630 m away
Banana Couloir
One of the best known La Grave Couloirs - a classic
Severe Freeride Skiing
- Distance
- 1.1 km
- Ascent
- 5 m
- Descent
- 376 m
Couloir du Lac
La Grave
Les Deux Alpes and La Grave
A good introduction to couloir skiing
Freeride Skiing Difficult
- Distance
- 292 m
- Ascent
- 0 m
- Descent
- 183 m
- Low Point
- 2.4 km
- High Point
- 2.6 km
- Gradient
- 51˚
This is a popular freeride skiing route which is generally considered to be difficult. It's remote, it features low exposure (e1) and is typically done between December and April. From a low point of 2.4 km to the maximum altitude of 2.6 km, the route covers 292 m, 0 vertical metres of ascent and 183 vertical metres of descent. It's graded 3.2 and Labande grade 3.
Description
An enjoyable, short couloir which is a good introduction to this kind of skiing. The couloir is accessed from the traverse on the classic Vallons Chancel route - cross a small rock band to find the entrance. It is around 100m long. Watch for windslab on the approach.
Difficulty
Difficult
Serious gradient of 30-38 degrees where a real risk of slipping exists.
Low Exposure (E1)
Exposure is limited to that of the slope itself. Getting hurt is still likely if the slope is steep and/or the snow is hard.
Remoteness
Away from help but easily accessed.
Best time to visit
Similar routes nearby
777 m away
Freaux Couloir
A wild adventure and 800m long couloir
Severe Freeride Skiing
- Distance
- 2.1 km
- Ascent
- 13 m
- Descent
- 922 m
941 m away
Couloir de la Terrace
Classic La Grave couloir skiing
Severe Freeride Skiing
- Distance
- 1.9 km
- Ascent
- 0 m
- Descent
- 683 m
1.4 km away
Trifides - Epaule Couloir
A variation on the classic Grand Couloir
Severe Freeride Skiing
- Distance
- 333 m
- Ascent
- 0 m
- Descent
- 254 m
1.5 km away
Vallons de la Meije Classic Variations
A direct variation on the La Grave classic
Difficult Freeride Skiing
- Distance
- 2.5 km
- Ascent
- 5 m
- Descent
- 620 m
1.5 km away
l'Orciere
A very serious and wild series of couloirs down to the valley
Severe Freeride Skiing
- Distance
- 3.5 km
- Ascent
- 4 m
- Descent
- 1.7 km
1.6 km away
Antenna Couloir
A short hike gives access to some good skiing
Difficult Freeride Skiing
- Distance
- 1.1 km
- Ascent
- 53 m
- Descent
- 421 m
1.6 km away
Trifides - S Couloir
Another steeper, more serious variant of the Trifides couloirs
Extreme Freeride Skiing
- Distance
- 506 m
- Ascent
- 0 m
- Descent
- 349 m
1.6 km away
Chancel Classic
A La Grave mega-classic with 1800m of steep North facing skiing back to La Grave
Difficult Freeride Skiing
- Distance
- 4.7 km
- Ascent
- 5 m
- Descent
- 1.4 km
1.6 km away
Vallons de la Meije Classic
The La Grave mega-classic
Difficult Freeride Skiing
- Distance
- 5.5 km
- Ascent
- 4 m
- Descent
- 1.6 km
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Guidebooks in this area
5 routes · Freeride Skiing
La Grave Classics
50 routes · Freeride Skiing · Ski Touring
Charlie Boscoe's 50 Favourite Ski Adventures in Europe
15 routes · Freeride Skiing · Ski Touring
France's Finest Couloirs: An Epic Skiing Roadtrip
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