LA GRAVE
Ski & Snowboard Resort Review
The French resort of La Grave – La Meije, FRANCE is dominated by the massive La Meije mountain peak. The world’s most extreme skiers and snowboarders flock to La Grave for some of the most formidable off piste terrain in the world.
La Grave Skiing and Snowboarding Terrain
The La Grave - La Meije terrain is a mecca for extreme off piste skiing and snowboarding.
The natural untouched and exceptionally steep terrain offers some of the largest lift accessed off piste skiing and snowboarding in the world with pistes stretching over nine kilometres in length with a vertical drop of 2,150 meters.
Suitable only for advanced skiers and snowboarders expect to find glaciers, steep chutes, cliffs and forests on the lower areas.
From the top of the summit it is possible to access the resort of Les Deux Alpes. For more information on Les Deux Alpes click here
Advanced Skiing and Snowboarding
The La Meije Glaciers Aerial Tramway transports excited skiers and snowboarders over steep glacier terrain to the Ruillians Pass at 3,200 meters. From there a drag lift transports you to the summit at a height of 3,551 meters.
Only very advanced skiers and snowboarders should attempt the challenging trip back down from the summit. There are two marked pistes, over nine kilometres in length leading back down to the village as well as your choice of endless other powder fields, tight narrow chutes and hair raising cliff drops.
It is highly recommended to hire a guide if you are looking to explore off piste. Carrying a shovel, avalanche receiver and probe is essential.
Intermediate Skiing and Snowboarding
La Grave – La Meije has two groomed areas suitable for intermediate skiing and snowboarding; the high altitude area of Col du Lautaret and the lower area of Le Chazelet.
The Plateau d’Emparis Chairlift at Le Chazelet gives access to steep and fast challenging terrain while the upper left hand side of the De Plagnes Chairlift area is quite steep and occasionally mogul covered.
The Col du Lautaret area has two chairlifts and one fast intermediate trail.
Beginner Skiing and Snowboarding
La Grave – La Meije does not really cater for beginners. There are two groomed beginner sections; the high altitude area of Col du Lautaret and the lower and easily accessible area of Le Chazelet.
At Le Chazelet the small Poussins drag lift above the car park services the main children’s beginner area. The Des Balmettes Chairlift next to the drag lift accesses more gentle beginner terrain.
Once beginner confidence grows catch the Du Signal Chairlift to the top for a long and winding run back down to the base area.
The La Grave – La Meije ski and snowboard school offers group, private and day long lessons with professional bilingual instructors. Off piste guides and powder lessons are also available.
Other Activities at La Grave
Other outdoor activities available at La Grave – La Meije are ice climbing, snowshoeing, paragliding and cross country skiing.
For an extreme once in a lifetime adventure try ice diving under the glaciers at Le Grave – La Meije. A small hole is cut through the ice on Lake Besson enabling divers to submerge into the deep cold water underneath and explore the under water crevices.
Shopping at La Grave - La Meije
The small main street of La Grave – La Meije village is lined with ski and snowboard shops stocked with the latest equipment and rental gear, mountaineering and hiking shops, gift and souvenir stores and a grocery market.
La Grave Restaurants
The restaurants in the La Grave – La Meije village serve mainly French and Italian cuisine.
The lovely restaurant in the Hotel Le Serac serves a la carte traditional French meals accompanied by an excellent international wine list.
The crowded Les Vallons Pizzeria serves pizzas, sandwiches and beers until midnight every night. For a quick snack and drink go to the internet Café Des Glaciers
The restaurant in the L’Edelweiss Hotel serves four course gourmet French meals as well as French cheese fondues and raclette. The restaurant has a cellar full of top French wines.
La Grave Nightlife
The nightlife at La Grave – La Meije is not huge with most people so exhausted from the extreme skiing and snowboarding during the day they are in bed by 10pm!
The friendly bar at the L’Edelweiss Hotel is a popular spot for a nightcap, it has a wide variety of beers and single malt scotches.
The Pub Le Bois Des Fees in the main street attracts the largest crowds with occasional DJs playing and live band performances throughout the winter season.
More About La Grave
Your La Grave Ski & Snowboard Resort Reviews
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Statistics |
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Elevation |
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Average Snowfall |
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| 200 inches | |||||||||
Lifts |
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| 14 | |||||||||
Trails - view
map |
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Terrain % |
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Halfpipe |
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| no | |||||||||
Terrain Park |
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no |
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Resort Website |
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