I parked the car around at Les Hôpitaux-Vieux and nearly stayed in it. It had been cold at home but there seemed the chance of some sun, by the time I’d crossed the border into France and got to Les Hôpitaux-Vieux that chance of sun had vanished and it was snowing heavily and very cold. My first thought was to do a short 3 or 4 km circuit two or three times and take advantage of the hot flask and sandwiches in the car. But, once you’re moving it’s not so bad and I headed for Les Hôpitaux-Neufs instead picking up a section of the GTJ (Grande Traversée du Jura) I’d not skied before.

On the loipe it was perfectly quiet and I saw half a dozen people while I was out, by the time I’d got to Métabief it looked busy, it’s a small downhill station but it’s holiday time and it was pretty busy, some good conditions bringing out the crowds. That’s where the two photo’s above were taken, where I’d parked I was one of two cars in a large empty car park, nordic is just perfect at busy times without the crowds at the alpine centres.

Tags: Cross Country Skiing | Grande Traversée du Jura | GTJ | Jura | Les Hôpitaux-Neufs | Les Hôpitaux-Vieux | Métabief | Nordic Skiing | XC skiing