A quick MTB through the singles behind the house before the grey weather arrived. A lot of walkers about but we saw no-one (for a change) on our singles except the Croix de Troussait.

DangersThe North East slope is suspended above high cliffs.

Les Saisies is one of France's largest cross country ski areas claiming around 120km of ski runs between 1550 meters at Lachat (summit of the Crest Voland pistes) and 1850 meters at the top of the Mon

I've never nordic skied at les Saisies but we alpine skied here a few years ago and it was very flat so seemed ideal for cross country.

From the Pont des Cottaves (1111m) follow a trail on the right bank of the river to a clearing at 1150m (bottom of an old chair lift) then turn slightly SW to follow a ski piste that crosses the Charm

JG wanted to check out the wrecked car and get its license plate to see if it was still registered, it is not. It must have been in the woods above the Croix du Trousset for 20 years.

JG, Matt and I decided to do a short loop via the Chemin de la Pivolle and Croix du Trousset singletracks. The Pivolle is great climbing or descending.

Well not really storming but more grovelling with a time of around 16 minutes to the top. It is a very very steep climb for the first 1km.

The climb to the cable car at Alpino seemed feasible. I'd ridden this way a few times and had noted the rough road on Via Arcioni in Gignese but everything else seemed ok.

I'd ridden this road a couple of times on a road bike. The surface is quite good to Frasmatta so I decided to attempt it on rollerskis - although the classic variety.