© BdG
© BdG
© Rob Wood
© BdG
© BdG
Glacier skiing with a helicopter pick up
Freeride with a guide & helicopter collection service
There may be spring conditions on piste, but it's still very much like winter on the Glacier du Grand Sablat here in Alpe d'Huez, even at this late stage of the season.
The Glacier du Grand Sablat, accessed from the Pic Blanc at 3300 metres, still has a good covering of lovely snow.
Bureau des Guides (part of ESF) based up at the Chalet ESF at the DMC lift station offer the wonderful opportunity to take a helicopter flight back from the glacier area after a bit of glacier skiing.
The trips are run with a fully qualified guide which really is the best way to explore the glacier area and all your safety equipment is included as well, so not only is it the best but also the safest way to experience this wonderful area of unspoilt natural beauty.
The ½ day guided trip to the glacier costs €140 per person and really offers a once in a lifetime chance to combine glacier skiing and a truly magnificent helicopter ride back to Alpe d’Huez.
The helicopter returns from the lower end of the glacier down to the altiport which is located behind the Les Bergers commercial centre (by the golf course).
In addition to the helicopter trip they also offer ski de randonee (backcountry skiing) and cascade de glace (ice climbing) and in the wonderful spring weather why not take advantage of all that Alpe d’Huez has to offer.
The backcountry skiing also runs from the area up at the Pic Blanc/Glacier and takes in the stunning area around Cotes de Rivet, Combe du Loup and Les Perrins and for the real adrenaline junkies they run trips to Couloir du Cerisier, La Pyramide and the Pic Bayle, which is higher than the Pic Blanc.
The ice climbing takes place in the world famous ice falls that are formed in Vallons de la Grave and the Vallons du Diable area and there are routes to suit beginners right through to the most experienced of climbers and again are fully guide led and includes all your safety equipment. Costs for the ice climbing depend on the numbers in the group and the difficulty of the chosen ascent and the time to be spent on the ice.
