backcountry suggestions europe

La Grave wouldn't be open for most of that trip, it doesn't open till january!

Admin wrote:

bandit wrote:One of the Guides Bureau told me I wasn´t a good enough skier to do the Vallee Blanche

:?: ...yeah, but how long ago was that? No way would the Vallee Blanche give you any kind of trouble el bandito. I coped fine way back in my pre-Optimum days (so would have been skiing old-school style on skinnies).

It is no worse than a decent Blue for most of its length, albeit with the rather crucial difference that you will likely survive if you fluff a turn on an actual Blue... You do need to be able to turn and stop accurately as there are a couple of points (depending on snow cover) where you have to pick your way down amongst huge chunks of ice and between crevasses. IIRC that's where two glaciers merge?

For most of the route you're in vast open spaces at a fairly shallow gradient. Important to follow the guide, precisely, as this is almost all glaciated and the crevasses below the snow go all the way to the centre of the Earth and you'll be eaten by dinosaurs and your remains frozen for all time (think that's what he said, but my French wasn't up to much...).

It is 20-25km, with no way out, so you do need to be reasonably fit. Depending on snow you may be walking the last few km too.

The other thing you need is a head for heights. Before you get your skis on you need to carry them down the arrete... :shock: ...edging down a steep ridge that has a steep drop of several hundred metres on one side, and around 1500 metres on the other, does concentrate the mind.

It needs to be on your "must do soon" list, Tony. :thumbup:

It shouldn't be compared to the North Face, however; that is for nutters... 8) ...and Phil Ingle. :shock:

A couple of seasons ago, I would have said forget it, way out of my league, not the sort of thing I would be interested in, etc etc. However, things have changed, I have progressed, and my requirements have been amended now that I have taken an interest in venturing away from the pistes a little.
I also have to admit having dismissed Cham in the past as something of a "dudes hangout" and with a rather spread out ski area. However, reading that article really got me interested in doing the Vallee Blanche.
What you said was basically what the writer said, including the bit about falling to the centre of the earth and being eaten!!!
It also covered off, in great detail, the traverse at the start, holding onto a rope whilst side stepping on ice across a 3 inch wide path whilst balancing your skis on your shoulder. It also mentioned the number of people who had died by falling off it in recent times. Not huge numbers, but 1 death is enough to make even the bravest person think twice. I understand it was particularly bum clenching stuff, but worth it, although the writer did say they were amazingly lucky with the weather and did it on a bluebird day after a day of fresh snowfall. Lucky so and so.
Anyway, yes - it has been added to my "things to do soon" list. I was even thinking about driving down for a short break sometime and having a crack at it, weather permitting. The only problem would be that I really dont think Mrs H would be up for it, as she really is sensible, and to be honest if anything happened to her I would never live with myself. YES - it IS that dangerous!!!!!
My ski buddy Skidaddle would not be up for it. He is not particularly keen in venturing away from the piste, he has racing skis, he doesnt like particularly cold temperatures, and he said he is never going to France ever again ever in his life ever!
Therefore, finding someone to share the experience might prove difficult.
I need to give it some thought.

Admin wrote:

bandit wrote:One of the Guides Bureau told me I wasn´t a good enough skier to do the Vallee Blanche

:?: ...yeah, but how long ago was that? No way would the Vallee Blanche give you any kind of trouble el bandito. I coped fine way back in my pre-Optimum days (so would have been skiing old-school style on skinnies).

As a matter of fact it was just over 2 years ago in April. I had booked a Guide privately as a Birthday present, and was most upset, and have not been back to Cham since :roll:
I had spent quite a while researching which route to ask the Guide for, including watching several home videos of the variants, and taken advice from a friend who skis with me regularly. I was advised to avoid the regular tourist route as it would be boring. All of the descents are subject to weather cancellations, so you can do all the planning and prep, and get cancelled on the day. Not so with my booking though. Personally I think we were gazumped, but it´s just a feeling. We asked for a refund, as we had run out of holiday, after they messed us around for several days 1st. We were quite definitely told (in English) we were not good enough skiers, despite the Guides Bureau, nor any of their contracted Guides having seen us ski.

bandit wrote:Personally I think we were gazumped

I can well believe it, I saw it happen a number of times.

Tony_H wrote:A couple of seasons ago, I would have said forget it, way out of my league, not the sort of thing I would be interested in, etc etc. However, things have changed, I have progressed, and my requirements have been amended now that I have taken an interest in venturing away from the pistes a little.
I also have to admit having dismissed Cham in the past as something of a "dudes hangout" and with a rather spread out ski area. However, reading that article really got me interested in doing the Vallee Blanche.
What you said was basically what the writer said, including the bit about falling to the centre of the earth and being eaten!!!
It also covered off, in great detail, the traverse at the start, holding onto a rope whilst side stepping on ice across a 3 inch wide path whilst balancing your skis on your shoulder. It also mentioned the number of people who had died by falling off it in recent times. Not huge numbers, but 1 death is enough to make even the bravest person think twice. I understand it was particularly bum clenching stuff, but worth it, although the writer did say they were amazingly lucky with the weather and did it on a bluebird day after a day of fresh snowfall. Lucky so and so.
Anyway, yes - it has been added to my "things to do soon" list. I was even thinking about driving down for a short break sometime and having a crack at it, weather permitting. The only problem would be that I really dont think Mrs H would be up for it, as she really is sensible, and to be honest if anything happened to her I would never live with myself. YES - it IS that dangerous!!!!!
My ski buddy Skidaddle would not be up for it. He is not particularly keen in venturing away from the piste, he has racing skis, he doesnt like particularly cold temperatures, and he said he is never going to France ever again ever in his life ever!
Therefore, finding someone to share the experience might prove difficult.
I need to give it some thought.

Please don´t get phased by descriptions of the Arete. Most of the season it has rope both sides, and you will be roped to your Guide for the walk (assuming you book one). You may have to queue to get onto it (think Harrods on 1st day of sales) Buy a rucksack that you can fasten your skis onto, which will free up a hand and improve your footing. 20,000 folks ski the various routes in a typical winter. A guide will pick your route through the crevasses. The most important thing for you to do is exactly what they tell you, which includes when and where to turn. Ideally, for the 1st time you will want to choose a period when it has not snowed (ironic innit)and the run down will be more like a piste.