A abandoned La Grave with 35cm+ recent or some traditional Serre Che Slackcountry?
Two consecutive nice days, and so totally different, one and immense memorable day in La Grave and the opposite a relaxed day within the again backyard doing Serre Che Slackcountry, and each sensible in their very own proper, and but manner too tough to say which was the very best?
I’ve not skied La Grave for a very good few years, in actual fact, I believe the final time was throughout Covid when once more we had a memorable day once we ski-toured to the mid-station because the elevate was closed.
Since then I may need made a couple of excursions over there, solely to search out large elevate queues or simply too windy with the elevate closed, and or situations simply not value it.
So it appeared a few days out that the planets have been aligning, with destiny taking part in an element as we had two days of extra snow than forecast, the vacation hordes had all however disappeared and my previous buddy, Per As one of many foremost La Grave Mountain Guides, who I first boarded with manner again in 1997 was guiding some Swedish pals for the day and who subsequently invited me alongside.
So there was appreciable pleasure on the prospect of snowboarding with Per once more, and he gave my buddy the Inexperienced mild to return over after he had accomplished the La Grave fee run, which takes place early within the morning after a heavy snow-fall, with 4 guides snowboarding every of the 2 valleys, Vallons and Chancel, to then log out that the elevate may open, although you may by no means assure that the Mountain is completely protected!
I used to be considerably paranoid on the prospect of the now notorious queue to purchase the elevate move, however it was the emptiest I’ve ever seen it, with solely a small queue for the precise elevate and round ten or so folks in entrance of us to purchase passes.
So we have been quickly within the the cabin going up, and once more since I’ve final skied there the previous cabins have been changed a very good few years in the past, and Per introduced that there have been now new cabins on the highest part of the elevate.
We couldn’t imagine how empty it was, and within the cabin going up you may actually respect the immense vastness of the terrain. The one challenge was that the visibility was not sensible however I believe even when it had been sunny I’d nonetheless have been experiencing viz points because the snow on every flip was billowing over my head 🙂
Regardless that I have been snowboarding for effectively over a month or extra that additional 500m of altitude did make a distinction to my respiration, although possibly the bout of Covid I used to be simply getting over additionally was exaggerating the impact of the rise in altitude.
The primary run down the Vallons I used to be actually making an attempt to get my respiration proper and loosen up extra and the snowboarding was fairly demanding however that was extra to do with the visibility and decrease down it was progressively higher, in actual fact, I used to be virtually wanting ahead to the traverse within the forest 🙂
As a gaggle of skiers, all nigh on of their mid 60’s so the dialog within the elevate was extra in regards to the situation of our knees somewhat than the snow, however it was an important group and the couple of recent Swedes I would solely simply met have been ripping taking into consideration this was their first day again on skis shortly.
It was nice to listen to Per so enthusiastic in regards to the situations and we each mentioned, the way it was just like the previous days with so few folks which I do know is a tad crass.
The subsequent run was down Chancel and that once more on the high was difficult with the viz and impact of the altitude nonetheless the snow was so mild that I used to be having no points with the knees.
Additional down I realised that we have been heading for Patou Couloir which I’ve positively not skied in a very long time, if ever, although have snow-boarded it a very good few instances in ye olde days.
It wasn’t the smoothest of descents however I coped effectively snowboarding it continuous after which was capable of movie Per and Rolf snowboarding it virtually on high of one another 🙂
Then it was the Chancel traverse via the forest and again up within the elevate for lunch on the high, and nonetheless the pizzas there have the thinest and crispiest of bases though they should have had a good few cooks through the years.
Then it was one final huge run all the way down to the valley, taking in one other couloir I’ve not performed for years after which ending with a run via the forest earlier than the ultimate line again all the way down to the valley flooring after which a well-earned beer within the Castillian.
So nice to ski with the Per Maister together with an important Swedish Crew.
And as a postscript, I messaged Per to say thanks for an important day, and his response was…..
Sure, certainly a memorable day! I ski this mountain a couple of instances yearly however hardly ever in these situations!!
It was whereas I used to be in La Grave that Elaine let me know that she had examined detrimental, and having missed out on a very good day while I used to be in La Grave ripping I wished to strive and ensure she too would have a day to recollect.
I am not too certain why I used to be so mellow as we began out, possibly it was to do with not too many individuals about, or that there was nonetheless a variety of good things left to ski when you have been ready to earn your turns, although I did have couple of potential plans flying round in my head.
So Elaine couldn’t fairly imagine it after I requested her what she wished to do and was fairly up for going off the again of Eychauda, a route we would not skied for a protracted whereas, in actual fact, it is very a lot one thing we do when Spring snow is on supply later within the season, however it quickly turned apparent that the snow was in excellent situation.
As you may see from the video and images it was a somewhat splendid morning, and actually would not get higher than that!
In truth it was a buddy who took the picture on the high of this web page, and you’ll nearly make us out on the finish of the tracks.
And a video of the sortie.
