Vertical Climbed: 790 meters (2,592 feet)
Avalanche Risk: 2
Snowline: 1,090
Grand Rocher is a traditional season kickoff. Not too far to go in doubtful conditions. Not too high when there has been a lot of new snow. Talking of snow no signs of any instability in the snowpack - but until you get to the Chalet de Pierre Roubet there is no base either. At the col du Barioz there was around 30cm of fresh snow and it was snowing heavily but the cloud was trapped in the valleys so as you climbed the amount of fresh dropped a bit before being added to by an existing base.
The skiing was typical autumn stuff. A very variable base where there was one, heavy powder, making for unspectacular skiing in general. Below 1300m you had to stay on very open tracks or fields, then the snow was too heavy to really make the descent a pleasure. The best skiing, if you don't want to go high, is to use ski runs above 1400m, these will at least have an even base.
Above 2300m in the Belledonne there is now nearly a meter of snow. With the 3 days over the weekend of very warm temperatures (zero isotherm around 2500/3000m) the southern slopes are reasonable well stabilized having had a good freeze/thaw cycle. The recent snow was accompanied by some wind but the situation looks reasonably stable.
Route Taken: From the col du Barioz
Weather: Low cloud with snow at the col, weak sun above 1300 meters.
Access: Snow on the road from les Vincents. The start of the road to the Cross country ski area had been cleared.
Country: France Area: Belledonne Trailhead: Barioz
