Daffodil Hike 11 April 2024

This was the start of the hiking season, following the ending of the snow shoe season at the end of March.

Mark2ts had checked out the daffodils a few days earlier (before the snow returned) and had written:-

“Gentlemen,

I will lead the hike next Thursday. It will be from la Givrine to Sonnailley via La Dôle. 

Distance 14km, height gain ~700m.

The intent is to see the daffodils at Sonnailley close to being at their best. I’ve tried this hike the last 2 years but been too late each time so we’ve been met with a host of golden dandelions. Hopefully this time will be better. I was there yesterday and they were close to being in full bloom.

I assume this is suitable for dogs. The cows are not yet up there so the fences should not yet be energised. “

This seemed a good promise but at least one member was not a believer and had written :-

“Well, there weren’t any daffodils on the last two occasions so I’m going to pass this time.

Besides. it’s still the ski season and I’ll be in Saas Fee.”

Clearly, while the fences were not energized, neither was the Hiking Group and there must have been a number of other non-believers because only four and a dog signed up. The absentees missed a fabulous outing.

It was cold and windy but sunny as we fiddled with the parking apps at La Givrine (it was over CHF10 per car for 10 am to 4 pm or so). Attending :-

Flower expert – Mark2ts with RichardS, Nathan and Kobie and me (PeterT).

There was now snow in sight as we set off – but this would change as we ascended past Couvaloup (FERMÉ) and up the trails to the upper ski slope. Added to the cold was the wind which rose as we rose. Happily I found that I had at least one glove, whereas Richard (who rarely uses them) had none.

We found ourselves at the foot of the North Face of La Dôle, but it somehow seemed a bit more serious than just that, in the biting wind. This was verging on a snow shoe outing without snow shoes.

We made steady progress up the interminable snow slope, passing a man with his 5 year old grandson, clearly being hardened for higher things. The north wind was cold and strong.

At least the wind seemed to die down a little in the lee of the ridge and the snow was fresh and powdery. Once out onto the summit by the radar dome there was a sudden appearance of grass and a warmer feel.

It was in the partial lee of the wind, by the radar dome, that a bottle of Luins appeared as well as a number of crunchy apèros. The view was spectacular. Somewhere out there a GIN skier was sliding down a mountain instead of having a snifter with us. We drank to the health of Harry who was having a surgical procedure that day.

Now that the hard part was done we were able to relax a bit and we hopped and skipped along the summit path and down the ridge towards the French border (and the location of our famous June 2020 encounter).

As we exited the forest and among the crocuses we looked over the valley to the promised daffodil fields, but from this distance we could see no bright yellow flutterings at all. Just a bit of lighter green.

It was not long however before we began to have hallucinations – were those indeed the daffodils coming into focus? As we approached the unexpected bunches increased until a full host of golden daffodils enveloped us. We had succeeded on the third attempt, to find the holy golden grail.

We reached the Yellow Hill of the promised land for lunch where we settled down among the bunches.

It was a sunny spot, the wind had died down and the sun was shining and warming us. A pleasant sandwich lunch followed, washed down with white, red and Poire Williams. We raised a glass to the health of absentees, the majority of the hiking group…

Kobie had his own food but that did not stop him attempting to acquire more. Nathan fell asleep at one point. It was a very pleasant lunch spot. As good as it gets. And then Mark brought out his strong, black, unsweetened coffee.

It was after an hour or so of sun soaking that we heaved oursleves onto our feet and set off up the very pleasant trail that led back towards La Givrine. The wooded and stony trail is very pleasant here and with the warm sun and easy slope we enjoyed a pleasant stroll back up and over to Couvaloup. It was here that we could have had a beer or coffee, but it was closed.

We hobbled back down to the vehicles, our backs warmed by the sun. We had toiled through cold wind and snow up to the sunshine, a warming afternoon and had indeed seen the holy grail of the hosts of daffodils.

Indeed about 14km and close to 700m give or take – but Richard reckoned it was 681m. Thanks Mark for a great hike and for providing proof that the yellow wonders do indeed exist around Sonnailleys.