three 1/2 days staying at la grave, bucket list...
Discussion
some friends and i are heading to the alps in june. none of us have ever been to that area before, so as a trade off of classic climbs, and must see areas, where is our time best spent? i'd like to do huez for obvious reasons, and also perhaps lautaret and galibier, i've also seen videos of the balcony road off of alp d'huez, which looks amazing. can anyone help with any climbs that are a must do/not worth the effort, and anything else worth experiencing whilst there?
cheers
craig
cheers
craig
It's all great really. Except the main road schlep back up to La Grave from Bourg D'Oisans.
The full Marmotte course above is a tough day out but you could leave the AdH climb (do that on the half day perhaps, taking in the remote Col de Sarenne with it's great descent after) then it would be a great circular for you with lunch at Valoire.
Or you could split it up, you could do Lauteret & Galibier, poss Telegraphe, both ways easily enough from La Grave, again with lunch at Valoire. If you've got transport, drive to Allemond, do Glandon & Croix de Fer and back, that's a nice half day.
But, defo do the balcony road via Vilard Reculas and Huez Village,
Prepare for all weather eventualities, you'll likely get 4 seasons each day. Plan lunch, there are not many options outside towns and you will need and want to stop for a good nosebag.
The full Marmotte course above is a tough day out but you could leave the AdH climb (do that on the half day perhaps, taking in the remote Col de Sarenne with it's great descent after) then it would be a great circular for you with lunch at Valoire.
Or you could split it up, you could do Lauteret & Galibier, poss Telegraphe, both ways easily enough from La Grave, again with lunch at Valoire. If you've got transport, drive to Allemond, do Glandon & Croix de Fer and back, that's a nice half day.
But, defo do the balcony road via Vilard Reculas and Huez Village,
Prepare for all weather eventualities, you'll likely get 4 seasons each day. Plan lunch, there are not many options outside towns and you will need and want to stop for a good nosebag.
Take all the clothing you own! And a means of carrying some of it each day + food, tubes etc. Fresh shorts daily of course. Suncream, bumcream and sudocrem.
Seriously, you can be slaving away for 2hrs at 30degs++, then descending for 20mins in rain in what feels like minus 20. Do not underestimate the weather. Although it's a fairly busy area, it's still high up in proper mountains.
Check the cols are open before you head off for them too Galibier's often still closed well into June.
Enjoy it Gutted not to be going myself this year.
Seriously, you can be slaving away for 2hrs at 30degs++, then descending for 20mins in rain in what feels like minus 20. Do not underestimate the weather. Although it's a fairly busy area, it's still high up in proper mountains.
Check the cols are open before you head off for them too Galibier's often still closed well into June.
Enjoy it Gutted not to be going myself this year.
The Izoard (from the north, Briancon) is one of the most spectacular climbs in the area and well worthy of a visit. The Telegraph and Galibier again from the north are also pretty special. If you are doing the Telegraph and Galibier together then pack a waterproof, arm warmers, leg warmers as it can be scorching at the Telegraph but wet and freezing cold at Galibier. Huez is worth doing simply to tick the box but I found it fairly underwhelming.
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