Although I had a great day piste skiing at the start of the season at Chamrousse I'd not been back touring this year.

A chance to look at the avalanche that ripped down to the Col de Porte - Hotel ski lift in January on a risk 5 weekend. The biggest avalanche in 42 years according to the locals.

From Epernay follow the road that climbs to the south-east, then zig-zags to the south.

From the Recoin (Chamrousse 1650m) climb to the top of the ski pistes (Croix de Chamrousse). You can generally avoid most of the ski open ski runs. Descend the run to the lac Robert.

http://pistehors.com/col-du-merlet-from-the-pont-du-merlet.htmAccess: From the Maurienne autoroute take the exit at St. Etienne de Cuines for the col du Glandon and the Villards valley.

From the forest hut follow a trail to the SE. At 930m at a crossroads the best is to take a marked path that cuts the zig-zags of the forest trail to a crossroads at 1250m.

RouteFrom the hamlet of Lieulever (Tiouleve), continue to the bridge at Rouelles, cross the bridge and turn SE and cross pastures in the direction of the stream that descends from Mont Bellacha (avala