Search Results

Filter

The Long Climb

I decided to start early 7h20 but could easily have started an hour earlier with the temperatures.
2022-05-22 09:52:06

Col du Granier from St Baldof; Chartreuse, France

I'd never done the climb to the Granier via la Petite Montagne before and neither had Mike who lives near the foot of the climb.
2022-05-19 10:42:20

Digue de la Taillat; Gresivaudan, France

Second test on cross skis. This is an extension of the cycle path towards Grenoble but unsurfaced. It is not too bad to start with but the gravel gets a bit rough on the south side of the lake.
2022-05-18 11:29:18

Col de Coq up and down

Legs felt really tired but got better going up the hill. I thought about stopping at le Baure and should have listened to myself.
2022-05-15 11:34:59

Like old times - only slower!

Felt ok climbing but 58 minutes compared to my PR of 49 ! Losing time all along the climb, a bit disappointing really but I guess I'm not prepared to bury myself as before for a PR.
2022-05-12 14:23:04

Reassuringly slow

I don't know why I was so slow today. 29 minutes each way. Out of practice and tired arms I guess. First rollerski of the year anyway.
2022-05-11 11:35:48

Narbonne - Clemenciere, again

Back to the Narbonne to do the climb from the bottom this time. It is really steep for the first km or two which doesn't seem to show up in the stats. The ramps are really over 10%.
2022-05-10 11:42:24

Lower Manival

Little tour with tot. I didn't feel like too much climbing today so we just did the Manival trail to the cross track.
2022-05-08 14:01:48

Inline skate along the Isere

Back on my inline skates for balance, felt better than last year but can still feel every spec of gravel !!!
2022-05-06 11:33:41

Climb to Paradise

A little lunch ride as the weather was pleasant. The road from the Dog and Cat home to le Paradis really is steep with lots of little ramps, thankfully short but with quite a bit of traffic.
2022-05-04 11:43:13

Ayes exploration

I wanted to explore a couple of dead end backroads that I always ride by plus it was a way to break up the climb.
2022-05-01 16:33:57

Narbonne, Clémencières, Vence; Chartreuse, France

The Narbonne climb is a new one to me. Much nicer than the usual ride to the col de Clémencières. Not a car and pretty. The climb is 10% over 300 meters vertical which I managed with a VAM of 1000.
2022-04-22 11:51:22

Les Arcs; Tarentaise, France

General DescriptionThe ski resort of Les Arcs is situated in the Tarentaise valley in the Savoie department in the French Northern Alps.
2022-04-21 12:05:35

High Plains Skier

I was a bit tired after covering 90k on skis at l'Alpe d'Huez yesterday. Ok a third of that was probably on lifts but still.
2022-04-17 10:28:26

l'Alpe d'Huez

Return to l'Alpe d'Huez after 3 years due to Covid ! It has been a long time and we discovered the new Oule express lift from Allemont which is very practical.
2022-04-16 13:14:24

Grand Rocher crust skiing

Annual trip to the Grand Rocher mountain on cross country skis. The summit is reached via a series of 3 plateaux then a ridge line.
2022-04-14 09:32:45

Chamechaude afterwork

Traditional spring afterwork for when the clocks change. It was very windy, even at the col. I went all the way to the summit but could barely stand up and didn't hang around except for a quick photo.
2022-04-11 17:20:34

West side story

Possibly the last weekend for the 7 Laux in view of the number of skiers - perhaps a couple of hundred in the whole area. It was only open on the west side.
2022-04-10 10:26:41

Janvril AOC 2022

I haven't skied the Virgule couloir this year. An error but conditions have not been good with the long anti-cyclone and I've also been very busy.
2022-04-05 06:53:27

Sept snow

Last weekend of full opening but not great skiing due to the cloud. There was no where you could ski without having to descend through the insane fog except Prapoutel village.
2022-04-03 14:25:23

Etoile de Saisies 21k

Final compet. of the season. Basically a tour of the black piste (Justine Braisaz) at les Saisies.
2022-04-03 08:16:19

The Climb

I've been testing myself on this climb and thought I might be able to go under 29 minutes but it was not to be, 4 seconds of my fastest time : 29m14s.
2022-03-26 09:28:37

Chamrousse in the morning

Difficult xc skiing at the moment, it is either too hard or too soft and there is a lack of snow below 1400 meters. I'd skied Chamrousse at the start of November, nearly 5 months ago.
2022-03-25 10:18:21

Last classic ski of the season

I decided to go up to the Col de Porte as I was short of time to classic ski a bit and do some no pole exercises on the stadium area. A bit icy on the steep uphills but generally good.
2022-03-24 09:36:49

Quatre Seigneurs

5 years since I'd climbed the 4S from the west side. 4 minutes off my PR for the climb but just a minute behind my 2016 times so could do better once the weather warms up a little.
2022-03-22 13:00:04

Early Allevard

A short morning alpine ski, fairly relaxed trying some longer runs from top to bottom - 500 to 600 meters skiing as the lifts were running quickly and no-one was around.
2022-03-20 10:47:38

600 meters per hour

The forecast was cloudy for Saturday but getting up at 6.50 I saw it was clear at altitude so some hope for a refreeze, the first for some days.
2022-03-19 09:48:19

Sucky Snow

I've been really tired after the 42k marathon so didn't feel like skiing today. I saw Barioz had all the trails open and it is just half an hour's drive. Ideal during the petrol crisis.
2022-03-17 10:57:22

La Savoyarde

This was going to be my first nordic ski marathon. I'd skied the distance or more for fun but this was in competition and I'd always skied when the conditions were good. Not so much for this Sunday.
2022-03-13 12:01:07

Back to work

First ride since my accident on the Madeleine. I was pleased to be able to stand up when necessary. I'm 4kg lighter than last summer and it felt easier on the climb but only a PR on the last section.
2022-03-11 13:00:15

Dent des Crolles

20 ski descent of the Dent de Crolles. The mountain is fantastic and fascinating. Accessible, 20 minutes from the valley. Iconic due to the way it guards the southern flanc off the Chartreuse chain.
2022-03-10 15:49:39

I love the smell of glide wax in the morning

Same climb time to Charmant Som as Saturday morning: 30m05s, so just missed going under half an hour. Very fast descent. Hit 49kp/h under the chairlift and 6m09 for the whole descent.
2022-03-09 07:44:39

7 Laux Smogski

Nice morning's ski on excellent, fast snow. Not too many people but a lot of bad skiers compared to earlier in the year. Off piste is scrapled but skiable where it is sunny.
2022-03-06 11:30:38

Early birdy

I decided to have another crack at the Charmant Som climb before the club training this morning. I set out at 7:45am and was the first person on the climb.
2022-03-05 09:38:51

Last le Sappey of the season?

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.
2022-03-04 12:34:55

Pas de la coche

Trip with Mike to the Pas de la Coche and beyond! The road is blocked at 1230 m but possible to drive around the barrier to the summer car park at 1330 meters.
2022-03-03 16:09:11

Fuori dalla pista

I'd been intending to get back to the Entremonts as the black was open. Only today they closed it, maybe due to lack of snow in one spot? The rest seemed okay me.
2022-02-27 11:02:59

St Hilaire du Touvet comeback tour

We didn't think St Hilaire, our nearest ski area, would reopen after a flood swept away one of the ski runs but they repaired things and it snowed a bit so things were go but really just for this week
2022-02-25 11:25:47

Les Sybelles; Maurienne; French Alps

General DescriptionLes Sybelles in the French Maurienne links six villages: St Colomban des Villards, Les Bottières, La Toussuire, Saint-Jean-d’Arves, Saint-Sorlin-d’Arves and Le Corbier.
2022-02-24 16:06:48

Canaple

Afternoon tour with Tot to the Canaple. We were looking for something safe (it was risk 3 > 1600m) and this fits the bill.
2022-02-23 15:34:46

St Hilaire Top of the Pistes

Tot tested out his new touring skis with Fritschi touring bindings. All ok and much easier than last season's snowshoe touring. Very pleasant little ski tour. All quiet in the resort.
2022-02-20 11:18:35

La Plagne, Tarentaise, French Alps

Resort DescriptionLa Plagne is known for its enormous ski area. 225km of pistes, which seems justified. 70% of the runs are over 2000 meters altitude, so it is snow sure, for sure.
2022-02-18 16:18:18

Le Sappey Lunch Ski

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.
2022-02-15 12:23:20

Les Sanas classic skiing

After the disaster earlier in the week I decided to revisit the Col de Marcieu pistes from the St Hilaire end.
2022-02-13 15:48:56

Icy Emeindras

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.
2022-02-10 09:25:55

Dawn Raid

Like this time last year the aim was to go under 30 minutes. Not quite there. About 40 seconds quicker for the top of the climb and 2m30 quicker to the Bergeries.Segments:Montee Charmant Som (3.
2022-02-09 07:45:25

Unskiable!

I started from St Hilaire, the ski area pistes were in perfect condition (not now after a deluge on Sunday evening) but afterwards the slight descent from St Hilaire was challenging and things got wor
2022-02-06 11:03:17

Last SNC Training before the winter break

Our last club training before the 4 week winter break (for school holidays). We concentrated on Skate 2, getting weight over a flat ski and getting more glide with extension.
2022-02-05 09:52:39

Bourget en Huile Nordic Ski Area / French Northern Alps

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.
2022-02-03 15:17:16

Grand Coin Nordic Ski Area - French Northern Alps

The Grand Coin nordic ski area is located north of the col du Chaussy (1533m) in the Maurienne valley near to the Col de la Madeleine.
2022-02-03 12:55:09

Bérézina

It was time for the 44th edition of the Foulee Blanche. I'd skied it back in 2019 then Covid interrupted things; or at least politicians did.
2022-01-30 10:58:46

Col de Marcieu Jus' like ol' times

Honestly it seems like yonks since we alpine skied here. The area is not that interesting but it was quiet and close to home for an hour... then an hour and a half's skiing.
2022-01-29 15:17:16

Nocturne de Chartreuse Race

A relay race, at night, with Nicholas from work. The idea was to complete as many loops as possible in half an hour.
2022-01-26 20:49:04

Icy evening ski

Some PRs despite the less than perfect ski conditions:    PR on Grimpée de l'Herse (19:08)    PR on Côte des Playeres (12:50)    PR on Climb from St Hilair
2022-01-25 16:57:42

First ski tour of the winter

Due to my knee and ankle injury picked up riding on ice in mid November I'd not toured this season as it is quite painful when the snow is difficult.
2022-01-23 15:50:00

Allevard Afternoon ski

A quick 2 hour ski between home work for a bit of fresh air. Very very cold. -6C at the car, probably more like -10C at the summit. Not too crowded, just some company groups.
2022-01-22 15:41:05

BASI L2 Day 10

Last day of the BASI L2/L3 Course and a mix of classic and skate training. Managed a few PRs on the skate with a 3:59 /km average over the 7km bois blue loop.
2022-01-21 13:17:15

Vallorcine Nordic Ski Area

The Vallorcine cross country ski trails are located in a very picturesque, hilly and wooded site along the Eau Noire river.
2022-01-20 14:09:08

BASI L2 Day 8 Chamonix

Back for more, Nikki, Same and friends. A Day spent coaching both classic and alpine with the girls from Chamonix Adventure Running Company (http://www.theadventurerunningcompany.com).
2022-01-19 16:03:31

BASI L2 Day 7

First day of teaching evaluation for the BASI L2. In the morning we had a classic group, Nikki, Sam and friends from the Adventure Running Company and in the afternoon skate lessons.
2022-01-18 16:35:53

BASI L2 Day 6

Back in Chamonix, well Argentiere in the cross country area. Morning was spent on fast step turns. The afternoon focussing on climbing and Skate one technique with some fast descending.
2022-01-17 15:26:40