Mini Summit 2005: Yurp/La Grave

[CantDog]

Thanks for the info guys, its only July and already the ball is in motion... Most likely I wont make a decision until fall until what I'm going to be doing, but now I've got decide between a week in Yurp and 3 in Maine, or a month out west in my car.

Those pictures are amazing btw, and I like the idea of finnish chicks. Or norwedges.

[subtle plague]

Originally posted by Glisseur


I would say that none of the Triffides are steeper than 40 degrees at any part (except for a few meters in exceptional conditions). The main couloir is prolly around 35 for the most part and a bit steeper above the rock at the entrance, but close to 50? I doubt that. Zero should be about the same, maybe even flatter and Triffide Two is slightly steeper. Just my opinions having skied them a couple of times

Now it really sounds like skipass.com in here...

yeah what ive said. it didnt look THAT steep(i thought i read it around skierslodge and their route porn flash photos somewhere..... well thought i did.... i guess i didnt...), but id say definitely above forty in the steep beginning.....the lower part is pretty laid back though.
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vous n'avez pas skiez le supersteep ! il n'est pas plus des 52° !!
il est 30° !
vous etes ne pas un skieur !

now were talking skipass.com

[Mulletizer]

Hehe, classic summer pissing contest. I know I am really bad at estimating gradients and that people don't believe me even when I have measured them so I'll shut up before I embarass myself...

[Buster Highmen]

Regarding getting to La Grave from the US, I've gone in via Geneva and then trained to Grenoble. Getting from Grenoble to La Grave can be complicated, but the Skiers Lodge (La Chaumine) will likely give you a ride for a few bucks. Ask for Pelle and plead dirtbag and Zappa.
Alternatively, you can take the train down through Gap and up to Briancon, but it's a long ride.

I've also been told that flying into Torino (Turin) is an option.

[Telepath]

Pelle doesn't run Skiers Lodge out of La Chaumine anymore; he's based with Langley Travel (fukkrs) at the Hotel des Alpes in the center of La Grave. While I'm not to fond of the hotel operators Pelle runs the guiding biz himself and he's still cool. La Chaumine also still operates a guiding biz, but Pelle and a few other guides ain't there anymore. The place is still cool though.

I'll also say go to Lyon if possible; easiest airport to use when relying on public transport. Geneva works if you're hiring a car. If getting picked up by someone Turin (or in the worst case Milan could work). Train to Briancon via Gap should only be done for the heck of it (or if you're going to Serre). Lyon is by far the easiest. Grenoble is closest if flying in from a larger european city like London.

[Glisseur]

Originally posted by Telepath
If getting picked up by someone Turin (or in the worst case Milan could work)

Just tell me about it...

[Buster Highmen]

Originally posted by Telepath
Pelle doesn't run Skiers Lodge out of La Chaumine anymore; he's based with Langley Travel (fukkrs) at the Hotel des Alpes in the center of La Grave. While I'm not to fond of the hotel operators Pelle runs the guiding biz himself and he's still cool. La Chaumine also still operates a guiding biz, but Pelle and a few other guides ain't there anymore. The place is still cool though.

Do they use the Ventelon building as a hotel anymore? It's a wind leaky shack, but I liked Pelle.
Shows how out of the loop I am. Anyway, do each of these operations runs vans to the Grenoble train station still? It's an option. But I defer to your expertise.

[Telepath]

Originally posted by Buster Highmen
Do they use the Ventelon building as a hotel anymore

Yeah. I dunno when you were there last; but they've remodelled and enlarged the place in Ventelon (that's the place called La Chaumine) like three or so years ago. Now it's bigger with a lot more room for bar and restaurant and huge terrasse etc.

I think they both run transfers, at least at La Chaumine. Pelle at the Hotel des Alpes now gets most of his clients through swedish tour operator Langley Travel and they run their own bus transfer from the airport as well as a few clients that jump off from the Serre-bound bus.

But the best bet is prolly contacting Mulletizer or someone else who'll be there; they'll be able to put you in contact with someone owning a car and in need of cash

[Buster Highmen]

I've been there 3 times 96, 97 and 98. First time I did it w/ La Chaumine and subsequent times stayed in Briancon.

So it's been a while.

At the time, the flights from London to Geneva + train to Grenoble was cheaper than the flights to Lyon or Grenoble. That may have changed. In addition, I just wanted to see Geneva after reading about it in books by expats.

I'll get back there one of these years. But for the next year, my kids are too small to take on a trip that long with crappy airline air.

I always get some sort of lung infection when I fly to Europe.

[Superstar Punani]

Originally posted by Buster Highmen
I just wanted to see Geneva after reading about it in books by expats.

The descent into GVA alone gives me a throbbing boner.

[Mulletizer]

La Chaumine is for sale, I believe. If you like it you can buy it. I know they are keen to get rid of it pretty badly. How quickly can you say "maggot timeshare possibility"?.

I don't think the flights have changed massively but the trains are a nightmare. My advice is to avoid rail from Geneva to Grenoble like the plague. My mother flew into Geneva early doors (like 7 am) in 2002 and she got to Grenoble at 4pm. That's nine hours a 135km journey. Just not worth losing a day's skiing for IMO. Hop can elaborate - he had similar experiences, I think.

Most Trans-Atlantic flights seem to use London, Amsterdam or Frankfurt as a hub IME - from there you can generally specify pretty much any airport to go to as a final destination for the same price. It might take an hour or two's wait longer to go to Lyon or Grenoble than Geneva but, believe me, it'll be worth it at the other end. And if you stop in Amsterdam there are "ways" of "burning" time. Shit, I can only imaginme what would happen if Superstar Punani had a few hours spare there.

I'll have a phone and wheels. In worst cases I should be able to help out although I will not - repeat: will not - drive to Geneva to pick anyone up.

[Telepath]

Originally posted by Mulletizer
La Chaumine is for sale, I believe. If you like it you can buy it. I know they are keen to get rid of it pretty badly. How quickly can you say "maggot timeshare possibility"?.

Heh. A sweeter place for a euro maggot lair (or do you say "carcass"?) is hard to find.

Originally posted by Mulletizer
It might take an hour or two's wait longer to go to Lyon or Grenoble than Geneva but, believe me, it'll be worth it at the other end.

Agreed.

Originally posted by Mulletizer
I will not - repeat: will not - drive to Geneva to pick anyone up.

Well, given your experience with picking up people flying into Geneva I'd advise against being picked up by you anyways

[Buster Highmen]

Originally posted by Punani
The descent into GVA alone gives me a throbbing boner.

I'm told a cold slap on the wrist has the same effect on you.

[Glisseur]

Originally posted by Mulletizer
La Chaumine is for sale, I believe. If you like it you can buy it. I know they are keen to get rid of it pretty badly. How quickly can you say "maggot timeshare possibility"?.

How quickly can you say "just gonna run down to the ATM and get 1.2 million €"?

[bad_roo]

This looks more like the budget.

http://www.green-acre.com/properties/05gui01.htm

[Ripzalot]

Originally posted by bad_roo
This looks more like the budget.

http://www.green-acre.com/properties/05gui01.htm

it's got potential. 17 rooms....

275000 EUR / 17 MAGGOTS = 16176 EUR for lodging for life at la grave. not a bad deal....hmmmmm?

[Lostinthetrees]

Got me interested. Only about 3.5 - 4 hours to Geneve; depending on road conditions and traffic around Grenoble.

What are the maintenance bills per year over the last 5 years?

Heating system type and last updated?

Roof type and last updated?

Potential income from rentals during winter & summer?

Price sounds good to me if we can make some income to cover our expenses and no major renovation needed. I would like to have a look at it and have some questions to be answered before I jump in. Anyone traveling down to see it?
LITT

[bad_roo]

I'm sure Mulletizer will dissuade you. Let's just say it's tres rustic.

[mildbill.]

Originally posted by Ripzalot
it's got potential. 17 rooms....

275000 EUR / 17 MAGGOTS = 16176 EUR for lodging for life at la grave. not a bad deal....hmmmmm?

[the dude] i'm just gonna go find an ATM [/td]

[Mulletizer]

Originally posted by bad_roo
I'm sure Mulletizer will dissuade you. Let's just say it's tres rustic.

Hehe, yeah, there's a reason why it is cheap. It is in Valfroide - a village above La Grave. Because it is in a major avy runout the village is uninhabitable in winter (it was the scene of one of the worst avalanche disasters in French history) so forget winter summits. There's no mains power, mains water or mains drainage. I don't know if that building is plumbed into a spring but people in the other houses up there have to carry water to their homes in buckets. And carry their dirty plates to the spring to wash them. The road to it is pretty ropey too. A hotel it ain't - more of a youth hostel. And the village is called "Valfroide" for a reason... Other than that it should be great.

On a cheerier note - I just got confirmation that my accommodation for the winter is sorted. December to the end of May. Pretty happy about that

So, who else is coming to this summit?

[Lostinthetrees]

OK. I know the location of the village. Bummer no winter access. Frog-et-it.

Yeah, I would be interested in coming down for a few days. Plenty of space in my SpaceWagon. I can bring TeleAl and Ripzalot w/ me.

Travel w/ peau de phoque, cord and harness. Went too far off-piste last season at Glacier 3000, got freaked and realized I would like to ski until I am 80. Always want a quick-out alternative.

LITT

[truth]

Originally posted by Mulletizer


On a cheerier note - I just got confirmation that my accommodation for the winter is sorted. December to the end of May. Pretty happy about that

Funny, I was just talking about my new digs in La Grave last night.

[Mulletizer]

[Ben Stiller]Do it... Do it...[/BS]

[Ripzalot]

bump....

is this thing a go or what? i'm trying to get a read on dates for a friend who wants to join. about all i can tell is roo & the mrs will be there for a week starting jan 22?

anyone else going have some dates in mind?

[Telepath]

Hmm, anything between beginning of Jan and untill the end of trade show season (ends with ISPO first or second weekend of Feb) means I'm unable to show up Mid-Feb onwards means a bigger chance of passing by; but too much is still up in the air for me to prefer certain dates.

If I'm around the Serre Che guided & goaded tours will be in full operation though