With a return to winter, or Janvril as it is known it seemed like a good idea to take a tour. It was possible to start from le Baure climbing up through the pastures towards the Col du Coq.

A chance to look at the avalanche that ripped down to the Col de Porte - Hotel ski lift in January on a risk 5 weekend. The biggest avalanche in 42 years according to the locals.

This is almost certainly going to be my last Virgule Couloir of 2019. First off all getting up at 6am during the week is not my cuppa but the reward is seeing the sun rise over the Alps.

I was back from a week in Paris and feeling quite tired so wanted somewhere close and not too complicated - easy climb and ski and no reskinning.

Powder in March is pretty short lived, here today, gone tomorrow.

From Epernay follow the road that climbs to the south-east, then zig-zags to the south.

Trips like this only happen a few times per season. 20-25cm of fresh, cold snow with a descent just after dawn in perfect conditions.

We ruled out south aspect slopes due to the poor weather forecast and the risk of crust, that seems like a good move.

Parked at the Salt Depot and took the la Gorgette trail just after the bridge following a well made snowshoe track that came from St Pancrasse up to the winter carpark at 1220 meters.

A quick "before work" to see what the fresh snow had brought. I started at 7am and with the fog kept my head torch all the way to the summit an hour later. Excellent skiing and no one around.