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.

After a bit of XC skiing I toured from the Col de Porte pistes to the bottom drag then continued down the path at the end.

After Chapp's report on skitour (Virgule) I had no intention of going to Pas d'Oeille today but the prairie below the Dent de Crolleswas tempting. 15cm of fresh snow on a hard base.

A last minute outing this morning after dropping the boy at school at 9am. Le Jasse and Jas were skied yesterday so maybe something in between? Not much snow below 1400 meters.