A day of off-piste skiing in La Grave to discover — or rediscover — one of the most iconic freeride areas in the Alps! From glaciers to larch forests, the classic descents of the Vallons de la Meije and Chancel offer almost 2,000 metres of vertical and an incredible variety of terrain beneath La Meije. No marked pistes here: just wide-open spaces, long descents and a true high-mountain atmosphere. And, if we feel like it, a well-earned food stop at Refuge Chancel between runs!
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Who is it for?
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This day is for skiers who are comfortable on red runs and able to ski confidently in a variety of snow conditions. You don’t need to be an expert: we’ll stick to the classic descents of La Grave, and I’ll adapt the routes to the level of the group.
What Will the Day Look Like?
We’ll meet at 8:45 am in the La Grave car park, skis on our feet… or almost. Then we’ll hop on the gondola for around 45 minutes: plenty of time to get to know each other, finish breakfast, talk a bit of nonsense or simply daydream with our noses pressed against the window as the valley slowly disappears below us.
At 3,200 m, the atmosphere changes completely: we’re now at the foot of the glaciers, facing the wide-open spaces of La Meije. This day of off-piste skiing in La Grave will take us through the Vallons de la Meije and Chancel, across the Girose Glacier and into a few more or less secret variations that I’ll choose according to the snow conditions and the level of the group. Wide-open valleys, glacier skiing, larch forests and woodland runs: the terrain keeps changing throughout the day, and that’s a big part of what makes La Grave so special.
Sooner or later, we’ll have to think about refuelling. We might stop at the restaurant at 3,200 m, at Refuge Chancel, or perhaps even head back down to La Grave for something to eat.
I’ll guide the descents at a pace that gives everyone time to breathe, get some strength back into their legs — the altitude definitely makes itself felt — and, most importantly, look up from their skis and enjoy the scenery. Throughout the day, I’ll regularly give the necessary safety instructions, and we’ll regroup frequently in suitable places.
At around 4 pm, when our legs and eyes have finally had enough, it’ll be time to call it a day!
Technical Details
Booking & advice by phone available
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