Vertical Climbed: 1,614 meters (5,296 feet)
Vertical Descended: 1,611 meters
The link between le Sappey and St Hugues hasn't been prepared for 4 years. I'd lost faith they'd ever do it again but then a message from Chamechaude nordic, it would open this weekend. I'd contemplated doing le Sappey to Charmant Som on a return trip but at way over 60km and 2200 meters of climbing it seemed just too far. In any case a complete tour linking the Col de Porte to le Sappey via the snowshoe trail (which is pisted on a quad bike) seemed much more satisfying. 42km and 1600 meters of climbing only.
The climb to Emeindras was pretty fast. I did a PR at 50m17s, okay only 7 seconds quicker but I didn't want to blow up en-route so dialed it back a bit. It was freezing at the col and I put my coat on for the ski down. The first bend was tricky but then things opened up for a big loop via le Pleynom before a steep ski down to St Hugues. I didn't appreciate the pistes of St Hugues much. A lot of taking skis on and off for bare sections and roads but I'm told the ski area is very nice. No sign of any piste side bars for food or a drink which made my mind up about doing the tour rather than a round trip. The climb to the Col de Porte went ok but I was taking it easy now then up to the Charmant Som for the high point of the day at around 1640 meters. I was frozen for the descent, skiing in low icy cloud, the sun some 200 meters above my head.
I found the snow shoe trail, with another 20cm of snow it would be completely skiable then a walk down a steep slope to pick up the trails of le Sappey to complete the loop. Not the fastest time ever and I'd redo it in the other direction but leaving out the Charmant Som climb.
Good skating conditions. Some stones below 1200m on the climb to Emeindras. The descent to St Hugues was on hard snow - it is a steep slope and I guess people were snow ploughing. The traverse across St Hugues lacked snow under the trees but ok on open runs. Some stones again on the climb to the Col de Porte but this starts at 920 meters so can't complain. Great conditions on the climb to Charmant Som but in the clouds at 1600 meters. Descent on the snow shoe trail to le Sappey require care and taking skis off for a couple of steep descent that had stones. Pistes of le Sappey were thin.
