Loze Unlocked: A FreeRide Republic Adventure

📆 Join Us:
31 January – 07 February 2026

📍 Where:
Rocher de la Loze, Courchevel & Méribel, France

Loze Unlocked: The east face of the Rocher de la Loze is a FreeRide paradise with multiple lines including open faces, spines, canyons and couloirs.

The Terrain:

The Rocher de la Loze is one of the most overlooked yet outrageously fun FreeRide playgrounds in the Trois Vallées. Straddling the boundary between Courchevel and Méribel, this jagged ridgeline hides a treasure trove of steeps, couloirs, and powder stashes that stay quiet long after the main lines have been tracked out elsewhere. The 40-minute bootpack from the Col de la Loze chairlift drops you into a zone with three distinct personalities – east, west, and north faces – each with their own flavour of descents, from fast and flowing bowls to tight, technical drops.

This zone has been a local freerider’s secret for decades – an escape from the piste-bound masses where you can discover the authentic mountain, feel truly alive and discover untracked descents long after the last snowfall. The Crete de la Loze offers almost infinite variety, with gullies, ridges, steeps, canyons and natural hits that can turn any descent into a personal film segment.

The Plan:

Weather and snowpack permitting, we’ll hit the climb from the Col de la Loze daily, earning our turns and hunting the best lines the mountain has to offer. Expect sustained pitches, variable snow, and the occasional “why are we doing this to ourselves?” moment, followed almost immediately by an “oh yeah, THIS is why” grin.

Loze Unlocked: The north face classique is just one of many iconic lines available on the northern aspect of the mountain.

The Boot Pack:

There are a number of ways to access the Crete de la Loze via the west and east faces, but the main route is on the north ridge and roughly follows the summer hiking path marked on the map. In the right conditions it’s possible to skin up from the Col but you’ll need to bring your kick-turn “A” game as well as your skins. One section mid-climb is particularly brutal, although not especially consequential if things go wrong so if you’re up for a challenge … However, skins and a touring set up are not essential for this adventure as it’s possible to boot it to the summit in about 40-60 minutes. While skins are optional, you will need a back pack with ski carry and be prepared for some scrambling on exposed rock. In icy conditions, toe crampons and a whippet are handy accessories but full on crampons and an ice axe probably aren’t required.

Loze Unlocked: Booting up the north ridge.

Loze Unlocked: Cutting a skin track on the west face.

Loze Unlocked: Exploring options on the east face.

Loze Unlocked: The north ridge with bootpack marked in orange.

Loze Unlocked: Standing on the summit.

The Lines:

The Loze really is a FreeRide paradise with so many lines to choose from it won’t be possible to ski them all in a week. The east and north “classique” routes are the most iconic but there are other favourites too, including multiple lines off the (somewhat avalanche prone) West Face as well as Combe En “S” and Little Canyon on the east and La Moraine in the north.

To learn more about what Loze Unlocked has to offer, get your hands on a copy of Jean Christophe Berrard’s Courchevel Hors Piste – Off Piste or, if you can find one that doesn’t cost an arm or a leg, Didier Givois’ Les Cles de 3 Valleys.

Loze Unlocked: Scoring fresh lines on the west face.

Loze Unlocked: Powder turns on the east flank.

Rider Requirements:

• Check out our FreeRide levels to see if this is the right adventure for you. We think you need to be ‘Deep’ for this one.
  
• To get the most from this adventure you will need to be injury free and physically & mentally strong enough for big days and challenging terrain. We’re relying on you to know yourself well enough to assess each challenge and decide if it’s right for you. There’s no room for heuristic traps on The Loze.
  
• FreeRide gear: Check out our ‘Have you Remembered’ article and plan for a series of FreeRide day tours.
  
• Avalanche awareness and a group safety mindset are a must. Avoid the ‘FreeRide pitfalls’ and read up on Bruce Tremper’s ‘Ten Commandments’.
  

It’s a minimum requirement that everyone successfully completes  an avalanche rescue drill before being accepted onto Loze Unlocked. It’s non-negotiable because bad things can and do happen. 

Logistics:

This is a meet-up mission, not a package holiday. No travel or accommodation is arranged or provided by FreeRide Republic. Riders need to make their own way to the Méribel or Courchevel domains and get themselves to the Col de la Loze via lift access each morning. Join us for a day, the whole week or something in-between. Riders will require a full 3 Vallees lift pass for this adventure.

Accommodation ranges from motorhome spots in La Tania, budget digs in Brides-les-Bains or Bozel, to six-star chalets in Courchevel 1850 and Meribel – ride your own line when it comes to where you sleep.

FreeRide Spirit:

This adventure embraces the FreeRide Republic values and lores. It’s about bringing together riders who respect the mountains and each other, aren’t afraid to earn their turns, make their own calls, and look out for each other when the terrain gets consequential. No guides, no hand-holding, just like-minded riders pushing limits, sharing stoke, and leaving the hill with no trace of their passing and stories worth telling.

Risk Management & Safety:

This is high-mountain FreeRide terrain with potential hazards including avalanche risk, variable snow conditions, and exposure to steep and technical slopes. 

Participants are responsible for their own decision-making and risk assessment while riding. The group will operate on a buddy system, maintaining communication and mutual support on all descents. Weather, snowpack, and group capability will dictate route choices, and all riders must be prepared to adapt plans in the interest of safety.

Contact:

To sign up for Loze Unlocked or to find out more email:

Snowshovel@FreeRide-Republic.com with “LOZE UNLOCKED” in the subject field.

Loze Unlocked: Leaving only tracks and stories worth telling.

Disclaimer:

🧦🩲 This is the bit where we tell you that FreeRide Republic is not responsible for your safety, wellbeing, welfare or your laundry. You ride at your own risk and wash your own socks & underwear.

🐂💩 There’s also a bunch of legal stuff it’s important you should read and understand.