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L'Eroica in Gaiole, Chianti, Italy

History has to start somewhere.
2016-10-02 14:44:49

La Combe de Lancey, Gresivaudan, Alps France

The climb of the Combe de Lancey begins at Lancey via a long drag past the old paper mills.
2016-09-23 11:42:42

Drac von Dyke

A tour along the dike of the Drac river that traverses Grenoble from the Oisans towards Valance.
2016-09-13 11:16:08

Baveno to Mottarone

Long climb up the east side of Mottarone via the toll road with a little loop around the top.
2016-07-16 07:17:45

Hardest climb in the Alps?

A return to the Rossombolmo climb. This time with a 34x32 gearing and a lighter bike. I climbed all the way up to the ex-sheep farm at the summit.
2016-07-14 08:27:00

Verbania - Oggebio; Lake Maggiore; Italy

The main road along the lake is very busy, not for everyone. Afterwards you can take a backroad, in this case by Oggebio back to Intra / Verbania.
2016-07-11 15:00:19

Levo - Stresa - Someraro loop

Rode up to Levo. Down to Stresa then returned via the climb to Someraro for a fairly quick and efficient 850 meters of climbing. You can find water at Levo on the main road.
2016-07-10 14:18:58

Last tour of the season

Snow from the col although it had large suncups. No refreeze below 2500 meters but skiable below. Lots of purges on the slopes below the Aiguille du Gd. fond.
2016-06-07 09:06:54

Point Arpire

Climb the combe d'Arpire to the south until to reach the col then follow the short ridge to right (west) to the summit.
2016-06-07 09:02:58

Valmeinier / Valloire on and off piste

Taking advantage of the fresh snow to do some of the Valmeinier off piste.
2016-04-18 10:04:46

Col de Porte again

12C at the col at 1pm with a light foehn. The snow was pretty heavy. Skiable but largely due to improved technique this winter.
2016-03-30 23:38:21

Midi Deux at the Col de Porte

A couple of loops of the Col de Porte ski area. Temperature was 5C at the col (1300m.) and there was quite a strong breeze from the north which had left some branches and leaves on the pistes.
2016-03-23 22:42:54

First and last at the Col de Marcieu

I've missed chances to ski the trail from the Col de Marcieu to St Hilaire this year. It is a really nice route.
2016-03-20 23:37:50

A seuil before work

A before work ski tour, just like old times. I was a bit apprehensive about the snow conditions.
2016-03-18 23:34:15

Lunch Emeindras

I'd seen that le Sappey was open at the weekend and they'd prepared the Emeindras climb.
2016-03-14 22:39:05

Col de Porte opening

Opening, or rather reopening at the col de Porte. The pisteurs were hard at work with their quad bike and blade - the full size piste basher would ruin the thin coat of snow.
2016-03-14 22:33:56

Dent de Crolles in the fog

I waited until 4pm to see if the cloud that has been clagging the Chartreuse would clear. It seemed to be the case and for a brief moment it lifted revealing the mountain in all its glory.
2016-03-13 22:58:44

Closing day at St Hilaire

Closing day at St Hilaire. We were less adventurous skiing the Canyon a couple of times and the lower phantom village a couple of times. Snow is still good, especially above 1200 meters.
2016-03-13 22:53:50

The Road

In a post apocalyptic wasteland a father and son ski through a landscape devoid of life and covered in snow.
2016-03-12 22:36:02

Lunch skate at the Col de Porte

A rapid lunch tour at the Col de Porte. Excellent conditions if a little soft on one or two climbs due to the fresh snow on Tuesday. Skied the blue and red pistes.
2016-03-10 23:27:34

Pravouta after work

Little after work ski tour to check out the snow. I've been very busy the last few weeks and haven't had much time to get out.
2016-03-10 23:21:21

Canyon hattrick at St Hilaire

Return to St Hilaire this morning. Much improved with fresh snow. We skied the Canyon off piste in excellent condition. It is passable from top to bottom without problem.
2016-03-07 00:30:39

Post cold skate

The Ramiettes was open down to the 4 chemins. It was fairly hard work coming back up especially linked with the Cret du Poulet climb on soft snow.
2016-03-05 23:41:21

Grand Rocher 20K

The bottom of the Barioz nordic area had suffered from the spring weather that reigned all week so only the Creve Coeur was really open at the bottom and there was a 150 meter bare section on the clim
2016-03-05 23:36:20

Tour of the pistes and off pistes of le Grand Serre

Basically pretty much all the between the pistes is skiable at le Grand Serre, it is one big off piste domain. We started with the long Vallons run which is a bit like an itinerary.
2016-03-05 23:27:41

First day of winter

Surprising season. The long range weather reports in the autumn warned of a warm Jan/Feb with a return to winter in March and so it is.
2016-03-05 23:10:00

Tour of the Grand Serre

From the ski resort of l'alpe du Grand Serre (la Bache) follow a trail to les Desserts behind the Grizzli buildings.
2016-02-22 18:43:27

Grand Serre Couloirs

From the Desert drag lift follow a track (vallons piste) through the Pres de Clos to pt 1448m then climb up the Grande Montage slopes to the ridge. You can check out the couloirs from here.
2016-02-22 18:25:52

Grand Plan Piste and Off Piste

Every mountain range has its resort X. A solitary lift on some deserted mountain col that leads to some hidden backcountry stash. Or so the teasers would have us believe.
2016-02-13 23:50:01

Grand Rocher Skate Style

Skate up to the Grand Rocher via the Refuge and Cret Luisard pistes. Still lacking some snow at the bottom when I arrived, the bare patches were covered by a few cms of fresh at 5pm.
2016-02-13 23:36:05

Charmant Som Bergeries and Beyond!

There's not much snow, about 10cm on the road (as opposed to 45cm measured Meteo France on the field next door. So it doesn't bode well for an end of season.
2016-02-10 22:11:09

Heavy Snow in the Chartreuse

The comma couloir has not been good this year. Last time in January the snow was hard and scralped in the couloir and soggy in the woods, but there was a good base and the pistes were ok.
2016-02-10 00:03:01

Return to Barioz

Very warm this afternoon but didn't have the motivation to go out this morning. Surprised that the first 100 meters still doesn't have sufficient snow cover to ski.
2016-02-05 23:34:39

Pravouta - Bec Charvet

It has snowed overnight and reports from this morning were quite encouraging. Less snow than forecast but around 25cm of dense powder. I decided to have a look at the col du Coq routes.
2016-02-05 00:09:46

Bergeries de Charmant Som

We couldn't decide on a ski trip today so late in the afternoon I decided to take my skating skis up the road from the col de Porte to the Bergeries just under the Charmant Som mountain.
2016-01-30 22:28:03

In search of lost powder, le Grand Mont

Mike was keen to explore the Beaufortain, the snowiest mountain range in France at the moment with some 3 meters since the 1st Jan at 1800 m.
2016-01-28 22:31:58

Le Grand Mont, NW

From the end of the road (Areches, la Chornais) follow a track which crosses a red ski run then zig-zags into the woods.
2016-01-28 22:19:25

Mallisards pt 1952m by the Aulp du Seuil

Honestly the ski conditions are not great in the Isere ranges at the moment.
2016-01-26 22:40:07

Sunday Skate

Some bare patches on the Brimbelles. Particuarly the descent back to the foyer and on the section on the far side of the plateau.
2016-01-25 15:02:18

3 times in the fantom village

Return to St Hils with junior.
2016-01-24 20:49:08

Emeindras - Combes

Emeindras - good slidy snow with a few bare patches that were relatively easy to avoid, snow got better as I climbed.
2016-01-20 00:10:21

Afternoon skate

Covered the Saliniere blue. Good snow conditions apart from the access track which had a few icy patches.
2016-01-18 23:52:21

Oratoire in the Evening

5cm of fresh snow on the road. I climbed with scaled nordic skis rather than skating although I saw someone on skating skis but the snow looked a bit soft. 0C at the col.
2016-01-18 23:48:23

First Phantom Village of 2016

With 65cm of fresh snow in the Chartreuse down to 1000 meters it seemed about time to attempt some of the off-pistes at St Hilaire.
2016-01-18 21:42:10

Grand Rocher

Both Mike and I had time constrainst and had to be back for lunch.
2016-01-15 18:40:39

Jackpot at Barrioz

Tour of all the open pistes at Barioz today in skating mode: Ramiettes, Creve Coeur, Refuge and Luisard. Very tiring conditions with soft base and fresh snow on the runs.
2016-01-13 21:16:23

Combe de Molière

Headed out with Mike to have a look at his super new MTB. The trail is pretty good in the damp as it is mostly sand which drains well. Some snow on the descent but generally good grip going down.
2015-12-31 12:26:11

Post Christmas Ride

I'd not been out on my bike for a couple of weeks.
2015-12-27 17:55:24

Croix de l Alpe express

I'd wanted to drive up to the summer parking so only climb 400 meters but the road has been closed as they don't want drivers using it during the winter.
2015-12-25 22:40:30

Croix de l Alpe from les Prés

From the town hall in les Pres take a metalled road through the village direction Croix de l'Alpe. After 100 m by a fire hydrant and reservoir follow a small path to the left (NW) past a house.
2015-12-25 00:41:27

Dent without snow

Normally I would be skiing this route but in this start of winter, well it was more like spring, there was no snow below 1900m.
2015-12-17 22:44:26

Dent de Crolles by the Pas de l Oeille

From the Col du Coq parking 150 meters before the col itself climb the path to the Col des Ayes then take a zig-zag path below the cliffs of the Dent de Crolles.
2015-12-17 22:37:19

Ice road biker

I've not been out on the bike since the end of November but with no recent snow and limited time decided to do an MTB tour with the hope that the biting cold would have frozen all the mud.
2015-12-14 17:38:35

Tour des Crets de Prabert

Starting from the hamlet of Lnagenet follow the road to Rouare, la Planta then after some zig-zags the roads flattens. Take a right hander to les Avons to finally reach the Col du Lauteret.
2015-12-14 17:20:14

Lunch rollerski

Quick rollerski along the banks of the Isere before Sunday lunch. Largely dry on the route but a bit of storm debris (leaves, branches) here and there.
2015-12-14 07:21:10

Carpe Diem

There was light snow forecast for Wednesday with a return to good weather for Thursday so I made sure to leave the day free.
2015-12-11 00:42:47

Banks of the Isere Rollerski

I'd seen a few people had rollerskied the banks of the Isere from Grenoble Hospital to la Murianette past Gieres. Around 15km.
2015-12-11 00:26:50

Roche Noire, Antenna Couloir

Afternoon quick ski tour to the Roche Noire. There is a reasonable amount of snow at Pipay, pretty dense. I skied the Antenna couloir with was heavy powder except for a section of harder snow.
2015-12-10 21:17:54

Love Island Roller Ski

From the Parc de l'île d'Amour follow the cycle path south for 100 meters then cross over a suspension bridge to the left bank of the Isere.
2015-12-08 18:18:25

Chamrousse Skating

Great early season cross country skiing conditions on the plateau d'Arselle. The Astragale black wasn't open.
2015-12-07 00:17:54

Chamrousse Nordic Park

http://www.chamrousse.com/nordique.
2015-12-06 09:56:07