Warning about La Grave from Stefan Neuhauser. On 29.1.09, a German group of six climbed to the area below the Girose Glacier. As the group had no rope with them, they got stuck above a wall bar. For reasons unknown to me, one person fell about 200 meters over this ledge and died in the process.
The same thing happened about a year ago, almost in the same place, to two German skiers who had followed tracks in la Grave without precise knowledge of this sector and without a harness, abseiling device and rope and fell in the process. On 29.1.09, 15 people also followed existing tracks in this sector without a rope and had to be flown out by helicopter!
A mountain guide is available at the valley station of la Grave in the morning to explain the area to people. Please take advantage of this opportunity! Find out all about the descents. There are several descents in la Grave from the Glacier de la Girose down to the Lautaret pass road approx. 4-5 km below la Grave. A rope is required for all descents. If you do not have exact information about the height of the abseiling point, then you are on the safe side with 2 x 50 meter half or twin ropes. For la Voute, for example, 2 x 35 meters are sufficient! Normal glacier equipment and one abseiling device per person is required for all descents, unless you are traveling with a mountain guide who will lower you down.
Attention: The arrival point at the abseiling points is often very slippery due to the previous skiers. So be careful when taking off your skis! It is often better to stop a little higher up, attach your skis to your backpack and descend to the abseil point with crampons.
As much respect as I have for today's freeride generation with their jumps and excellent skiing technique in the terrain, most of them are not alpinists. As soon as they take off their skis or board and stand on plastic soles or soft boots without crampons in fall-prone, rocky terrain, different rules apply than in steep ski or board terrain!
Those who dare to descend from the Girose glacier down to the pass road in la Grave without a mountain guide should have an idea of basic mountaineering rules such as: building a foothold in snow and rock, rope handling, orientation, using crampons and ice axes and objective dangers. La Grave cannot be compared with Andermatt or the Arlberg, where it is customary to simply follow the tracks of your predecessors. If in doubt, please stay on the classic descents.
In France, the municipalities have the legal option to close descents. Dear riders, that's the end of the Girose sector!
Respect Your Playground!
Text: Stefan Neuhauser
Info from the PG editorial team
Stefan is a state-certified mountain guide, photographer and gifted telemark skier. And the most important thing: he lives near Briancon in the Dauphhine, knows the area like the back of his hand and is often out and about in La Grave, both for business and pleasure.
