B A C K C O U N T RY SKIING
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B A C K C O U N T RY SKIING
La Grave is a mecca for steep and adventurous backcountry skiing with its famous single lift and virtually no grooming. It is known as the wild west of ski areas and will suit advanced or expert off-piste skiers looking to explore one of the world’s toughest ski terrains. La Grave Backcountry Skiing weeks are exciting guided ski holidays with the focus on skiing the best terrain and best snow further away from the pistes. Every day we will be exploring a new area to find the best snow and best descents. Some descents will be lift served off piste and some we will be boot-packing or skinning to get to. As the week progresses you will pick up the essentials of backcountry skiing. These skills include avalanche awareness, skinning, boot-packing, and glacier skiing and of course using your initiative. As conditions permit, we can cover crampon/ice axe skills and crevasse rescue.
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This backcountry week is for any off-piste skier keen to make the most of the La Grave region. This area really is huge and offers outstanding backcountry skiing that is often untouched. Come and see for yourself! We split the group into intermediate, advanced and expert courses, so you will be with people with similar ambitions and ability whilst skiing off piste. You can expect to be skiing from first lift each day. Most days you can expect to do some uphill work to get to the descents. If this all sounds like hard work, don’t worry it’s your holiday and the pace is up to you, but a sniff of fresh powder and it is often “maybe just one more run”! However, if you have not ‘boot packed’ or ‘skinned’ uphill before, don’t worry we have a guide who will be able to teach you. Please note that not one day is the same here and some days will be uphill and others not.
ADVANCED I can link without traversing at least 10-15 short or long radius turns off piste in any kind of snow. I also have great control and choose where to turn most of the time. The thought of fresh powder excites me and I enjoy the challenge of difficult snow and can sideslip forwards and backwards, sidestep up and down, and can ski 35-40 degree slopes. I ski off piste whenever I can and enjoy skiing far from the lifts/pistes where I can really show my skills. FITNESS LEVEL: B – I can ski all day with only short breaks and can hike up to 2 hours a day (600m of uphill).
INTERMEDIATE I am an off-piste skier with varying success and have skied at least 1-2 weeks predominantly off-piste. I can link without traversing at least 5 -10 turns together with reasonable control, style and speed, down the fall line and in most snow types. Deep, heavy snow and crust are still a problem and I usually don’t fall unless the snow is like this. I may not like icy slopes but can ski them safely and in control.
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January to April our courses run throughout the winter season. LA GRAVE BACK COUNTRY SKIING – EXAMPLE ITINERARY The itinerary for the week is completely flexible and is subject to change around the weather and conditions at the time of your stay. Our experts are on hand to find the best snow and will design the itinerary around you. SATURDAY: Arrive in La Grave and settle in to the lodge. This will give you a chance to get to know the area and hire any additional items that you may require. SUNDAY: Unguided warm up day for you to find your skiing legs. We meet in the evening to go over the plan for the week. MONDAY - FRIDAY: Exploring the whole of the La Grave area, following the best conditions and the best terrain. This will mean visiting nearby ski resorts such as Serre Chevalier and ski touring from Col Du Lauteret. SATURDAY: Departure
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If you are not used to exercising much, your muscles and joints need time to build up to avoid injury.
Good fitness will make it more fun and you’ll get more out of your week! Although we will tailor the course to your ability, we definitely recommend getting as fit as possible before you start. The process of training for your goal will help you focus on your goal and having a goal will help you focus on your training. Backcountry skiing and ski mountaineering is all about being able to exercise at a moderate intensity for several hours, and your training should reflect this. Probably the best training is cycling as this targets similar muscle groups and prepares the mind (exercising for long periods in poor weather requires mental strength.)
Try and choose an activity that you enjoy and keep a note of what you do and your times – this really helps with keeping the motivation up. If you are not used to training then your local gym will be able to advise you on a plan and schedule to help you achieve your goals. Training does not work overnight! The fittest athletes train as part of their lifestyles and have been doing it for years. Consider training for a good couple of months before coming out to the Alps.
However not everyone has the opportunity to do this and so alternatives such as jogging and high intensity gym workouts are great too. The focus for backcountry skiing should be on training Cardiovascular Endurance for long days in the mountains which is why cycling, running and rowing machines are much better than weight training. Try and exercise for up to a couple of hours, at a minimum of two times per week, this is because skinning uphill and boot packing in the mountains require a good level of fitness, and finding a pace and rhythm you can sustain for relatively long periods of time. The fitter you are generally, the more you’ll enjoy the uphill, as well as recover quickly for the epic descents on the other side. In addition to cardio training, try yoga, swimming and pilates too to help with core stability and balance. Squats and cycling are a good way to strengthen your legs. Remember to build up your workouts over time.
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THE EFFECTS OF ALTITUDE La Grave is at an altitude of 1525m and it is rare that one would suffer from altitude sickness at such a level. However, the lifts in La Grave valley take you up to an altitude of 3200m which can at times have an effect on how you feel. As you climb higher the air gets thinner and so there is less oxygen in each breath we take. The higher we go the less oxygen there is. This makes exercising much harder work than at sea level, so we have to slow down to help compensate. As we get higher we have we may feel colder and short of breath which can lead to ‘altitude sickness’ or Acute Mountain Sickness which may include headache, nausea, weakness, fatigue, dizziness, and can develop into a very serious and even fatal (in extreme cases) problem. In reality on a back country skiing week, it’s unlikely you will have any lasting effects from altitude – however, it’s something to be aware of, and let your guide know if you experience any problems. INSURANCE We strongly recommend getting specialist travel insurance that covers cancellation, medical and mountain rescue. Make sure that it covers glaciated mountaineering and climbing, we recommend the Dogtag (www.dogtag.co.uk) - they have comprehensive policies and a great reputation.
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2. Skins and ski crampons 3. Poles
KIT LIST Unfortunately we can’t recommend a specific brand and model for each item on the kit list, as what is available is constantly changing and, of course, different people are different shapes and sizes with different budgets! However, in general, we use and endorse Mountain Hardwear products because in our experience they are excellent. If you go to a good retailers such as Snow & Rock, explain to them you will be backcountry skiing and they will be able to advise you on what is best for you. Finally, when you are buying the correct clothing for your visit don’t forget to bring this list with you…
4. Boots - These must fit and be comfortable. We feel it is best not to rent boots. Rather buy some and have them fitted professionally - this will make your week much more comfortable, fun and blister free! ‘Fit’ is more important than whether a boot is ‘stiff enough’ or not. We would recommend using a touring boot that is designed to ski well, rather than ultra-light. If your current down-hill boots are very comfortable they will be suitable. 5. Rucksack - 40-50l. with ski straps. 6. Water bottle. 7. Transceiver, probe, shovel, crampons, ice axe, harness, and 1 screw gate karabiner (can be rented from us) 8. Sunglasses, goggles, sunhat, sunscreen, lip salve/ block 9. 3 sets socks and light coloured thermal tops 10. Lightweight Gore-Tex top/bottoms, warm hat, thick gloves, thin gloves (when skinning) 11. Insulating layers. I use a thin ‘100’ weight fleece and a synthetic duvet jacket (thin). 12. Personal first aid – Including a blister kit and ibuprofen.
1. Skis with touring bindings - Skis for off piste skiing and ski touring. We recommend skis that you will enjoy skiing on, but are not too heavy/stiff. They should be ‘fat’ but not too fat. Wider skis make it easier to ski off piste, but too wide can be hard to control and hamper your technique progression and progress on the uphills. We would recommend an underfoot width of 80-90mm. e.g. Rossignol B2 with fritschi bindings.
13. Cash (euros) for extra drinks/snacks on the mountain. Remember kit should be lightweight but functional - you have to carry it!
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COURSE RATIO: 1:6 guide:client
OTHER INFORMATION For further information on the resort and surrounding areas have a look on http://www.lagrave. com/ winter/index.php. To find out more about our course, availability, or to ask any questions, please get in touch with us through our website www.dream-guides.com or by phone on +33 (0)645 139 406
COURSE LEVEL: Intermediate, advanced or expert Full Course Price includes: guiding, guides expenses, We look forward to seeing you soon! 7 nights at the skiers lodge on a half board basis, in resort local transport.
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INFO@DREAM-GUIDES.COM FULL COURSE PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE: insurance, travel to and from La Grave, equipment rental, lunches and drinks/snacks when on the mountain, lift pass getting to La Grave once you have booked with us and bought specialist skiing/climbing travel and cancellation insurance (we recommend dogtag), it is best to book flights and airport transfers well in advance of your departure. Nearest Airports are Grenoble St Geoirs 120km, Lyon Saint Exupéry 170km and Chambèry 145km. LODGE ACCOMMODATION We stay at the Skiers Lodge conveniently located just 200m from the uplift in La Grave (http://www. skierslodge.com/). This lodge provides us with a good breakfast and hearty 3 course evening meal each day, and houses its own atmospheric bar. There is always a great vibe at the Skiers Lodge with everyone enthusing about their days’ skiing and what their plans are for tomorrow. On some days we may arrange local transport to take us out of La Grave to neighbouring resorts such as Serre Chevalier or perhaps to ski tour at the Col Du Lauteret (for example).