Family trip to LaGrave

[plugboots]

My first trip to La Grave was in 1998, I think. They kinda blend together. I did a TR from one of the trips, and woulda linked it here, but it was photobucketed and now worthless. For most of my trips to La Grave I go with a non-mag ski bud, but this trip I brought the whole fam damily. Some of these pics came out in the TGR sideways version, and I don't know why, and oh well. This will give you folks an idea that it can actually be a place to bring the fam.
New, (to me), song we played a lot on the trip, seems appropriate:

We flew to Munich, picked up a shitbox, and stuffed it. Guy who did the paperwork said he'd never seen one so full.

Did a little sightseeing along the way, Neuschwanstein Castle, Menaggio, then got to our rooms for the view. Does. Not. Suck. Never. Gets. Old.

Blizzard started, the Telepherique was closed, so we went to boring little Le Chazelet, for a knee deep powder day. Guy I was skiing with said it was like eating chocolate all day. MiniPlug watches:

Ski into town for a typical megalunch. Owner's son locally made the cheese for that course:

Finish the day skiing over the ridge into Les Terrasses for beers and dog petting:

Next day kinda cleared so we skied Freaux. This, for me, is why I keep coming back to this place. Long consistently steep couloirs. Looking down at the start:

After maybe about 2000' the couloir opens up, and there's still 2000' or so left of steepish apron:

Next day my broken MCL was acting up so I changed groups. This way I got to ski with the fam. Great Larch skiing all over the La Grave area. Knee deep for Mrs. Plug:

Is only boot deep for me:

Next day was sunny, so off to the classics. Patou for me:

MiniPlug:

Mrs. Plug:

Banane:




Went for a glacier run, but as often the case here, drag lift was semi broke, so we took in the view and waited:

After some glacier butt wiggling, we cut over to the Vallons side, under the glacier into the zone interdit and explored an ice cave:

Buster told me to not ski Trifides, so I headed over for sloppy eighths:

My knee was barking, so I actually rode down from the top, (which I'd never done before), but I got to ride with dog, my copilot:

Such a great place to have a post ski beer. (I prefer a panaché.):

Anyways, this was a really cool trip for me, because my first trip here was right before we got our daughter, and now she got to ski here with me. We stayed at a popular lodge, and she was the only offspring out of 50 clients, but she still had a pretty good time. Not to mention, this was by far the most snow I've seen here in all those trips. Some years it's firm chalk fall-you-die stuff.
At the end of the week, I drove the family and friends back to Lyon, and I took the next week to visit some manufacturers in Italy and Germany, then drove to Munich and returned the now empty car:

[Ottime]

That looks so cool. How old is your mini?

[plugboots]

She's 19, but she would have been comfortable skiing there after about age 14. We would have stayed elsewhere, though.

[detrusor]

My question exactly. How old? Would love to take my family!


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[babybear]

so excellent. I was going to post a TR but not sure if it's just easier to photoshop myself into your group lol -bc all those runs you posted were basically our go to's
although we had earlier tracks in the trefides
.....but our freaux run was a mogul field at the top

Man that place is so ancient and wonderful- we are already talking about when we can go back

[plugboots]

I was waiting for your TR. One day a few years ago we did Freaux, La Voute, and Muretouse all in one day. We also took our packs off once and did Trifides laps. Mostly, though, (maybe like you?), we tend to stay above P1 and go Vallons or Chancel side with a glacier run thrown in for variety. I have a ton more photos and vids, but it would've gone over the song time limit.

Post 'em up!!!

[Zeedashbo]

Helluva trip.

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[ACH]

Awesome!
Looks like you had a great trip, fortunately also including the presence of dogs (always a plus).

[Buster Highmen]

Well wrought.

[nutmegchoi]

European delivery and La Grave!
Very nice!!
Did you have fun at the museum?

And the whole family skies!!!!
Awesome TR!

[406]

Nice!

[plugboots]

Did you have fun at the museum?

Dang NMC! I forgot to take motorcycle pictures for you.
It’s actually a perfect thing to do when you’ve landed and you’re all jetlagged.




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[BoulderBreak]

Excellent TR. Wife and I went to LG for the first time back in Feb. Only regret was just doing 3 days. Views from the top of the glacier do not disappoint.

[Dromond]

Excellent TR - old school! Did you book the trip because they were having a good season, or was it planned long in advance?

[plugboots]

Long in advance. Even in a bad snow year there’s lots to ski, and it’s a pretty good central location to explore elsewhere.


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[Meadow Skipper]

I missed this earlier. Nic cooler pics and I like the family aspect. Bump because TRs rule.

[::: :::]

thx for the TR


is the bmw rental a special thing?
or just convenient for some other part of the trip...?

[plugboots]

I bought it. https://www.bmwusa.com/european-delivery.html

[babybear]

^ that's awesome. next time I might try to do that as well bc we had the worst rental car experience trying to return our rental (europcar) in Lyon
So hard to find the return place (i know seems like a F'ing no brainer right?) then andrew mentioned that people online mentioned the return being a PITA. finally found the 1 parking garage door to return it with a 1"x 7" sign on a busy 6 lane road with a train added into the lanes as well
got to the train 90 seconds before arrival
love that dark blue color. stoked for your trip and info

[::: :::]

I bought it. https://www.bmwusa.com/european-delivery.html

Ok I’m even more jealous

[uglymoney]

Dang NMC! I forgot to take motorcycle pictures for you.
It’s actually a perfect thing to do when you’ve landed and you’re all jetlagged.




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That is awesome. I grew up in a red BMW 1600...I think it was a 67. My old man visited the factory shortly after buying it.

Great trip report. Thanks. Should of had a beer with you at JH last year when we were there the same week.

[Norseman]

Cool TR. Thanks for sharing

[Ski to Be]

Sweet

[garyfromterrace]

Looks like an awesome trip.Thanks for posting plug.