This is the winter of our discontent. Or so it would seem reading ski forums given the very poor snow conditions.

Lacets de MontvernierThis hairpin road connects the mountain villages of Montvernier, Montpascal and Montbruna.

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.

I've been away since last week so was a bit out of touch but it was clear from the web that there has been snow, a lot of snow in fact.

From the summit of the Brevent cable car follow the S ridge,. The entrance is 42° and often lacks snow requiring an abseil.

From Prabert (barrier 1088m December to March) follow the road east to 1300 meters (car park), From here take a trail to the right to the Pont de la Betta.

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.

I've been ill for the last week so this was a short test to see how things are improving. The last couple of hundred meters were quite hard going.

The climb from la Terrace or via the Chateau du Carré at Lumbin to St Bernard du Touvet is 7km over 635m giving an average of just over 9% but after km4 there is a 1km section at 11%.

The Pas de la Rousse, East Couloir is almost the last line of the east Chartreuse that I've not skied. It is supposed to be the steepest line in the range.