Time for the tots traditional fleche and chamois tests with the Barioz ski club in their micro ski area of the Grand Plan.

The day was spent practicing hill climbing on the ramp near the Biathlon circuit as well as balance practice on the descents (skiing on one ski as far as possible).

A false good idea going to the Arselle after a super-hot February (one of the hottest since 1900). I actually had to skate all the way down the descent of the normally superfast Astragal.

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

With the col de Marcieu closing its nordic ski area and le Sappey in poor condition the next nearest nordic ski area is the Beldina / les 7 Laux.

Thib had warned me there was not much snow left but I had difficulty believing him as conditions had been good a few days ago.

Resort OverviewVillard des Lans is situated about 45 minutes by car from Grenoble on the Vercors plateau.

I'd not been back to Barioz for a while but had a half day off to enjoy the last of the summer in winter weather.

Tot was keen to do a morning at St Hilaire. The snow conditions are still really good and we tried to arrive in good time to ski for a couple of hours.

I'd wanted to do a return trip along the Herse early in the day (9am start) but the Herse had not been pisted from the Combe Noire junction (not enough snow depth and too hot apparently).