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Glacier du Tabuchet
Vertical drop: 2 000 m
Facing: North
Technical difficulty: Very serious
Glacier du Tabuchet
Vertical drop: 2 000 m
Facing: North
Technical difficulty:
Very serious
Complex route finding
Crevasses.
Start of with one rappel from the Col de la Meije alt:3357m and skin up the long beutiful travers on the Glacier de la Meije that will lead you to the climb up to Passage du Serret du Savon at alt:3399m.
You can either stay at Refuge de L´Aigle alt:3450m, or continue down the descente on the Glacier du Tabuchet. Keep skiers right until the very end of the glacier alt:2700m.
Keep high skiers right until you travers a long exposed steep slope.Be carful not to cut the slope to far below. Terrain-trapes. The rest of the run is easy down to the tunnel from La Grave.
Descente des Enfetchores
Vertical drop: 2 000 – 2 300 m
Facing: North
Technical difficulty: Very serious
Descente des Enfetchores
Vertical drop: 2 000 – 2 300 m
Facing: North
Technical difficulty:
Very serious
Steep slopes and exposed traverses
Complex route finding
Crevasses.
Start of with one rappel from the Col de la Meije alt:3357m. Travers skiers left, keep high. Be careful of crevasses! You can either skin up another 300 meters to benifit a longer descente down the Enfetchores.
Eventually the slope gets steeper and steeper. You must turn skiers right just before the run out of the glacier tongue. Take it easy! Travers right and leave the glacier until you see a series of snow fields of terrasses/shelfs. Complex route finding that will eventually lead you under the hanging glacier tongue skier left.
Ski under the glacier tongue and turn skiers right until you see a small col. From here you descente under the Glacier de la Meije. We have another flash photo of the descente of des Enfetchores under Glacier de la Meije/ Descente des Enfechores.
Glacier de la Meije
Vertical drop: 2 000 m
Facing: North
Technical difficulty: Extrémely serious
Glacier de la Meije
Vertical drop: 2 000 m
Facing: North
Technical difficulty:
Extrémely serious
Complex route finding
Very serious timing is crucial
Serac falls
Crevasses
Start of with one rappel from the Col de la Meije alt:3357m and skin up the long beutiful travers on the Glacier de la Meije. The route trickles down a hanging glacial tongue, extremlely exposed to serac falls and avalanches.Timing is crucial. It is only skiable when heavy snow from early in the winter temporarily glued storm snow to a series of glacial lumps. It is a mountaineer´s full meal deal and since they two line ever got skied once they should not really be legendary route because of the danger fact.
The view from the restaurant at 2400 meter is good enough. Skiing Glacier de la Meije is extrémely dangerous. There are more better lines to do in life!
Glacier du Rateau
Vertical drop: 1 500 m to P1
Facing: North
Technical difficulty: Very exposed route
Glacier du Rateau
Vertical drop: 1 500 m to P1
Facing: North
Technical difficulty: Very serious
Very exposed route, Crevasses, Complex route finding.
From Téleski des Trifides alt:3300m, you hike up to Pointe Trifide att alt:3406m. The Pan de Redeau is very exposed route, 350 metres of steep skiing 45° or even more.
There may be underlying ice, crevasses on the glacier. Instead of skiing skiers left towards La Pointe Trifide and the vallon there is a ridge that divides the glacier du Rateau alt:3000m.
Follow the ridge on skiers left and you will find a long steep slope. Certain years there are possibility to ski an exposed traverses. Complex route finding in crevassed terrain.
Vallon de la Meije
Vertical drop: 1 800 m
Facing: North-East
Technical difficulty: Quite difficult
Vallon de la Meije
Vertical drop: 1 800 m from P3 3200m to La Grave 1450m
Facing: North-East
Technical difficulty: Quite difficult
Seracs falls are very common.
From Dome de la Lauze. The top part is not too difficult descente if the route is well marked by previous skiers, nice weater and soft snow. Keep going down into the bottom of the moraine, then after another flat part you will need to negotiate a number of small gulleys. Just after you have passed the first larch trees, (Left takes you to P1 1800m) head gradually towards the right-hand bank of the stream to reach the chalet Chal Vachère.
The run carries on down the right-hand bank of the gully, taking you over a long traverse, wich is exposed in parts, up to the pastures at la Lauzette. The route ends (finnaly) at the Romanche bridge 1400m. This is where the Derby de le Meije descends down, right between Clot des Sables and the chalet Chal Vachère.
The Vallons de la Meije par les Enfetchores
The route finding is obvious. Once you are in the valley you are exposed 1000-1500 m above your head of overhanging glaciers. Seracs falls are very common. No pic-nicking! Good timing. Look out for old avalanche debri, death cookies.
Pan de Redeau-Les couloir en-Y
Vertical drop: 1 500 m to P1
Facing: North
Technical difficulty: Very exposed
Pan de Redeau-Les couloir en-Y
Vertical drop: 1 500 m to P1
Facing: North
Technical difficulty: Very exposed route
From Téleski des Trifides alt:3300m, you hike up to Pointe Trifide att alt:3406m. 350 metres of steep skiing 45° or even more. The couloir on the north east is a 52° cliff face. There may be underlying ice; crevasses on the glacier. Complex route finding. The couloir on the north east is a 52° cliff face. Watch out for the bergrund/Rimaya. While down on the glacier du Rateau take skiers right and around and then left towards La Pointe Trifide and the vallon at alt:3000m.
Couloirs de la Pointe Trifide
Vertical drop: 750 m
Facing: North
Technical difficulty: Very serious.
Couloirs de la Pointe Trifide
Vertical drop: 750 m
Facing: North
Technical difficulty: Very serious
Risk of slippping on hardpacked snow
Trifide 0,1,2,3 counted from left to right are very easy to access from P3 3200m. The Trifides couloirs are very serious because they are easy to find and some skiers, ski them down by misstake and the unfortuantly the outcome has been that very serious accidents have happened. It is here that skiers should have most respect skiing La grave/La Meije.
As any couloir the snow transforms day by day, hour by hour, risk of slippping on hardpacked snow, ski very conservative in the top section. Give a lot of space to other (possibly less proficient) skiers, and as in all couloirs, do not fall! The Trifide 1, is the best known, it is easy to see it from the cable car.
The other couloirs are on the left and right sides and are more exposed steep slopes. Trifide 3 has got a good big 10 to 15 meter jump at the exit!. You can bring a long rope. Best would to avoide it. La Grave got much better skiing elsewere. Le Grand Coulior is reachable from the Téléski des Trifides with some hiking/climbing to alt:3450m.
Couloirs des Cote Fine
Vertical drop: 850 m to P1
Facing: North
Technical difficulty: Very serious
Couloirs des Cote Fine
Vertical drop: 850 m to P1
Facing: North
Technical difficulty: Very serious.
Afte the long and high exposed travers from the Vallon you finnaly reach att Alt:2600m the Cote Fine or the rochy garden. Depending on the snow-pack this sector has some great skiing. The long travers makes it to difficult for snowboarders to get to.
Ski with good groupe discipline. Respect the snow-pack of the day! Watch out for wind-slabs and build-ups of snow pack. High risk of slipping on hard-packed snow.
Les Couloirs du Lac
Vertical drop: 150 m
Facing: North
Technical difficulty: Fairly serious
Les Couloirs du Lac
Vertical drop: 150 m
Facing: North
Technical difficulty: Fairly serious.
From the classic Chancel side, take a sharp right turn towards Breche de Pacave and continue down a wide slope to the lake. From here you can reach all the couloirs.
Be careful of wind-slabs may form on the traverse just before the couloirs, high risk of slipping on hard-packed snow. Patou is located skiers right, Le Banane is located in the center, Couloir du Lac is on skiers left.
Patou
Vertical drop: 150 m
Facing: North
Technical difficulty: Fairly serious.
Patou
Vertical drop: 150 m
Facing: North
Technical difficulty:
Fairly serious
Steep and exposed traverses
Complex route finding.
From the classic Chancel side, take a sharp right turn towards Breche de Pacave and continue down a wide slope to the lake. Skiers left towards the long rock-face of Peyrou dÁmount. Staying by the foot of the rocks, keep going down closer to the rock face until looking over the lake to reach the steep-sided couloir.
At the bottom ski alongside the lake and exit via the outflow from the lake. Be careful of wind-slabs may form on the traverse just before the couloirs, high risk of slipping on hard-packed snow.
Le Banane-Le Couloir du Lac
Vertical drop: 150 m
Facing: North
Technical difficulty: Fairly serious
Le Banane-Le Couloir du Lac
Vertical drop: 150 m
Facing: North
Technical difficulty:
Fairly serious
Steep and exposed traverses
Complex route finding.
From the classic Chancel side, take a sharp right turn towards Breche de Pacave and continue down a wide slope to the lake.Ski down the middle line of the valley to reach the rock-face overlooking the lake. The entrance to the couloir is just below a large nipple-shaped knoll! The exit is along the left side of the lake.
Be careful skiing toward Couloir du Lac. Risk of wind-slabs may form on the traverse just before the couloir, high risk of slipping on hard-packed snow.
Les Couloirs des Fréaux
Vertical drop: 900 m
Facing: North
Technical difficulty: Very Serious
Les Couloirs des Fréaux
Vertical drop: 900 m
Facing: North
Technical difficulty:
Very Serious
Risk of slipping on hardpacked snow
Ski down the Vallons de Chancel via the classic route or the lake couloirs. Once you are below the lake, keep on skiing straight down the slope until the forest and ski skiers left to find the first narrow gully.
This is the instep of couloir des Freux. It is a free elevator drop of 900 vertical m. Steep and narrow 40-45°, As any couloir the snow transforms day by day, hour by hour, risk of slippping on hardpacked snow, ski very conservative in the top section. look out for old avalanche debri, death cookies. The route ends (finnaly) near by the village bridge of Freux.
Couloir Polichinelle
Vertical drop: 1000 m
Facing: North
Technical difficulty: Very Serious.
The Couloir Polichinelle / Ramp des Fréux
Vertical drop: 1000 m
Facing: North
Technical difficulty:
Very Serious
Risk of slipping on hardpacked snow
This is a variation of route skiing down to the village of Freux requires rope/rappel into the instep of the couloir. It is a very exposed couloir but after using some good rope teknik it is worth the time doing it safe.
On the skiers right there is a very exposed cliff band and the ramp itself is usually not wide enough for skis. However you do see skiers and boarder side slipping….. It maintains an average steepness of 40-45 degress through a series of three successive couloirs linked by leftward traverses at the base of each chute.
The couloirs get progressively longer, from approximately 40 to 100 meters, before a final leftwards traverse leads to a mellower lower angled gullies wich feed back into the apron below the couloir. The base of the third chute is approximately 3-4 meters wide and exposed to the top of the final cliff wich is about 50 meters high. The route finding after the rappel is easy to find and when the coulior joins up with coulior des Freux you continue skiers right, into the forest. The route ends (finnaly) at the Romanche bridge.
Couloir Polichinelle/XXX des Fréux
Vertical drop: 1000 m
Facing: North
Technical difficulty: Very Serious
Patou
Vertical drop: 1000 m
Facing: North
Technical difficulty:
Very Serious
Risk of slipping on hardpacked snow
This route follows the same variation as above but instead of continueing down to the village of Freux you climb up about 100m to an hidden couloir that ends up further down the valley.
Approx 1 km away from Freux. It is a route that not many skiers do and the conditions are not always right. But if they are… It is a super great couloir, even the walk back is worth it.
The instep is the same as the couloir des Polichinelle.
LÓrciére de Droites
Vertical drop: 2 400 m
Facing: North
Technical difficulty: Very serious
LÓrciére de Droites
Vertical drop: 2 400 m
Facing: North
Technical difficulty:
Very serious
Crevasses.
Skiing lÓrciére de Droites needs route finding skills. It is a very complex route with lote of new direction and navigation. There is one rappel and you need ropes and harness.
Skiers that have followed locals or guided groupes have reggreted their misstake. It is a long way up to walk! Either you start at P3 3200 or at Dome de la Lauze 3550m. Do not follow tracks if you do not know what you are doing.
Watch out for possible windslabs and build-ups of snow; high risk of slipping on hardpacked snow. Route finding is complex. Crevasses.
LÓrciére de Gauche “La Vaute”
Vertical drop: 2 400 m
Facing: North
Technical difficulty: Very serious.
LÓrciére de Gauche "La Vaute"
Vertical drop: 2 400 m
Facing: North
Technical difficulty:
Very serious
Risk of seracs falls
Crevasses
High risk of slipping on hardpacked snow
Either start from P3 3200m or from Dome da la Lauze 3550m. La Vaute start like the same route as l´Orciére de Droite but after the first rappel you hike up approx 100m.
There is an rappel anchor wich requires two 40 meter ropes, the minimum lenght. Once you are in the big couloir you need to be fast because you are exposed 500 m above your head of overhanging glaciers. Risk of seracs falls. Watch out for possible windslabs and build-ups of snow. This is one of the best elevator drop in the region.
Glacier de la Girose
Vertical drop: 2 400 m
Facing: North
Technical difficulty: Very Serious
Glacier de la Girose
Vertical drop: 2400 m
Facing: North
Technical difficulty:
Exposed traverses
Complex route finding
Stable snow-pack
Crevasses.
When the conditions are right from top to bottom of the Glacier de la Girose. This route is no doubt one of the most fantastic Legendary Routes in the world. This high-mountain descente of reading and navigation of the terrain requires good knowledge of the route and area.
The long vertical ski descent and distance will offer limitless variety from tame to steep terrain commencing on a vast glacier, proceeding down spectacular open bowls, winding its way through small chutes, crossing glacial morains into seemingly endless steeps and deeps in the serenity of the forest.
It can also lead you to the two couloirs, a 900m, free floating elevator drop to the valley below.
Girose de Droite
Vertical drop: 2 400 m
Facing: North
Technical difficulty: Very serious
Girose de Droite
Vertical drop: 2 400 m
Facing: North
Technical difficulty:
Very serious
Exposed traverses
Complex route finding
Stable snow-pack
Crevasses.
This is one of my favorite descents and what I call a direct liner. Starting at Dome da la Lauze 3550m looking down at over 2400m vertical meter to the valley floor of an ocean of ski terrain can only be called a skiers dream.
The first 500 meter skiing on the glacier in a moderate angle but the referens points of navigating in this hugh environment of snow and ice gives you feeling that you are lost. Gradually the terrain get steeper until you arrive in a big bowl with more then 400m vertical in 30° in angle. After skiing on the glacier a wide open couloir opens up for another kilometre.
Even if it seems that you have to ski or traverse towards skiers left it does not take any fall line away. Proceeding down spectacular open bowls, winding its way through small chutes, crossing glacial morains into seemingly endless steeps and deeps in the serenity of the forest. Here is the crux and a rope is handy to have. High risk of slipping on hardpacked snow. 30-40°. Better safe then sorry. A short traverse skiers right to join La Vaute couloir is left.
Girose de Gauche
Vertical drop: 2 400 m
Facing: North
Technical difficulty: Very serious
LÓrciére de Droites
Vertical drop: 2 400 m
Facing: North
Technical difficulty:
Very serious
Exposed traverses
Complex route finding
Need to be stable snow-pack
Crevasses
This line is the Classic Girose. Start at the top of the second Trifides drag-lift alt:3550m. Ski down directly north in the middle of the glacier, keeping an eye to the Ruillans station and the Muretouse peak equidistant either side of you. Just before a short flatter section, go slightly skiers right hand angle to get to a steeper dome face slope. alt: 2800m.
Keep skiers left just under a higher rock-face with seracs. Ski down this “pleasant slope” 35° to the end of glacier tongue and stop skiers right, just below a rock face that will protect you from avalanche or seracs fall. Carry on through a series of bowls and to a large couloir. Just after the couloir skiers left there are a series of smaller traverses that will take you to a long travers towards a very distinctive square rock called “Rocher Carre” that lies in the middle of a big exposed slope.
Stop right under the rock and rest. Ski down carefully slightly to skiers left, there is a very steep and deep gorge wich you can not see, ski conservative until you see two large larch trees. Ski across with a rope! “Better safe then sorry” to the exit couloir. Finnaly the route ends through a gentle slope above the romanche river. Cross the bridge by the main road.
Some windslabs may form on the traverse just before the couloir; high risk of slipping on hardpacked snow. 30-40°.
Les Couloir de Maisonneuve
Vertical drop: 2 400 m
Facing: North-east
Technical difficulty: Very serious
Les Couloir de Maisonneuve
Vertical drop: 2 400 m
Facing: North
Technical difficulty: Very serious
This line starts like the Classic Girose. Start at the top of the second Trifides drag-lift alt:3550m. Ski down directly north in the middle of the glacier, keeping an eye to the Ruillans station and the Muretouse peak equidistant either side of you.
Just before a short flatter section, go slightly skiers right hand angle to get to a steeper dome face slope. alt: 2800m. Keep skiers left just under a higher rock-face with seracs. Ski down this “pleasant slope” 35° to the end of glacier tongue and stop skiers right, just below a rock face that will protect you from avalanche or seracs fall.
Carry on through a series of bowls and to a large couloir. Just after the couloir skiers left there are a series of smaller traverses that will take you to a long travers towards a very distinctive square rock called “Rocher Carre” that lies in the middle of a big exposed slope.
Stop right under the rock and rest. Continue straight across to the ridge. You find the instep of the couloir de Maisonneuve on the other side and it is necéssary to use two 50 meter ropes. It is a free elevator drop of cirka 1000 vertical m. Steep and narrow 40-45°, As any couloir the snow transforms day by day, hour by hour, risk of slippping on hardpacked snow, ski very conservative in the top section. Attention for windslabs on the traverse just before the couloir.
Muretouse/Mines
Vertical drop: 2 400 m
Facing: North
Technical difficulty: Very serious.
Muretouse/Mines
Vertical drop: 2400 m
Facing: North
Technical difficulty:
Very serious
Exposed traverses
Complex route finding
Need to be stable snow-pack
Crevasses.
Col de la Lauze
Vertical drop: 2 000 m
Facing: South
Technical difficulty: Serious
Col de la Lauze
Vertical drop: 2000 m
Facing: South
Technical difficulty: Serious.
On the backside of La Meije lies a series of 1300 to 1400m vertical descents into the Vallon de la Selle. Some of the routes are wide open bowls that flow on to the valley below and some are steep couloirs that require a rappel in and good route finding skills. Via the col de la Lauze is an itinery that would keep a skier on target.
The top section is a 37° degree pitch that is wide and manageable, if the snow condition is allowable. As any south face aspect the snow transforms day by day, hour by hour, risk of slippping on hardpacked snow, ski very conservative at the top section until the run out of the wider open bowls that flow down to the valley below. The route finding is obvious down the Vallon de la Selle.
Follow the rolling, gentle slopes but keep distance because you are exposed all the way throught out the valley from 1000-1500 m above your head of overhanging glaciers, seracs, avalanches. Keep the left-hand side of the valley if not old avalanche debri blocks the way. The route crosses will finally to the right hand side. You will get to a footbridge, taking you back to the left hand side and then to the village of Saint Christophe.
Couloir Rama
Vertical drop: 1 400 m
Facing: South
Technical difficulty: Very serious
Coloir Rama
Vertical drop: 1 400 m
Facing: South
Technical difficulty:
Very serious
Risk of slippping on hardpacked snow
Attention for windslabs on the traverse just before the couloir.
The deep connection that lures one to a place like Vallon de la Selle goes beyond anything that modern society has an explanation for. Pointing out Le Rama couloir is what a skier would witness is a run that will romance its visitors into letting go their common ideas and giving into what she (the mountain) offered.
Her steeps intimidate you, but then she softens the blow with a bowl of open velvet corn snow that pulls you back to Earth. Her alpine is pristine so desolate,,,, so vast; you find yourself gawking at her glaciated slopes as they sparkle in the sun. The top part is a wide open bowls that flow on to the valley below into the steep Rama couloir that could require a rappel and good route finding skills. A must.