way to go, doods!

Something tells me the "Les Freaks" sign should have been pointing the other way for this shot, but whatever:
http://gallery.consumerreview.com/webcrossing/images/IMG_5390.jpg

[jibij]

great pics Ripz. thanks for sharing.
what's up with all the pointy split-tail boards? is that the board of choice throughout euroloand? looks like lots of clickers and step-ins too.

[The AD]

Originally posted by Ripzalot
Sunday, La Grave
http://gallery.consumerreview.com/webcrossing/images/IMG_5163x.jpg

And who knew that Audi made ski clothes! That must be bad_roo, eh?

[Ripzalot]

Originally posted by jibij
great pics Ripz. thanks for sharing.
what's up with all the pointy split-tail boards? is that the board of choice throughout euroloand? looks like lots of clickers and step-ins too.

yeah, la grave is big time for swallowtail powder boards. they are hosting "swallowmania" next month. i gotta find a way to go!

http://www.swallowmania.com/

i was surprised to see the variety of bindings being used with the swallowtails. i saw a lot of clickers and other step ins. i was expecting more hardboot setups but didn't see a single one. step-ins may be the choice because you can rig them with a release system in case of an avalanche. just my guess.

[Steven S. Dallas]

Great TR, great pics! That is some full-on photojournalism.

One question: how is www.swallowmania.com not a porn site?

[subtle plague]

hmmm i wish i had been there.... ive been in the Sauerland (100m vertical ;) ) instead.

the good old freaux. :)

YOu should have skied banana/le lac on early monday ---> steep bumps are not as much fun as steep pow. *smartass*
concerning the avalanche risk: you can usually lower one grade on a hard-tracked mountain, so la grave is usually one below the untracked backcountry.
there are superfun lines in the trees. i wanna see the video !

btw. NOW IT IS MY TURN ! i am going down to the krippenstein tonight. 50-60cm fresh in the last 48hours and 150+ in the last 14 days... :eek:



http://www.ooe.gv.at/lawinenwarndienst/images/Ch_536596221_64601.gif

[meatdrink9]

Sweet report and pics. I love Roos clicked-out cliff huck. I don't understand why there is gear in the landing though?

he over speeds and he never gets pulled over

[gonzo]

toit!

[Dexter Rutecki]

Man, that takes me back...I was hoping to be there this season, but it looks like it's not going to happen.
Great pics, they really give you a sense of what some of those places are like.

[Spamhelmet]

nice stokeage, euromang!!!

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

looks like ban de rios (wrolngly spelled) and trifides are in a quite bad shape? not much snow? was the any skiers on riding them?

[powpig]

AWESOME pics!!!

Had to wipe the drool off my chin!
Onea these days.................

[splat]

Great TR, Ripz. The Mini is on. Have fun, stay safe, you guys.

[Xover]

Saweeeeeeeeet!!

Note to self: Save for Europe Trip next year.

Hell, maybe we should upgrade the "mini" status of it this year to next year's "Summit". :)

[Ted Stryker]

Originally posted by Spamhelmet

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

looks like ban de rios (wrolngly spelled) ....

dude,
like its the Pan Reee Dough.

and how 'bout that Eegrrete (heh)? bring the tools.

[Ripzalot]

Originally posted by Spamhelmet
nice stokeage, euromang!!!

looks like ban de rios (wrolngly spelled) and trifides are in a quite bad shape? not much snow? was the any skiers on riding them?

dunno the names, you'll have to ask bad roo. i did see a snowboarder taking the route in red tho. f-n-a! big balls for sure.

[Schmear]

Originally posted by Ripzalot
Don't ask....
http://gallery.consumerreview.com/webcrossing/images/IMG_5303x.jpg


We've kinda learned not to.

[Mulletizer]

Nice report Ripz. I´ll be adding some of my own stuff in due course.

The Triffyde couloirs are ok. #3 has an impossible huck and doesn´t look as if it will be skiable this season (not unusual). Apparently #2 is ok, I haven´t skied it though. #1 is in good shape but the entrance is pretty tricky. #0 is cool, Roo and I skied it a couple of days ago.

The Pan de Rideau is the Couloir de Pan de Rideau this season - a narrow chute instead of an open field. There is more routefinding on the glacier than in previous years but it looks ok - although I am not sure how good the snowbridges are. There is hardly any snow in the Y couloir, loads of gaps, doesn´t look as if it´ll be doable for quite a while if at all.

[Mulletizer]

BTW It is snowing pretty hard now :D

Hoping to go up later; messed my foot up yesterday and not too keen to ski with it yet.

[Ripzalot]

Originally posted by Mulletizer
BTW It is snowing pretty hard now :D

Hoping to go up later; messed my foot up yesterday and not too keen to ski with it yet.

Damn, you boys be careful! Snowing, eh? Hey, it's only a 4 hour drive back down for the weekend. Hmmmm...

I'm jonesin' to get back down there already. La Grave makes everything else look like the kiddie slopes. I'm completely jaded now.

[Karl Stall]

Originally posted by Ripzalot
dunno the names, you'll have to ask bad roo. i did see a snowboarder taking the route in red tho. f-n-a! big balls for sure.

Micah Black skied that one in RAP's Snowdrifters, I think. There was way better coverage when he did it, though. Looks sweet. I'd love to test my fortitude over ther some time.

So fucking cool!

[Crinkle]

Damn, that was awesome. Those pics are fricking great. 5 stars brother.

[Ted Stryker]

Originally posted by Karl Stall
Micah Black skied that one in RAP's Snowdrifters, I think. . OMG!
:rolleyes:

[sluffhunter]

Hey Mulletizer, you still have to show those boyz the goods. What no rope with you those dayz. keep rippin and tell everyone I'll be back.

[Mulletizer]

Originally posted by sluffhunter
tell everyone I'll be back.

They already know :)

The rope will come out soon... :cool:

[truth]

Just landed back stateside...all I can say is OMFG!!!! Thanks to all the euro mags for babysitting this uber jong on his euro vacation...pics and more will follow after a shower and some good lovin from my better half. She's waiting for me so I'm audi5000 G.

[Billow]

Make it a quickie so we can get some porn. :D

Nice shots Ripz :cool:

[Jiehkevarri]

Very Cool thread. Brings some memories to my mind...

I visited la Grave spring 2001. The conditions were superb back then. Skied Pan de Rideau many times, and once the Y; maybe the most extremo-mountain-doodhish run I've ever made :D
But it was in unusually good condition back then - my friend met Doug Coombs(!) in gondola, and they chatted for a while, and Doug pointed out that 'steep skiing conditions are excellent right now'...Still, maybe the best runs were just the bowls at Vallon after a huge dump, wind packed mach-3 cruising stuff!

We also watched some Finns hucking the Trifide 3...after seeing couple of skiers took some big yard sales, me and my friend decided we have no balls for that stuff. Afterwards thinking, a very good decicion, because when I think it now I wasn't ready for that!(and I doubt I ever will, with current back problems) One snowboarder stuck it nicely, just a slightly butt check (but he´s quite good, eh)...and then we saw from distance one swedish girl stomping it cleanly...very humbling :)

Also, the route down to Freaux through the woods was quite an experience...very tight trees, steep,heavy snow, some down climbing over rocks, sudden cliff bands here and there, and finally avalanche chute with volkswagen sized snow chunks ...obvioysly we didn't take the so called 'right' route...heh

By the way, no wonder that some of those Finns happen to live right there at 'Les Freaks'!!!:)

I think in Europe La Grave might be the closest equivalent(sp?) to Alta - every skier should visit it at least once!

[Ripzalot]

Originally posted by Jiehkevarri
I think in Europe La Grave might be the closest equivalent(sp?) to Alta - every skier should visit it at least once!

I was wondering about that - what other resorts stateside can compare to La Grave? Everything seems so short and dumb now. ;)

[Jiehkevarri]

I didn't actually think about vertical meters etc. -more about the unique feeling...never been to Alta though, but I can sorta imagine the vibe there.

But you´re right...not that many resorts are comparable. La Grave is barely even a ski resort...more like just a huge mountain with a few lifts!

[G]

"Look at meee, I can fly"




http://gallery.consumerreview.com/webcrossing/images/IMG_5163x.jpg

Great report!:D

[bad_roo]

Originally posted by meatdrink9
Sweet report and pics. I love Roos clicked-out cliff huck. I don't understand why there is gear in the landing though?


I'd orginally decided to climb up onto that knob and then ski off it, but the damn thing was only about 18 inches wide and overhanging, soo I threw my gear off in disgust and piled off after it. Brownmonkey has a mid air shot of me where I look distinctly 'special'. :D

[truth]

Originally posted by bad_roo
Brownmonkey has a mid air shot of me where I look distinctly 'special'. :D

You are distinctly "special" Roo.
http://homepage.mac.com/hakcds/.Pictures/Photo%20Album%20Pictures/2004-01-25%2009.16.54%20-0800/Image-87262D294F5711D8.jpg

[Ripzalot]

Some panoramics...

From 3200m on top of La Grave...
http://gallery.consumerreview.com/webcrossing/images/lagrave-s1.jpg

Serre Chevalier...
http://gallery.consumerreview.com/webcrossing/images/lagrave-s2.jpg

From the chalet looking up at La Meije...
http://gallery.consumerreview.com/webcrossing/images/lagrave-s3.jpg

[ulty_guy]

ripz! that last shot is amazing!

[brownmonkey]

Yeah - that pic better be on the CD you're sending me!

[Ripzalot]

Originally posted by brownmonkey
Yeah - that pic better be on the CD you're sending me!

OK, shorty! ;)

[bad_roo]

BWAHAHAHAHAHA!!! I never saw that one before!

NB - Just noticed you can see Alpe d'Huez village a few pixels to the right of Brownmonkey's right shoulder...

[brownmonkey]

I was standing in a Marmott hole at the time...

[truth]

Originally posted by brownmonkey
I was standing in a Marmott hole at the time...

Was that before or after you clubbed it with a shovel?

[Mulletizer]

Originally posted by truth
Was that before or after you clubbed it with a shovel?

And then stuck a sanitry towel on it...

[bad_roo]

I forgot about those damn press on towels everywhere.

[bad_roo]

Still, getting clubbed to death with a shovel is only half the story. I just found out what Blondin didn't tell us. The locals smoke the marmots afterwards.

http://www.ug-home.nottingham.ac.uk/~mryujs/b3ta/marmot.jpg

[truth]

Originally posted by bad_roo
I forgot about those damn press on towels everywhere.

Fire your editor.

[HyRUPz]

Awesome trip report . . . LaGrave, ah, ce bon!

Thanks for the stoke/pix/etc.

Beats Buttermilk ;)

[Ripzalot]

damn, brownmonkey, that's a sharp avatar! :cool:

come on roo & mullet, get with the program and update your avatar with an official '04 eurothrash pic...

[truth]

That pic is awesome Jay. I wonder if you can tweak it in p-shop to bring out the rooster tail a bit more?

[CaddyDaddy77]

http://www.ug-home.nottingham.ac.uk/~mryujs/b3ta/marmot.jpg

Anyone notice the second guy's shirt.

Really nice sequeined cock.

[bad_roo]

Originally posted by Ripzalot
come on roo & mullet, get with the program and update your avatar with an official '04 eurothrash pic...

Consider it done. :cool:

[Mulletizer]

Originally posted by Ripzalot
damn, brownmonkey, that's a sharp avatar! :cool:

come on roo & mullet, get with the program and update your avatar with an official '04 eurothrash pic...

Er, I didn't manage to take that many pictures of myself. Does anyone have a half decent one of me? A skiing one as opposed to standing around... Don't remember any being taken.

[bad_roo]

Might be able to get a nice vid cap...

[Woodsy]

and ya dont stop

[Dromond]

I think I must've missed this one the first time around.

Bump 'cause it rules.

[cj001f]

Any plans for '05-06?

[Franz Klammer]

Hope to be in La Grave Dec 26 05 to Jan 2 06. Looking for a cheap apartment for 4-7 people. Any suggestions?

Yes, I did search, but I couldn't find what I was looking for.

[crashnburn'd]

bump
.....

[Glisseur]

Hope to be in La Grave Dec 26 05 to Jan 2 06. Looking for a cheap apartment for 4-7 people. Any suggestions?

Yes, I did search, but I couldn't find what I was looking for.Where did you look? Try these if you already haven't:
www.lagrave-lameije.com
www.les-enfetchores.com

http://gite.le.rocher.free.fr/

[Meathelmet]

Hope to be in La Grave Dec 26 05 to Jan 2 06. Looking for a cheap apartment for 4-7 people. Any suggestions?

Yes, I did search, but I couldn't find what I was looking for.

If you are feeling adventurous,or are accustomed to a bit more rustic places,then try Gité L´Rocher(?). A gite with 4-7person rooms, cheap (12€ night/person),goood kitchen,nice dining area and 100meters from the lift.

[Lostinthetrees]

If you are feeling adventurous,or are accustomed to a bit more rustic places,then try Gité L´Rocher(?). A gite with 4-7person rooms, cheap (12€ night/person),goood kitchen,nice dining area and 100meters from the lift.

I stayed there last year during the mini. Affordable, functional and close to the action. For a gite/hostel, I second what MH said, the kitchen is great! Plenty of space in fridges and for cooking. Bunk beds in most rooms.

I skipped their petit dejeuner and went up to the patisserie and grabbed a cafe in big hotel in town.

[backslap]

La Grave has a bureau of tourism that could help you. There are also a few villages very close to La Grave where alot of people stay. So go to La Graves web sight get the number for the tourism office and start there they speak english quite well. If you still have no luck I have friends that live in La Grave that I might be able to put you in contact with so let me know.

[Ripzalot]

hey it's good to see my old post but what happened to all the pics? do pics expire after a certain amount of time?

bummer, i was looking for stoke....:tdo13:

[Dodger]

Hi Ripz, the pictures you posted appear to all be on a site called gallery.consumerreview.com. I took a look at that and it has notice saying "temporarily unavailable due to maintenance". Guess you can only hope they get it going again.....

[Ripzalot]

Hi Ripz, the pictures you posted appear to all be on a site called gallery.consumerreview.com. I took a look at that and it has notice saying "temporarily unavailable due to maintenance". Guess you can only hope they get it going again.....
you're right, i forgot all about that site for pic hosting. unfortunately, they must have expired when they upgraded their site. maybe i'll do some work and repost them/relink them again. *groan*

[hemlock hiker]

I could not view pics. Anyone else have this problem, all I get is white boxes with a red X in the middle of the box.

[Hicks]

The hosting site is apparently down due to maintenance, that's what it says.

[Ripzalot]

^^^pics reposted^^^

[bad_roo]

Thanks, J. Good times.

[Buster Highmen]

Why is this not in the Hall Of Fame?

[Ripzalot]

we need to so this again!!!

[truth]

Agreed...