This review looks at the southern part of the Espace Diamant ski area in the French Northern Alps. On the day of our visit the northern sector had shut for the season despite good snow cover.

After Chapp's report on skitour (Virgule) I had no intention of going to Pas d'Oeille today but the prairie below the Dent de Crolleswas tempting. 15cm of fresh snow on a hard base.

A last minute outing this morning after dropping the boy at school at 9am. Le Jasse and Jas were skied yesterday so maybe something in between? Not much snow below 1400 meters.

Without having a good idea of where I was going, I should have grabbed a piste map, I set out across the plane before climbing to Geve then beyond.

Autrans-Méaudre is the Isere region's premier ski area  boast 180km of prepared cross country ski runs that run through a mix of high altitude plateau and wooded hillsides culminating in a high a

Short afternoon tour around the Col de Porte main pistes

Largely on piste to take advantage of the fresh snow but we did a long descent via the Cabane du Berger trail through the phantom village.

It had rained heavily to 2000m plus the day before and some sections of piste showed the effects but generally the snow was soft and very skiable. We took a few runs through the fantom village.

The weather service announced a window from 10 to 2 pm, just before the arrival of storm Carmen. It had snowed overnight but only about 15cm.

Up at Chamrousse for skate training so lots of loops around the stadium area plus a final tour of the plateau. Cold snow was not easy to ski at the end.