Rocher de la Loze: West Face

Access

Access via the Sommet des Lanches using either the Loze chairlift out of Meribel or the Dou des Lanches chair from Courchevel. Before starting your ascent, it's a good idea to scope your line by riding the Boulevard de la Loze. You're going to be dropping down onto the Boulevard from the ridge above and will have to safely negotiate the rock band at the path's edge so you want to be clear about your entry and exit points onto the line. Recirculate on the Loze chair and you will get another opportunity to look into the line from the lift as you ascend.

Once your recce is complete, it's time to ascend the Rocher de la Loze. Depending on conditions and your personal preference this will either be a bootpack or a skin roughly following the summer hiking path up the northern spine. Neither are especially complex or difficult but there are one or two short sections where a fall would be undesirable. Allow about an hour to reach the summit, 200m above the Sommet des Lanches. Once on the ridge head south towards the Croix de Verdons, feasting your eyes on the spectacular views until you reach your chosen spot to take on the west face.

Tech

For this line you will need either skins or a backpack with ski carry for the ascent. Some binoculars or field glasses, while not essential, are useful for scoping the line. No TSP No Party. You may also want to consider an airbag for this one.

Stoke

This is a high stoke line from start to finish. Excitement and anticipation builds from the moment you see the west face soaring above the Boulevard de la Loze as you scope for your line and builds through the ascent and the scramble along the ridge to your start point. Dropping in is a heady mix of fear and excitement that all the best FreeRide lines deliver and a successful descent will have you and your FreeRide buddies high fiving on the Boulevard de la Loze to the envy and quiet admiration of passing riders heading into Meribel.

Gnar

Depending on where on the ridge you choose to drop in and how you plan to negotiate the rock band above the Boulevard will determine the level of Gnar you're taking on but, whatever line you choose, the west face comes with a health warning. The clue is the series of Gazex cannons that line the ridge: The west face can be prone to avalanche. It's essential that you understand the weather systems that make avalanche possible on this face and have tracked the avalanche bulletin - ideally over successive days leading up to your descent - before making your Go / No Go decision. Don't even think about this line if the Boulevard de la Loze is closed - it usually means there is a risk that the slopes above are overloaded and an avalanche is imminent!

Awe

The views from the Rocher ridge into both Courchevel on the east side and Meribel on the west are truly jaw dropping. Take the time to enjoy this unique vantage point - you won't regret it.