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Mountain conditions can change quickly and unpredictably. If conditions become unfavorable or dangerous, I may decide to turn back, modify the route, or choose an alternative objective.

No. In the mountains, reaching the summit is never guaranteed. Weather conditions, terrain, the group's level, or an unforeseen event may lead to changing the objective or turning back. Safety always remains the priority.

As a mountain guide, I am solely responsible for safety-related decisions: whether the trip proceeds, the route changes, is postponed, or cancelled is at my judgment based on conditions at the time.

You can contact me by email, phone, SMS or WhatsApp to discuss your project. Once we have agreed on the objective, date and level of the outing, your booking will be confirmed upon receipt of the deposit.

From the playful terrain of Rocher de l’Aigle to the long descent through the Vallon de la Doire, Montgenèvre offers plenty of variety. A short hike gives us access to the steeper slopes of Grand Charvia or La Plane, while the Gondrans area invites us to explore further on touring skis. If snow conditions allow, we can also ski all the way down to La Vachette or Cervières, with transport arranged for the return. We'll choose our routes according to the conditions and the group's ability.

Some ski touring experience is helpful, but it isn’t essential if you have the right off-piste skiing ability and fitness. I’ll show you how to use climbing skins, switch your bindings between touring and skiing modes, and make uphill kick turns. Let me know if you’re new to ski touring: we’ll plan manageable climbs and allow enough time for you to get comfortable with the equipment and techniques.

You should be comfortable skiing off-piste on moderate slopes and able to handle different snow conditions. You don’t need to be an expert in steep couloirs! We’ll discuss your experience before the day to choose suitable routes.

We use the ski lifts to gain altitude, then continue on climbing skins. Total ascent ranges from 500 to 1,500 m, depending on the conditions, the group’s fitness and what everyone wants to do. One climb followed by a long descent, or several climbs to explore different slopes: we’ll plan the day together!

A small, welcoming resort, varied terrain and a more affordable lift pass than at the big resorts: Puy-Saint-Vincent has plenty going for it! Sheltered by the high peaks of the Écrins, its north-facing slopes often preserve cold snow, while the larch woods offer lovely forest descents. We can lap short runs close to the pistes or head into the wild Narreyroux valley via the Col du Bal. A great freeride day in a friendly setting, with a lighter lift-pass budget!

From off-piste runs close to the pistes, such as the Draye and Coqs woods and the Rocher Noir and Pendine sectors, to wilder routes, including Le Pèlerinage, the descents and couloirs of Narreyroux and the Col du Bal route, there’s plenty to explore. We’ll choose our runs according to the snow, your ability and the group’s wishes, enjoying varied terrain and making the most of the day’s conditions.

Yes, you can come with friends or family for a day tailored to your group. Ideally, everyone should have a similar ability level so they can all enjoy the descents. We’ll discuss your experience and what you’d like to do, then plan the day together.

We mainly use the lifts, but some off-piste routes may involve a short walk, sometimes carrying skis on our backpacks. Climbing skins are not needed, unless we agree on this option the day before with the whole group, for example to find better snow conditions. We’ll then arrange the appropriate equipment.

This day is suitable for good piste skiers who are comfortable on red runs and able to ski in a variety of snow conditions. You don’t need to be an expert: I’ll choose the routes and pace according to the level of the group.

Yes. It is designed as an introduction to hut-to-hut ski touring. You should, however, already have some experience of day ski tours and be comfortable skiing off-piste. We'll take the time to learn how to manage your pack, pace yourself and get used to the rhythm of a multi-day ski tour.

The full equipment list is given on the route's page. Some individual technical gear (ice axe, crampons, harness, helmet) can be provided.

There is no technical prerequisite for the Roche Faurio, though prior experience walking with crampons is a plus.

Within a 20 to 50 minute radius of the gîte, there's a wide choice: Puy-Saint-Vincent, Pelvoux, Serre Chevalier, Montgenèvre, Risoul, Vars, Ceillac, Crévoux, and Les Orres.

Freeride touring (freerando) combines ski touring and freeride skiing: starting from a ski resort, climbing skins are used to reach wild, off-piste areas otherwise inaccessible by lift.

Yes. Private trips offer a fully personalized experience, with an objective, pace, and itinerary tailored to your expectations.

Insurance is not mandatory but is strongly recommended. It should cover mountaineering and mountain activities, as certain interventions (rescue, evacuation, medical costs, or repatriation) can be very costly.

Bring enough water and easy-to-eat food for sustained effort (energy bars, dried fruit, a sandwich). Staying well hydrated and eating regularly helps the day go smoothly.

Yes, suitable boots are essential for most routes, and must be crampon-compatible when required. If you don't own a pair, rental shops can be recommended.

Yes, the collective equipment essential to the trip is provided (ropes, carabiners, protection gear, glacier equipment). Individual technical gear (helmet, harness, crampons, ice axe, and specific safety equipment depending on the route) can also be provided on request, subject to availability. What's included is confirmed before the trip.

Before booking, a discussion about your experience, sporting background, and goals helps identify a trip matching your abilities, whether in the Écrins massif, across the Alps, or elsewhere.

Yes, a 40% deposit of the guiding fee is required to confirm the booking. The balance (remaining 60%) is paid before or on the day of the trip, as agreed together.

Comment ça marche

Une première expérience du hors-piste est préférable, mais il n’est pas nécessaire de connaître La Grave ni d’être un spécialiste du freeride. Cette journée est justement pensée pour découvrir ou redécouvrir les grandes descentes classiques du domaine.

**Fitness level: 2 – Weekly exercise.** You do an endurance sport around once a week and are able to walk for 4 to 5 hours with 800 to 1,000 metres of ascent. For this tour, you need to be able to repeat this effort for several days in a row while carrying a pack with your personal belongings for the huts. **Skiing level: 2 – Some experience.** You already have a few ski touring days under your belt, are comfortable skinning up moderate slopes and can do kick turns on easy terrain. On the descent, you are comfortable skiing moderate slopes in straightforward snow conditions. Before booking, we'll discuss your experience together to make sure it matches the planned itinerary.

Yes. No prior mountaineering experience is required for this route.

Thanks to the ski lifts, freerando allows for more descents in a day, which suits those who aren't especially keen on the uphill climb.

A private trip offers greater flexibility: the objective, pace, and organization of the day can be adjusted to your level and preferences.

Insurance should ideally cover mountain search and rescue costs, assistance, repatriation, medical expenses, and, depending on your needs, trip cancellation or interruption.

A few days before the trip, all necessary information is shared: meeting time and place, equipment to bring, final recommendations, and any adjustments due to conditions.

Yes. Most technical equipment and boots can be rented from specialist shops. Trusted rental providers can be recommended depending on the trip location.

Your involvement is essential. Before the trip, it's important to communicate your experience, physical condition, and state of health. During the trip, share how you're feeling and follow the guide's instructions.

The original objective may be adapted or replaced depending on the conditions, the group’s level, or how the project evolves. If this change affects the guiding requirements or the initial scope of the trip, the price may be adjusted. Each situation is considered on a case-by-case basis, in consultation with you.

I'll adapt the route and timings to the weather and snow conditions. This might mean a shorter day, a more sheltered route or spending the day exploring around the hut instead of following the original plan. If conditions don't allow us to continue the tour, I'll change the route or arrange a suitable way back. The aim is always to make the most of the mountains without pushing on when conditions aren't right.

The huts are generally comfortable and welcoming. We usually sleep in shared dormitories, with blankets or duvets provided, and everyone eats together. They're still mountain huts, though, so expect shared sleeping areas and bathrooms, with showers available in some huts. You won't need a sleeping bag. Just bring a sleeping bag liner, a change of clothes and a small wash bag. Earplugs are also well worth packing for nights in a dormitory! After a good day out on the mountain, there's nothing better than coming back to a hot meal and a relaxed evening in the hut before setting off again the next morning.

Standard ski touring equipment is perfectly suitable. There's also a range of "freerando" skis designed more for descent enjoyment, since weight is less of a constraint than in classic ski touring.

Technical level refers to ease of movement across different terrain (rock, snow, ice, roped travel). Physical condition relates to endurance and the ability to walk for several hours at altitude. Both criteria are factored in when choosing the right trip.

I am trained in emergency management and first aid in a mountain environment. If necessary, rescue services will be alerted (PGHM, 112, or the local equivalent depending on the country). Depending on your insurance policy, rescue, assistance, or repatriation costs may remain your responsibility. It is advisable to have insurance for this eventuality.

If I cancel the trip before it starts and no alternative solution (new date or different objective) can be found, all sums already paid will be fully refunded.

No. La Grave has a reputation for serious freeride terrain, but not every route is extreme. The Vallons de la Meije and Chancel offer fantastic off-piste skiing without necessarily venturing into steep couloirs or the most technical descents.

Good physical fitness is required: practicing an endurance sport (running, cycling...) regularly, at least twice a week, and being able to walk 6 to 8 hours in the mountains and climb more than 1000 m of elevation gain at high altitude.

You should be able to comfortably manage 700 m of daily elevation gain. Regular endurance sports practice is a reasonable prerequisite to fully enjoy this trip.

The number of participants depends on the objective, the route's difficulty, and safety requirements. Groups are deliberately kept small to ensure quality guiding.

It depends on the country, the situation, and the services involved. It's essential to check your insurance coverage before the trip, as rescue can be charged depending on the country.

For very early starts or high-altitude routes, it's often best to stay overnight near the meeting point to begin the day in the best conditions.

If in doubt, sending photos of the equipment before the trip allows it to be checked against the planned objective.

Yes, it is strongly recommended to have insurance covering mountain activities, rescue costs, assistance, repatriation, and, if needed, trip cancellation. You can take out annual insurance through the FFCAM or FFME, or daily insurance as, for example, assurance-multi-sports.com

The deposit is refundable up to 30 days before departure. Beyond that, it is non-refundable. Depending on the circumstances and my schedule, a postponement to another date may be offered if our respective availabilities allow.

The ideal lead time is 2 to 3 months before the trip. During peak season in winter and summer (February, March, June, July), some dates fill up several weeks or even months in advance. It's best to book as early as possible to secure your date

You don’t need to be an athlete, but you should be able to ski for a full day with breaks. Ungroomed snow works your legs harder than groomed pistes. We’ll adjust the pace and number of runs to suit the group, so everyone can enjoy skiing right through to the last run.

You can join without having used this equipment before. Before our first descents, we’ll check the avalanche transceivers, and I’ll explain the basics of using the equipment and the instructions to follow. This gives you an initial introduction; a dedicated avalanche safety course allows you to learn and practise in more depth.

We’ll meet directly in La Grave, close to the gondola station. The village can be reached by road from Grenoble via the Col du Lautaret, or from Briançon. Parking is available near the gondola. In winter, remember to check road conditions and mountain pass closures before travelling.

Conditions are monitored right up until the last moment. If an adjustment is needed, you'll be informed as soon as possible. Depending on the case, the trip may proceed as planned, the objective may change, or the route may be postponed.

For safety reasons, unsuitable or worn equipment may be refused. If no solution can be found before departure, the trip may be cancelled without refund.

For more demanding routes, specific physical and technical training is strongly recommended. Advice on the most suitable type of training for the objective can be provided beforehand.

Regular endurance training (hiking, trail running, running, cycling, skiing) is ideal. The goal is to be able to sustain effort for several hours, sometimes at altitude.

Every route has different physical demands. Before booking, a discussion about your experience, physical condition, and goals helps identify a route matching your abilities.

Practicing long hikes with elevation gain (4-5 hours and 800m of elevation gain minimum) is a good base of physical endurance for an introductory outing. Technical mountaineering skills (progression on snow, ice, and rock, roped travel) are acquired during an initial mountaineering introduction course. For more difficult objectives, more intense athletic training may be necessary.

Safety equipment can vary depending on the activity, season, and destination. Emergency radio and first-aid kit never leave my pack. In winter: avalanche transceiver, shovel, probe, shelter, improvised sled, repair kit. For remote trips, a satellite phone replaces the radio in the pack.

A trip may be cut short due to conditions, fatigue, a health issue, or insufficient technical level. The guiding fee remains due in this case, as the service has already begun.

Yes, booking is possible up until the day before, depending on my schedule and mountain conditions. As I am regularly out in the mountains and not always reachable, I still recommend booking ahead to maximize availability.

Off-piste skiing always requires some flexibility. I’ll choose the routes according to the snow, weather, current mountain conditions and the level of the group. We may adjust the programme, move to a different area or decide not to ski certain routes if necessary.

Yes. Trips can be organized for existing groups (friends, family), provided the objective suits everyone's level.

The mountain guide is responsible for supervising the group and making safety-related decisions. They assess conditions, adapt the route if needed, and make the decisions they judge most appropriate.

Yes. We stay in touch before the trip for any questions about preparation, equipment, or how the day will unfold.

The three-layer system works best: a breathable base layer, an insulating layer, and a waterproof, windproof jacket. Since mountain conditions can change quickly, warm clothing is recommended even in summer.

No. For a first experience of mountaineering, it's often better to rent technical equipment before investing. Suitable gear can be purchased later as your practice develops.

If conditions or the group's level don't allow the planned objective to be completed safely, a more suitable route is offered, or the trip may be stopped. Safety always takes priority over the original objective.

Yes. I strongly recommend insurance covering cancellation, mountain rescue costs, medical expenses, and assistance and repatriation. You can take out annual insurance through the FFCAM or FFME, or daily insurance via assurance-multi-sports.com.

Yes, in the form of a gift voucher valid for a set period. Contact me for the exact terms (amount, validity period).

If you're unsure between several objectives, contact me and I'll advise you based on your experience, physical condition, the season, and current conditions in the Écrins massif, the Alps, or the chosen area.

The main advantage of a group trip is sharing a mountain experience with other enthusiasts, while benefiting from the guiding and expertise of a mountain guide. The per-person cost is also generally more affordable than a private trip. It's a good option for discovering the Écrins, progressing in mountaineering, or climbing as part of a group.

A group trip is a climb or hike led by a mountain guide, open to several participants who don't necessarily know each other beforehand. In the Écrins, it's a way to discover high mountains, summits, glaciers, or mountaineering routes in a friendly, safe setting, with a group matched to the trip's level.

Yes, custom programs can be built for groups, with objectives tailored to the goal: introducing mountaineering, team building, technical progression, or a sporting project.

Each participant must provide honest information about their experience, physical condition, and health, follow the guide's instructions, and behave appropriately given the demands of the mountain environment.

Let the guide know as soon as possible. Depending on the situation and the booking terms, the most suitable solution is worked out together, whether that's a postponement or a cancellation.

Yes, provided it is in good condition, compliant with current standards (CE/UIAA), and suitable for the planned route.

Yes, from age 6 depending on the type of trip. For minors not accompanied by one of their parents, written parental authorization is required.

Yes. Good physical fitness is a real advantage. Many routes allow you to discover mountaineering with no prior experience, as long as a beginner-appropriate objective is chosen.

Postponing to another date is possible if our respective availabilities and mountain conditions allow it.

Yes. Choose your mountain range, dates and activity — mountaineering, climbing or ski touring — or combine several activities to create your own project. From introductory outings and specific summit ascents to multi-day traverses and more ambitious projects, in France (Écrins massif, Alps, Prealps), across Europe or internationally.

A group trip offers less flexibility than a private one. The pace, route, schedule, and objectives must suit the whole group, and the number and level of participants can also affect how the day unfolds. For a fully personalized program, a private trip with a mountain guide is more suitable.

If an unforeseen event prevents me from leading the trip (illness, accident, emergency), I may arrange for a trusted fellow mountain guide to take my place, so the planned trip can still go ahead.

No problem. I work with a trusted network of mountain guides who can, if needed, take care of your trip on the dates you requested.

Yes, for a solo participant, a group of friends, a family, or a company, within the maximum number of participants allowed to ensure safety and quality guiding.

No problem. I work with a network of other mountain guides and can organise a co-guided trip for larger groups, while ensuring appropriate safety standards and professional guiding ratios.

After the booking is confirmed, I'll send you the equipment list, meeting point and time, the trip itinerary, and final recommendations.