Gravelles ClassicCourchevel, France | FreeRide Sector: Moriond
Ride Date:
29 Jan 25Snow conditions:
SoftAvalanche level:
3 - ConsiderableTerrain:
Slack countryWeather conditions:
SunnyPrecipitation:
ClearElevation entry point:
2000mElevation exit point:
1700mAspect:
WestMax slope angle:
Between 30 and 45 degreesDrop in:
TreesExit:
OtherEasy access, high stakes line in Courchevel Moriond.
Access to Gravelles is easy, some might say too easy, given this is a line that has claimed lives.
To scope the line in advance head over to the Mur piste in Courchevel 1850 and pull up on the high ground above the Piston Bully park from where you have a great view of the line and the approach route. It's a good idea to take some binoculars or a camera with a good zoom as your scoping point is some distance away from the line itself.
When you're ready, access the line by following the green Petite Bosses piste down to the walking path that gently ascends in a northerly direction up the ridge to a little private chalet hidden away in the trees. From here follow your nose (or existing tracks) through the trees to find your entry point into the line.
No specialist tech is required for this line but you'll want to be wearing your lucky pants and have conducted a thorough risk assessment before taking it on. There's nowhere to conduct a snow pack stability test at the drop in so it's a good idea to follow Bruce Tremper's 10 Commandments, paying particular attention to starting small and riding adjacent, less consequential, lines with a westerly aspect to test for snowpack stability before committing yourself to this one.
The stoke here is as good as it gets in the Moriond sector but don't let the stoke blind you into making a bad decision.
This line has claimed lives so the gnar rating has to reflect that but there's nothing technically difficult about this line more than any other with a slope angle of up to 45°. If you're comfortable on steeps this line has no particular technical challenges. The real issue here is the instability not only of the snowpack but also the ground underneath. The clue is in the name and what might start as a snow avalanche is likely to very quickly become a rock avalanche with all the undesirable outcomes that implies.
This is a fantastic spot on the doorstep of the Courchevel ski domain that also feels very far away from the madding crowd. The dramatic landscape of the line itself beautifully complements the magical Plan du Vah valley (surely one of Courchevel's best kept secrets) into which you will descend.
Follow the Petite Bosses green piste from the top of the button lift of the same name down to the obvious ridge line. Follow the walking path that ascends up the gentle slope of the ridge until you get to a little private chalet. From here follow your nose through the trees to access the west face and choose your entry point into the line. Route in marked in blue, descent in red.
⚠️ Warning! Exiting the line involves crossing a stream so be prepared to get your feet wet. It will be totally worth it - see cheesy grin. Rider: Goodshitskier.
View from the scoping point. Route in marked in green and descent in red. Note the little chalet as a key feature which sits more or less above the line.
The bottom section of the line just above the stream you'll need to cross to join the bottom of the Plan du Vah piste. Depending on exactly where you exit you may need to use the service road to the Plan du Vah déchetterie (recycling centre) to get back to the piste.
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