I haven't skied the Virgule couloir this year. An error but conditions have not been good with the long anti-cyclone and I've also been very busy.

Tot tested out his new touring skis with Fritschi touring bindings. All ok and much easier than last season's snowshoe touring. Very pleasant little ski tour. All quiet in the resort.

The clocks have changed so it is difficult to find the right timing for a before work.

First aulp du Seuil of the ski season, better late than never. I'd hoped for more snow, the avalanche bulletin had mentioned 20cm of fresh, it was probably a quarter of that.

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.

A return to St Hilaire du Touvet, this is becoming a habit but it had been raining for days with a lot of avalanche activity. We would also avoid the scrum of cars at le Sappey or Barrioz.

First off I beached my car on deep snow, trying to turn for the parking. I should have immediately parked when I saw the road was white.

Short tour with junior (who was testing lighter TSL snow shoes) to l'Alpette which is a small field (hence the name) on the Aulp du Seuil climb.

Tot was moaning about the ski resorts being closed so I suggested we climb to the top of the ski runs at St Hilaire.

Thibaut had suggested we ski the Couloir en Virgule.