With the col de Marcieu closing its nordic ski area and le Sappey in poor condition the next nearest nordic ski area is the Beldina / les 7 Laux.

Thib had warned me there was not much snow left but I had difficulty believing him as conditions had been good a few days ago.

Resort OverviewVillard des Lans is situated about 45 minutes by car from Grenoble on the Vercors plateau.

I'd not been back to Barioz for a while but had a half day off to enjoy the last of the summer in winter weather.

Tot was keen to do a morning at St Hilaire. The snow conditions are still really good and we tried to arrive in good time to ski for a couple of hours.

I'd wanted to do a return trip along the Herse early in the day (9am start) but the Herse had not been pisted from the Combe Noire junction (not enough snow depth and too hot apparently).

It seemed like late spring today. 20C in the valley and a lot of smog, some of the worst valley pollution of the season.

The snow was reasonable good so decided to climb to Emeindras at the summit, or nearly, of the ski runs. Of course the descent was icy which meant it was not too reassuring on cross country skis.

A tour of the pistes and off pistes of the old "phantom village".

A tour of the Sagnes marches which I'd not done for some time and Thibaut had never been here. Unfortunately the runs were only partially open.