On The Road. Chamonix – Verbier – La Grave

It was tough to leave Chamonix. It is a truly magical place. I had an amazing time, but it was time to check out a few other zones in the Alps. I joined Crystal Wright and Angel Percival in search of blue skies, soft fluffy snow, and the perfect picture. The first stop Verbier.

Verbier is one of the best free riding zones in the Alps. There is an extensive lift system and more terrain than a skier can cover in a week. It is also the home of the Verbier X-treme. It is almost the complete opposite of Chamonix. The streets of Chamonix are filled with mountaineers and climbers. The skiers of Verbier are wearing small backcountry packs and fat skis. It was the perfect place for the girls team to start shooting photos.

The day was blue bird, but it had been a week since the last storm. It took a little work to find the perfect snow with the perfect light, but in the end we persevered and got the shot.

Next stop, La Grave. La Grave, Coombs country, has been on my list for many years. It is one of the special places in world that I have heard about and have always been nervous to go. I have been told that it is nearly impossible to roll into La Grave and figure it out. Many friends have warned me that a guide is mandatory for the first day. It is not a place to explore on your own, you want to know where going. On a limited budget, I never thought I would be able to afford a guide in La Grave and therefore have never made it there. Some how my stars aligned and I found myself in La Grave with a guide thanks to many emails and friends.

I don’t know if words can truly capture the feeling of La Grave. La Grave is a true freeriding zone. There is no piste skiing. There are no patrol man. The mountains is only controled/secured by the guides who ski it every day. You will not hear bombs in the morning, only the sounds of the locals planning their first run of the morning in lift line. The mayor of La Grave makes the final decision whether or not to open the top of the mountain based on what some of the tops guides say about the stability of the snow pack.

“We you arrive at La Grave – La Meije, you’re in no ordinary ski resort. You’re in an unsecured site in the high mountains, where the weather conditions can change rapidly and you’re in charge of your our safety. A cable car takes you up to altitude of 3200 meters in about 30 minutes, in a unique setting surrounded by vast glaciers and steep couloirs where you can carve turns according to your inspiration and level, far from any groomed trails or lift pylons. The requires a certain technical level, but above all a good dose of humility and responsibility when faced with the natural elements. Before setting out you need to take a certain number of precautions for your own peace of mind and safety, as well as that of others. These tips will help you avoid minor and even major problems and enjoy unforgettable moments in a legendary place.” Front of the trail map for La Grave-Le Meije.

The brochure forgets to mention that with a little knowledge and some rope work skiers can rip down 7000 foot couloirs. Keith Garvey, www.allmountainadventures, and Joe Vallone have been guiding in La Grave for last 8 years and shared their knowledge with us.

caption id=”attachment_1210″ align=”aligncenter” width=”360″ caption=”Keith Garvey and Joe Vallone – Bad Ass Mountain Guides!”][/caption]

Each Couloir required some rope work at some point, but it was well worth it!

And I have to admit that sometimes the rope work was as much fun as the skiing.

La Grave is true adventure skiing. It is mind blowing. I can’t wait to come back!