I realized I'd never descended the West Couloir of the Petit Som. I'd climbed it once and recalled it was a pretty steep afair. More than the 35 degrees mentioned in the guidebooks.

From Pipay climb to the chalet de Pipay dessus then turn NE to climb to the ridge between the Soleil and Loup drags.

Short tour with junior (who was testing lighter TSL snow shoes) to l'Alpette which is a small field (hence the name) on the Aulp du Seuil climb.

A little tour with tot to get some air. The road was completely pisted by the passage of the hundreds of skiers, snow shoers, sledgers and every other kind of engine.

Tot was moaning about the ski resorts being closed so I suggested we climb to the top of the ski runs at St Hilaire.

A little afterwork. I started around 16h30 from the car park at 1190 meters but it was no doubt possible to tour from much lower down, from the main road to St Pancrasse at 1000 meters even.

The Croix de Chamrousse is the summit of the Chamrousse ski pistes at 2250 meters. It can be reached from the Recoin, la Roche Berenger or Casserousse at 1400 meters.

Thibaut had suggested we ski the Couloir en Virgule.

36:36 for the climb compared to my record of 32:20 (for both skating and classic). Not bad at all and my 6th best time. I put it down to better technique as well as fitness.

I saw a TR on skitour which spoke of parking at the reservoirs and snow from 1500 meters.