Cécile Eichinger has reminded us that the Tour de Grand Veymont ski mountaineering competition takes place on Sunday 1st February 2009. This is the first leg of the Grenoble Trois Massif competition.
This sixth edition starts from the ski resort of Gresse en Vercors. A new route has been designed this year and 200 competitors are expected to climb two couloirs that pass through the eastern ramparts of the Vercors range and cross the Vecors nature reserve. There is a special circuit for younger competitors. Both routes are technically challenging.
The Grenoble Trois Massifs competition celebrates the three mountain ranges surrounding Grenoble : The Vercors, Belledonne and Chartreuse. The other legs are the Croix de Chamrousse on the 15th of February and the Croix de Chamechaude on the 8th of March. The TGV is part of the “Alpi Ski tour” of the Fédération Française des Clubs Alpins de Montagne (FFCAM) along with the famous Pierra Menta.
The TGV is for individual competitors equipped with either skis or snowboards with a vertical of around 1800 meters (1000 meters for youngsters). The technical passages are equipped for the security of participants, whether pros or beginners.
There will also be an introduction to ski touring for spectators accompanied by a guide with the loan of skis and climbing skins (you will need your own poles and boots) and an avalanche beacon training session. Please contact the tourist office at Gresse en Vercors (04 76 34 33 40) if you are interested in these events.
More information and on the website http://www.g3m.org. Entries must be received by Thursday 29th January.