La Grave

The main character in the third part of the Black Diamond TV web series is the gondola in La Grave. The four-minute film is a declaration of love to the legendary lift, whose continued existence is in danger.

Perhaps the most famous mass start freeride race in the Alps looks back on an impressive 27-year tradition. On April 3, 2015, 832 freeriders plunged down the normally 2000-metre descent from the glacier (Dome de La-Lauze) at over 3500 m to La Grave. Due to the poor snow conditions, the 2015 race had to be started on a shortened route so that the descent "only" covered 1500 vertical meters.

While the Col du Lautaret pass is mainly frequented by snow kiters, the surrounding terrain offers a variety of interesting ski tours, which are favored by their relatively high starting point.

The second generation of Salomon Rocker skis is now familiar to almost every freerider - wide, soft, fun! In order to be prepared not only for the really fat days, Salomon has produced a complete series of Rocker2 freeride skis for winter 2012/2013 (90, 92, 108, 115, 122 mm under the binding). We have extensively tested the Salomon Rocker2 115.

For skitourers who want steep terrain with not much of an approach, it can?t be much better than the Combeynot Pic Ouest. This high mountain looms up just above the col du Lautaret, is latterly full of nice faces and couloirs for experienced ski tourers. Even the ?normal? route boosta a nice 100 meters couloir which is just a little steeper then 45°. The ultimate playground for great riding and that from November to June.

The sun has been shining on April 2 in La Grave for 22 years. Good karma for one of the most legendary Derby races in the world. And this year, Peter and Mother Hulda made common cause and sent half a meter of fresh snow to the front of the Bluebird on race day. The Meije – the mountain of the race – shines in a fresh, white dress with the faces of the thousands of race participants who have arrived.

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.

Good times were had by all last Saturday just an hour from the metropolis of Grenoble, at the hidden gem of the Alps, La Grave. This rustic little village sits in the shadows of the La Mieje massif and serves as the gateway to the Parc des Ecrins, and it is home to some of the wildest and challenging ski terrain on Earth. On December 20th, the Téléphérique at TGM opened the doors to an excited crowd of backcountry skiers, and the season is off to a great start.