Old man skis La Grave. February 19 2023

Рет қаралды 11,729

Жыл бұрын

First time at La Grave. I skied from 3400m to 2400m because the snow was thin(5 weeks with no fresh snow fall), and I didn't know the way to the next level.
Avalanche danger level was 2.
A part of the glacier collapsed at the end of the video when I was going back up in the cable car.

Пікірлер: 19

@stevewallace1367 9 ай бұрын

holy moly you went back up after that ! One giant ice block - no wonder there wasn't anyone else in sight. Those poor people at the end don't know what they're in for ! Well done surviving that ordeal - and lucky you didn't stumble into any of those 50 degree couloirs there ! Hope you've found some soft snow since :-)

@jeremybevis6441 Жыл бұрын

I have skied La Grave a number of times but always with a guide. That was the itinerary route. If you follow tracks you can end up in one of three serious couloirs and in those wind blown icy conditions they would have been significantly challenging and on your own foolhardy. You can also end up in places where you have to rappel. My advice is always take a guide. It would be less stressful and would ensure you ski terrain of your ability.

@mike520784 Жыл бұрын

Good advice. I did speak to one of the patroulliers at the bottom. He didn't seem too concerned. It hadn't snowed for 5 weeks, and I was completely skied out. Some people skied down to 1800 but the snow was very thin at that level. To ski to La Grave was impossible at that time. The guide said if I miss the traverse below 1800, I would have to call 112 because its a big cliff after that. Definitely, a guide would have been a better idea.

@jamesthomas4841 9 ай бұрын

I have skied at La Grave quite a bit. I have never used a guide. I can get down but I am not a great skier. The important thing is understanding the terrain and the conditions especially avalanche risk. Check the avalanche assessment and act accordingly. Yes you can end up above cliffs that require an abseil descent if you blindly follow someone else's tracks but if you know where the cliffs are that is not a real problem. Take a transceiver probes and a shovel, don't ski alone, avoid the off piste on the glacier unless you have crevasse rescue kit and know how to use it. Take a proper map. Study it beforehand and don't be too ambitious at first It is amongst the best skiing in the Alps so much better than those pistes at Deux Alpes.

@skirolf Жыл бұрын

It looked like the snow conditions were not that great on the video. More like skiing and trying to get down. I have skied there two times 10-15 years ago. At that time the glacier at your right hand was a lot more. I remembered that side to be a lot more “white”. I think the not so good snow conditions made you not skiing all the way down, you covered only two third of the whole vertical from 3550 to 1400 meters. ( not 100 % sure of the numbers). Going to La Grave, one option could be to go to Les Deux Alps or Serre Chevalier and make an excursion day just to see what it is like or when the snow is good/better. It is definitely a place that should be on everybody’s bucket list! I will return. Great scenery and interesting lift. Very nice and informative video. I liked that you have shown the recording date. Not many ski videos have that, it is the snow conditions that counts for all ski areas.

@jamesthomas4841 9 ай бұрын

The best reasonable descent in the Alps.

@MaxMountainWorld Жыл бұрын

Awesome Video. I would be roughly the same ability level, age and maybe fitness level too. I have wanted to ski La Grave for ages. I was swinging about my chair throughout this. I've no excuse really as I live only two hours drive away. Thanks for the nice interesting footage, SUbbed. Cheers

@mike520784 Жыл бұрын

Thanks for the comment! It was the highlight of the season for me! It's an amazing place! Once you go past the ropes at the top, there are no markers or poles to show the way, nothing. On my second run, I tried to avoid the steep icy bumps but found an even steeper couloir. Just make sure you don't miss the traverse back to the lift! Conditions might be better now, but probably more dangerous. I was told that when there is fresh snow, the queue can be massive!

@MaxMountainWorld Жыл бұрын

@@mike520784 I know it all, thanks, I guess I am just a poossay!!! Next winter objective for sure. Thanks for you reply. Cheers

@SkiCounseler 9 ай бұрын

Oh would I love to ski that run on a bluebird powder day. The scenery alone was amazing.

@Landwy1 8 ай бұрын

La Grave used to be on my bucket list. However, I changed my mind. I'm probably as old as Mike and a better skier. However...this is survival skiing. He did a very admirable job skiing that beast. The "Must not fall zones" are at just about every turn. I've skied Jackson Hole many times and at the near end of the skiing day, I've asked myself, "Why did I take the last tram?" His skiing was much more courageous than taking the last tram at Jackson. La Grave has almost twice the vertical than Jackson and is heleva more rocky. In Europe when they say having a guide is highly recommended, should not be taken lightly. Good job Mike!!

@mike520784 8 ай бұрын

Thanks. La Grave is a cool place. Just a small village on the road with a strange old lift that takes you up to the glacier. If there is fresh powder the queue can get massive so I was told. Probably because everyone at les Deux Alpes gets a free pass for La Grave included. Bureaux des Guides at the station to help you out.

@broadsworddannyboy1148 9 ай бұрын

There are Bold skiers...and there are Old skiers....but very rarely do you chat over hot chocolate at the bottom of the mountain to ...Old and Bold skiers. Well played.