I didn't know what the runs at le Sappey would be like. The bottom slopes are below 1000m. In fact things were okay, just.

I was a bit doubtful as the webcam showed it was a bit grim but things seemed to be clearing toward noon so I headed up.

I had a time constraint this morning so was only free for a couple of hours. Le Sappey seemed like the better bet and it had been pisted yesterday.

Situation at just 810 meters altitude the Bourget en Huile nordic ski area is a bit of an anachronism in these times of global warming.

Skied to the Source de Sire Mouton (col). Second fastest time on the descent, would have been quicker on skate boots and skis and a good ankle.

As the weather was poor took the opportunity to go out and work a bit on technique: badass skate drills, Skate one transitions etc.

The idea was to tour around the lower part of the domain as the Emeindras descent was too frozen last week for my liking.

The cloud level has lowered a bit so le Sappey en Chartreuse was in the sun at midday. Time for a lunch skate up to Emeindras.

A nice little classic tour except for some tricky descents which I can't take with my bad ankle but the snow and sun are fantastic. Great to get out from our Grenoble fog for a bit of winter sunshine.

I wasn't sure if le Sappey had been pisted. About 5-10cm had fallen overnight. I saw Christophe Imbert at the start but he'd not been up today, pisting had been perfect yesterday though.