La Grave
is at the end of the
Les 2 Alpes
rainbow
La Grave is the last, great, unpisted ski area in Europe (and probably the world). This is what ski-ing used to be like, few skiers, no skilifts in the way, no piste machines, no marked pistes, no ski patrollers, and funny little restaurants with hole in the ground loos!
The scenery is some of the most spectacular you will ever see, seraks, crevasses, ice caves, rocky crags, steep couloirs and avalanches. Much of La Grave's skiable area is the domain of the high mountain guides (since most of it is glaciated), but there is a route which is within the ability of most competent holiday skiers.
You need to have solid technique to cope with the changing snow conditions, and the pitches are mostly blue to reddy/black. Some parts of the descent are narrow and can become mogully, and the forest part can require careful ski-ing. However a strong, confident intermediate (6+ weeks) with good basic technique can usually manage it.
