Trip with Mike to the Pas de la Coche and beyond! The road is blocked at 1230 m but possible to drive around the barrier to the summer car park at 1330 meters.

Zero portage, not bad for a 20th May at 1600 meters! I basically did a tour of the Roche Noire, a lot of km for not much vertical.

Back to Pipay but we are a bit restricted by the lockdown.

Tot was busy in the morning so we went out right after lunch. It had snowed 5-7cm. There were a lot of purges some of which had crossed the ski runs.

Tot had bad memories of this climb from earlier in the season but with lockdown imminent I didn't fancy going elsewhere.

The main reason to climb to the Cochette is the view. That said on a day of fresh snow the forest either side of the summit trail is skiable and the avalanche risk is not huge.

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.

Early November snow is not uncommon but always nice to restart the ski season.

There was a bit of a weather window this morning. Unfortunately I was a bit late and missed the best conditions before 10am.There is still snow at the bottom of the pistes at Pipay.