A group of 8 and a large hairy dog had signed up for this ascent of La Dôle via La Pointe de Fin Château and La Pointe de Poêle Chaud. We did not have to wait too Long for all the party to assemble at the parking at Le Coutzet (1160m) above St Cergue, in bright sunshine and promising a warm fine day, and once together we set off after the leader (PeterT) had wished good luck to each attendee. On being questioned why, PT explained that he had not actually reccied the path up the PdFC.
There was a preponderance of shorts (5-3) worn on the legs of the optimistic punters. Attending :- David, Mark2T and Mark2R, Mike, RichardW, Rob, Stephen and PeterT and his Cobberdog Kobie (on a leash all day, gamely held by Stephen most of the way up).
It was not long before we hit the first of the snow patches, nestling in the shady side of the mountain, and soon the path began to fade and the line became a bit sketchy. The trick seemed to be to read the lie of the land and not to attempt too steep a slope. Gradually a forested ridge was ascended reaching a steep snow patch which required a delicate but forceful approach. Kobie led the way and pulled Steve up into the sunshine just below the PdFC.
A nice ridge, not too airy led to the flat top of the Pointe de Fin Château (1556m), followed by a short descent to a hollow where a herd of chamois were sunbathing.
Kobie was held in check and it was not long before we were on the Poêle Chaud (1628m) itself with its Chamois king.
A leisurely descent followed to the Col de Porte (1557m). At this point Mark2rrs mentioned that the next section of path to the left and above the precipice was the most renowned for accidents in the whole of the Jura as we watched children being led up it. As such some of the party elected to take the right hand path to the west and avoid the rubbly precipice risk.
We were soon at the Dôle (1677m) and set up a lunch circle out of the breeze in a grassy hollow. Italian reds seemed to sandwich the Luins, but it was all washed down with some stronger stuff and coffee from M2T. Absent friends missed a nice lunch, and we missed them.
All too soon it was time to be off and we heading south before turning east then north. The descent was a little steep, snowy, damp and muddy and required care and it was a little while before we passed Le Chalet de la Dôle (1439m)
The return to the cars followed the easy path over the col, another snow patch and then the road in the valley below our first two peaks of the day.
A fine second hike of 2022, in great weather and fun company. And even Kobie enjoyed himself. 12km (OK a little further than billed) and 680m. No serious injuries reported.
Next Hike in 2 weeks time (I shall have to miss it).
