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Get ready to enjoy the fields of untracked powder while skiing on some of the best and most challenging off-piste terrain in the world! This is a true paradise for any advanced freerider who wants to challenge themselves even further and reach a new level in the backcountry. On this 5-day adventure, your guide will show you the ins and outs of some classic spots as well as some routes for the more advanced enthusiasts and adapt the terrain choice to your abilities. Hire an expert guide and enjoy backcountry skiing in La Grave!
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Day 1: Evaluation and Classics in the area
Day one starts with meeting your guide, who sizes up the group’s level and shapes the days ahead around it.
Then it’s straight to the classics—Les Vallons de La Meije and the Chancel route. You’ll link scenic descents, thread a few steep couloirs, and take in the full sweep of the French Alps as you go.
Day 2: Experience the Girose Glacier, the Banane and Patou
On this day you’ll experience some steep slopes and descents and ski on the Girose glacier, the highest point you can reach using a lift in the resort. On the Chancel Route, you’ll head down La Banane and Patou, the steep-sided couloirs, with La Banane being longer and, as the name suggests, a bit curved.
Day 3: Combeynot massif
Let your guide take you to the Combeynot massif, a real skiing paradise where the snow is great, the slopes are quite steep and there are many couloirs on top of that. The views from this massif are breathtaking and even though the terrain is steep, you won’t regret it once you’ve conquered it!
Days 4 and 5: Conquer stunning couloirs and glaciers
During the last two days of this adventure, you’ll head out to different valleys from the cable car and/or by using the skins. Ski on some legendary couloirs such as Couloir de Fréaux, la Voûte and the Chirouze couloirs. Couloir de Fréaux has the easiest access and is narrow and steep in the beginning, after which you can enjoy skiing down a long descent. La Voûte contains an open slope and gets steeper and steeper as you go. The Chirouze couloirs count three steep couloirs, one more stunning than the other. You’ll also ski towards the small village of Saint Christophe, visit La Meije Glacier and spend two days and one night in a mountain lodge!
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What you get in this adventure:
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- An experienced, UIAGM High Mountain Guide with extensive knowledge of the area
- Five days of backcountry ski touring
- Avalanche safety kit if necessary (transceiver, shovel, probe and harness)
What’s not included:
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- Technical backcountry ski touring equipment
- Transportation of the participants and guide on the days that you leave La Grave, transportation to La Grave and all the trips during the adventure
- Food and snacks
- Accommodations
- Cable car transportation
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You’ll need to be in very good shape for this one. Expect five to seven hours on your feet, five days straight, over varied terrain—with controlled descents in whatever conditions the mountain serves up.
Everyone should be comfortable on challenging red-level resort runs or harder, and able to carry a loaded daypack while skinning. For the advanced program, plan on 1,000 m (3,300 ft) of climbing on uneven terrain, so bring your legs.
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You’ll need previous backcountry experience to join. The intermediate tour asks for a solid skiing level; for the advanced program, touring experience helps but isn’t essential.
Expect hours of skiing, touring, and summiting on glaciated terrain every day. Your guide handles the planning, keeps an eye on your technique, and coaches you on reading the terrain—and they carry the avalanche training to make the call when it matters.
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For technical backcountry ski touring gear, you will need to bring:
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- Alpine touring skis, telemark skis or splitboard with skins (can be rented)
- Touring boots and poles (can be rented)
For personal items, we recommend bringing:
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- Helmet
- Sunglasses or ski goggles
- Gloves and hat
- Wind and waterproof shell jacket with hood (Gore-Tex recommended)
- Ski pants (Gore-Tex recommended)
- Down jacket or vest
- Synthetic or wool base layers, underwear and socks
- One triple-action locking carabiner or two conventional locking carabiners
- Repair kit and Leatherman for your equipment (can be shared between several people)
- Water bottle and 1L of water
- Thermos with a warm beverage — optional
- Food you can eat on-the-go
- First aid kit
- Sunscreen
- Daypack large enough to carry all items listed (around a 30-40L backpack)
- Camera — optional
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All mandatory gear can be rented if you don’t have your own. You can rent:
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- Avalanche safety pack, including backpack, beacon, shovel and probe from Objectif Meije
- Alpine touring or telemark skis, touring boots and poles can be rented from Objectif Meije
Ski rental locations are in La Grave and should be picked up the night prior to your outing. If you need to rent gear, let us know and we can help make arrangements.
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Group sizes and pricing:
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- For this adventure, the max client-to-guide ratio is 4:1.
- Costs per person decrease as the group grows for this adventure, so it’s the perfect opportunity to ski with friends and family.
Backcountry skiing in La Grave can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements.
Min. age requirements:
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- If you are older than 18, you’re good to go.
- Minors may be permitted to join private tours on a case-by-case basis.
If your group has skiers under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.
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To get to La Grave, most people fly into Lyon-Saint-Exupéry Airport, 2 hours away from La Grave. When you get to Lyon, you can rent a car or take a bus or train to Grenoble, and then take a bus directly to La Grave.
You can also fly into Turin Airport 2.5 hours away. From Turin, you can rent a car or take a train to Bardonecchia and then drive to La Grave for 1h 20 minutes.
The meeting place is in La Grave. Once you and your guide agree on the details of your itinerary, your guide will suggest the best place to meet, whether that’s at the guide shop or a predetermined location. The guide will choose the appropriate terrain dependent on conditions and the ability of the group.
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We highly recommend that you cover all your bases with insurance. To make your booking and traveling experience as carefree as possible, you’ll be offered to simply insure your trip with Redpoint at checkout.
Redpoint—the official 57hours insurance partner—tailors protection packages for adventure travel, offering a comprehensive travel program, even in remote locations! Trip cancellation, natural disasters, pandemic coverage, medical evacuation, primary medical expenses—regardless of the travel interruption that may happen, Redpoint will have you covered.
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