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Le Grand Rocher

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.
2015-11-30 16:19:37

Mont d'Or Tour

The climbs are not too long. Basically 4 climbs of around 300 meters. It starts right in the heart of Lyon in the 9th district but the traffic pretty much goes by the turn for the first climb.
2015-11-27 15:50:43

Pravouta Primeur

The conditions have considerably improved since the weekend with around 20 to 40 cm of new snow on the start of a base.
2015-11-26 15:28:43

Oratoire

Skate from the Col de Porte (which opened today after 20cm of new snow) to the Oratoire. I didn't go any further as it was very windy and zero viz.
2015-11-22 18:26:25

Sunset on the Crêt de Chazay

Reasonably dry except on the steep section just before the col de la croix des Ayes where the stones were humid and a bit slippery. The route is pretty logical.
2015-08-05 10:24:11

Tour of the Crêt de Chazay

From the parking ride into Brignoud crossing the railway line and turn left at the lights. At 2.
2015-08-05 08:49:14

Col du Lauteret, Belledonne

Mid morning MTB tour in the sun
2015-07-13 11:12:21

Alpe Rossombolmo, lago di Maggiore, Italy

This fearsome climb starts from the village of Ornavasso just north of Gravellone-Toce.
2015-07-10 07:52:58

Alpe Quaggione via Alpe Colla; Lake Orta; Italy

DescriptionOne for the climbers. Views over the mountains and Lake Orta from the summit. The climb is through woodland so offers a lot of shade on a sunny day.
2015-07-05 07:20:16

Col de Chamrousse via the Col du Luitel

The col de Chamrousse (1795 m.) can be climbed by road bike from 3 sides. By far the hardest is the tiny but ueber steep route from Sechilienne.
2015-07-03 08:11:27

Heavy snow on the Belle Etoile

We set off to tour around and enjoy the beautiful mountains but finally we just did a return to the Belle Etoile and it was not bad at all.We started at 7am.
2015-06-07 11:03:27

Col de Pré Long, Belledonne, French Alps

The climb from Lancey is in the shade in the morning, at least as far as le Mas Julien. Afterwards it is pretty exposed but the road to the power station at the head of the valley has been resurfaced.
2015-06-01 10:49:17

Bois Français, Gresivaudan, France

From the Bois de Batie car park follow the cycle trail to towards Chambery for 500m under the bridge.
2015-05-28 00:42:45

Petit Van West Face

Some late season snow meant that it was possible to tour from Chamrousse. I'd been skiing in resort a week before and it was surprising how much the snow had melted.
2015-05-23 00:23:03

Couloir de la Via Ferrata

As part of a tour to the Petit Van I decided to take in the Via Ferrata couloir rather than ski the Lac Roberts ski slope.
2015-04-30 21:56:32

Chamrousse Couloir de la Via Ferrata

From the Croix de Chamrousse (summit of ski runs) follow the ski slopes east to the entrance of the Casse Rousse couloir (black piste).
2015-04-30 21:29:01

Petit Van West Face, Belledonne, France

From the Recoin (Chamrousse 1650m) climb to the top of the ski pistes (Croix de Chamrousse). You can generally avoid most of the ski open ski runs. Descend the run to the lac Robert.
2015-04-30 21:11:02

Nearly summer

With temperatures hitting 26C today, in the valley, it almost seems like summer has arrived. However we're expecting snow at 1500 meters this weekend with a brutal drop in temperatures.
2015-04-22 14:46:17

Last skate?

I'd heard conditions were very good at le Feclaz still on the trails and that the resort were preparing the trails up to the 12th April despite being officially closed.
2015-04-09 21:46:31

Grand Revard Nordic Ski Area

The Savoie Grand Revard cross country ski area claims over 150 km on a high, wooded plateau at the heart of the Bauges mountain range.
2015-04-09 17:15:58

Mont Rachais from Crolles

A return to Mont Rachais which I'd last ridden on my old Raleigh mtb. Rather than taking the road I traversed across the banks of the Gresivaudan valley along the trails and singles.
2015-04-09 00:18:03

Tour of Mont Rachais

ClimbMont Rachais is a classic for the Grenoblois. I’ve done Mont-Jalla -> Bastille years ago but Mont Rachais means you descend from the very summit of the mountain behind the Bastille.
2015-04-09 00:01:36

Dent de Crolles - Pravouta

I'd thought about heading to the Belledonne but cloud was developing at 7.30 and the Chartreuse was clear. There was also a strong N.
2015-04-06 15:51:07

Under the shadow of Chamechaude

There was around 2-3cm of fresh snow on the trails. They had been pisted this morning but were pretty soft in places at noon.
2015-04-04 21:40:07

Col de Porte Nordic Ski Area

The nordic ski area offers both skating and classic. The sector is known as the "snow trap" and holds snow cover from the start of winter through to early April.
2015-04-04 21:36:39

Charmant Som Nordic

The overnight rain hadn't done too much damage. The ski pistes were in good condition having been bashed overnight. The road up to Charmant-Som was hard with a lot of debris over the first km.
2015-04-01 12:17:52

Spring Chamechaude

Luc said that there was a weather window on the Chartreuse between 10 and 1pm and so it turned out (thanks to meteociel.fr).
2015-03-29 17:12:17

Crêt Luisard bis

Creve Coeur: 2.5km (09h00): A bit hard with a center rut. 6m02sRefuge: 8km - (09h30): Good climbing conditions, fast descending. 27m46s to the col! Not bad going.
2015-03-29 16:57:32

Last Comma Couloir of the season?

It had snowed a bit on Saturday night and there were reports of "ok" conditions in the Chartreuse on Sunday despite the poor weather.
2015-03-23 14:31:58

Nordic Coq

I've always thought the Col du Coq should be skiable on cross country skis. The choice was classic or skating.
2015-03-23 14:18:22

Crêt Luisard

Creve Coeur: 2.
2015-03-19 23:36:01

Corn Couloir

With limited time it was back to the Aulp de Seuil and the Comma Couloir. I was somewhat concerned about the snow conditions so didn't struggle to start early. I set out at 9.
2015-03-17 23:37:39

Midi-Deux

A quick lunch tour of the Gresivaudan. Usual ride out via the valley and banks of the Isere before climbing the Mur de la Frete and returning via the foothills of the Chartreuse.
2015-03-16 18:42:25

Sunday Skate

Skated over to the pistes of St Hilaire from the Col de Marcieu.
2015-03-15 18:37:51

Blown Shocks on the No Name

An "easy" afternoon ride to try and recover from my bad hip. The descent of the No Name needs a bit of cleaning and is a bit narrow with my wide handlebars.
2015-03-12 19:37:50

Pravouta - Dent de Crolles

I parked at le Meuniere and took the fields under the pylons towards the Col du Coq.
2015-03-12 17:42:25

Dent Dure

The snow transformed late today but as I had to be somewhere at 11.30 I couldn't wait for it.
2015-03-09 18:12:02

Clap de fin

Season close already at St Hilaire du Touvet so we came up mainly to have lunch but also to ski a few of our favourite off pistes: Le Canyon, Upper Fantom Village, Establissements, Zombie (aka fantom)
2015-03-09 14:45:48

Out of the wind

With the high winds I didn't fancy touring today so decided on a the Chemin de l'Herse which I'd seen had been bashed overnight (it was covered in fresh snow yesterday).
2015-03-05 17:04:36

Nice and Easy Aulp du Seuil

Nice and easy because I have a slight cold and sore throat so had to climb at a reasonable rate without forcing too much, especially as I was breaking trail.
2015-03-04 18:06:17

Round and round the garden

Choice was between ski touring, skating or staying in bed... or doing some work. The avalanche bulletin wasn't encouraging for ski touring.
2015-03-03 19:33:21

Giclas Express

I had a limited amount of time so started higher up than yesterday at les Meunieres. I took the fields finding a gap at the top of the first field, it is quite a good plan.
2015-02-25 23:54:08

Combe de Giglas

Follow the Giclas route as far as the Roc d'Arguille http://pistehors.com/combe-de-giclard.14562522013.htm.
2015-02-25 19:42:12

Blizzard

I wanted to see if I could climb directly from the salt depot at the Pont de la Gorgette but the path disappears into the woods and it is not clear where it goes.
2015-02-24 18:08:42

Days gone by

Long gone are the days when you could make first tracks on a Sunday after snow on the Virgule.
2015-02-22 23:37:09

Belles Ombres

Another wonderful day in the Chartreuse. We climbed by to the Belles Ombres by the eponymous col. Descent by the couloir which was a bit ravaged with "steps".
2015-02-21 13:00:27

East Couloir of the Belles Ombres

I'd skied this couloir with Luc in 2009 after a detailed reccy in 2006 both in the winter and summer. Unfortunately it was skied a few days prior to our visit.
2015-02-21 00:33:14

Rochers de Belles Ombres, East Couloir

If snow cover permits park on D282 main road 500 meters after village on parking on right (pt 941).
2015-02-21 00:14:46

Zombieland

Off piste session in St Hilaire. We did an upper and mid fantom village with a detour via some of the hospital complex where there was quite a bit of fresh snow on a humid tracked base.
2015-02-18 23:50:20

Le Canyon St Hilaire

Off piste session in St Hilaire. The viz was very poor due to low cloud so we were pleased to have the Canyon to ski in. We did 3 runs. Powder on hard snow.
2015-02-18 23:48:03

Pistes and Off-Pistes at Arzelier

Today tot and I decided to revisit the Col de l'Arzelier. Tot had some of his early ski experiences in this small and somewhat remote ski area.
2015-02-16 23:47:18

Col de Arzelier

The col de l'Arzelier is a small ski station on the east barrier of the Vercors mountain range. The are 3 drag lifts and chair offering 350 meters of vertical.
2015-02-16 23:38:22

Pas du Pin in search of powder

Anny said she'd found good powder on the NW bowl of the Orionde.
2015-02-14 17:25:53

Pas du Pin, East Couloir Traverse

From the Car park at Prabert follow the road then forest trail to the East to the habert d'Aiguebelle (refuge) at 1740 meters.
2015-02-13 16:20:43

Rochers de Chalves spring tour

I've meant to visit Mont St Martin in the winter for a long time. The climb is known to road bikers as "le petit alpe d'Huez" due to the number of zig-zags.
2015-02-11 19:38:27

Rochers de Chalves: Pas de âne - Fournet loop

From the corner at 780 meters at the top of the village follow the Lanfray river to 921 meters (les Combes).
2015-02-11 19:16:51

Skating in the Vercors

Started at the Barnets car park, maybe not the best bet as it is a stiff 2km climb on an unpisted track. The ski area is really great. Two nice loops. A blue to warm up on and a red to finish.
2015-02-11 18:52:51

Lans en Vercors Allières Nordic Area

Located at altitude 4.5 km from Lans en Vercors itself on the Allières in a "hidden valley" there are three circuits, a red, a blue and a green.
2015-02-11 18:46:22

Bec Charvet from St Pancrasse

The avalanche bulletin is stuck on 3 at the moment with dire warnings about strong North winds and consequential skier triggered slabs even at "low altitudes" in forest clearings or as you c
2015-02-08 15:57:15

Cret du Poulet in the clouds

Had work to do this morning so rather than tour decided to skate to the Cret de Luisard (I ski tour to the same summit) via the Cret du Poulet.
2015-02-07 22:14:03

Barioz nordic ski area

50 km of pistes cross country runs for classic and skating. 2.5km of greens, 14km of blues, 23 km of reds and 7.5 km black with two practise areas.
2015-02-07 22:06:38