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

I knew there was a lack of snow. All the lower runs are shut. The skating was pretty good. A lot of people on foot, some stomping on the ski runs, doh! Not too many other skiers.

A return to the Pre Long, maybe the hardest climb in the Gresivaudan, and that is just the surfaced bit ! A good time of 25m36s from le Mas Julien to the end of the surfaced road.

RouteFrom the parking at Prabert, (pont de la Betta 1336m after March) follow the GR549 trail to the Habert d'Aiguebelle at 1800m. Continue east to the Pas de la Coche (2030 m).

Good conditions in the Belledonne for the end of November. I had to break trail from the Barioz parking to the summit, not that hard in the 20cm of fresh snow. There is no base below 1500 meters.

Follow the trail to the habert d'Aiguebelle (refuge, renovated in 2008 but closed).

Spin round the trails of the Col de Porte, generally good skiing conditions. Last week's fresh snow has packed down and there are no bare patches, yet! As ever the black trail is closed.

From the col de Mouilles follow the road (closed in the winter) towards the Pré Marcel.

The climb of the Combe de Lancey begins at Lancey via a long drag past the old paper mills.

The Cross country ski area had opened over the weekend and the pistes had been prepared but was closed today. The zero-iso was around 1700 m on Sunday coupled with rain.