It is rare to make tracks on the Dent de Crolles these days but the fresh snow and wind had wiped any old tracks and at 9am no-one had yet set out for this iconic summit.

Short ski tour with Mike to check out the SW bowl of the Pravouta. The road has a good layer of snow on it now, almost like a piste.

There is a barrier at 1088 meters after Prabert which normally blocks the road in winter.

Start on the round-about at the end of the Via Renco on the NW outskirts of Verbania. Climb to the Alpine village of Miazinna, Alpe Pala and the war memorial.

With good valley snow cover over the last few years this route has become quite popular with people touring from their houses in Bernin and Crolles.

Morning trip. The snow was refrozen with good drip on all south aspects. Climb to the col de la Belle Etoile using ski crampons. West slopes are skiable crust (depending on how heavy you are).

Classic spring ski tour with a sustained slope at the end.From the village take the GR549 to the north (Pays Tour des Lac des Sept Laux).

Quick tour to check out the refreeze, which was pretty good. Still lots of snow above 1200 meters. Risk rising to 3 in the afternoon. Snow very sticky below 1100 meters.

Quick trip between school runs to take advantage of the snow. Starting from 1000m didn't quite leave enough time to make the summit of Pravouta. Too much trail to break in 30cm of fresh snow.

Starting from le Sappey seemed like a good idea. It is only 250 meters under the normal drag lift trailhead but adds a considerable amount of horizontal distance.