"I had long entertained the idea of climbing the Colomby du Gex in winter with skis and then ski ing back down the south face on perfect corn spring snow. At last, the opportunity presented itself and I set out solo from Gex La Noyelle, walking in ski touring boots up to the snow level and then slapping skins on my skis and ski touring up the Chemin Neuve to the col de Branveau and then up the steep Pas de l'Echine and on to the top. It's one of the straightest and most aesthetic lines to the Colomby de Gex and it involves a climb of nearly a thousand metres. It took me about two and half hours to the top where it was a little windy and hazy. There were some other ski tourers and some snow shoe hikers up there as well. We took our photos, ate our lunches and then set off our separate ways. I had a sweet, short and steep spring snow ski descent and then a long slog along the route forestière back to Gex. All in all, another great day in the Jura." — chrispatient • Feb 28, 2012