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Ecrins La Meije Ski Tour

"The Ecrins National Park is one of the steepest ski mountaineering venues in the Alps - with numerous superb technical descents throughout the range. During the week we aim to take in great summits such as the Grand Ruine and ski the legendary Tour de la Meije overlooking La Grave. Both your fitness and mountain skills will be put to the test on this tour, so expect to see the rope out to reach our objectives. "
  
6 days
Advanced
4:1
Dates: By Arrangement
Price: Private Guiding Rates
Ski Ability: 4+
Fitness: 4+
Experience: Previous multiday ski touring experience essential. Roped climbing or cramponing experience required. You need to be safely able to do kick turns when skinning on steep, hard frozen spring snow.
Included: Guiding Fees.
Other Costs: Hut nights, food, travel and uplift during the tour ~ £350
 
Summary
This is a technical ski mountaineering week that involves steep climbs on both ski and on foot, plus numerous steep descents. One night is spent in an unmanned hut and stable conditions are required to tour in this region.
We offer this itinerary as a private guiding special - with dates by arrangement from late March to late April . Prices are as per our private guiding rates, up to a maximum of 4 skiers per guide.
Recent Trip Reports - April 2007
 
Starting Point
We start and finish the week in La Grave, which can be reached from Grenoble airport via public transport, or using a hire car from Turin, Lyon, Chambery or Geneva.
 
Sample Itinerary
Subject to weather and snow conditions, the plan for the week is as follows:-
ecrins la meije ski tour itinerary
Day 0 - Sat PM, meet in La Grave - discuss plans, sort food and kit, overnight in valley.
Day 1 - Sun
Take the lift up through the La Grave system - before a big descent into the Vallon de la Selle, then traverse the technical Breche du Rateau to the Chatelleret Hut.
Day 2 - Mon
A long morning climb to the Col de La Casse Desert - then a series of descents and climbs to reach the Adel Planchard Hut.
Day 3 - Tue
Ascent of the Grand Ruine (3765m) to enjoy a superb panorama, then the 1700m descent to the Torrent de la Romanche for lunch. PM Skin up to the unguarded Pave Hut.
Day 4 - Wed
Traverse the Col du Clot des Cavales and on to the lovely Promontoire Hut.
Day 5 - Thur
Big day traversing under the N Face of the Meije to the tiny Aigle Hut - with steep climbs and descents, plus long sections climbing on foot.
Day 6 - Fri
After breakfast, we make the final 1700m descent of the Glacier de Homme or Glacier du Tabouchet back down to La Grave.
ecrins la meije ski tour
 
Food and Accommodation
We run all of our tours on a guiding and instruction only basis. Our recommended hotel in La Grave is the friendly and comfortable Hotel Edelweiss** run by British/Dutch couple, Robin and Marlon - who we will happily put you in touch with if you'd like to reserve a room. You are however free to make other accomodation arrangements if you choose (La Grave also has a number of other hotels available at reasonable prices). Your guide will book all hut nights for the tour, which are just paid for as we go along. We'll be carrying food and cooking equipment for the unmanned hut night.
 
Travel
Full travel details are provided with your joining instructions.  La Grave is most easily reached by a low cost flight to Grenoble, then via bus to La Grave. If you choose to hire a car, then driving times to La Grave are about 1.5hrs from Grenoble, 2.5hrs from Lyon, Chambery or Turin and up to 4hrs from Geneva.
 
Ability and Experience
You need to be a strong off piste skier (see ski ability level 4-5) with previous week long hut to hut touring experience, including some roped climbing or cramponing in order to join this tour. It is a demanding week with 8-10 hour days and some roped climbing, so you can expect to be skinning 4-5 hours a day (see fitness level 4 ).
 
Equipment
We will supply you with a full kit list. You are responsible for bringing personal clothing, a rucsac and ski mountaineering skis, boots and kit (local hire is available). We are delighted to be working on this tour with Backcountry UK, who provide excellent service and advice as a leading retailer of ski mountaineering equipment in the UK.
 
     
 
 
 
         
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