xc x2

We woke early this morning with plans to run a snow-trail race on the other side of the Jura. The snow continued to accumulate over night and through the morning, and we were on our way, until the tire chain broke. It was probably a bad idea to attempt the drive anyway, but fixing the broken chain made us too late to arrive at the start in time even if the roads were not hidden under a deep new snow. Eventually we made it back home, after barely reaching our town border. Since we were already dressed for the weather, we grabbed our skis and went for a long morning xc though the vineyards and woods as the snow continued to pile. 

We returned home in the mid-afternoon, ate a late lunch, rested, and changed to dry clothes before we went for a second round finishing in the moonlight. 

jura skiing in the trees

The snow continued overnight, the biggest fall of the season so far. We waited and waited, and now there is almost too much. The sudden snow depth has raised the avalanche risk, and the coming days will be dangerous in the mountains until it settles, so we continue to be patient and weigh our options. With the chains on the wheels, we were able to drive to the Jura. We broke trail up to the high cow pastures, gradual at first, but then zig-zagging steeper. We had a great climb in the Jura, making tracks in the untouched snow, and weaving our way back down through the trees.