Still in the warm August heat, but not quite so hot now, this hike repeated the ascent of the Pointe de Poêle Chaud also made on hikes of 31 Aug 23, 28 May 22, and 2 Nov 2020 with 31 May 2020 (the latter both Swiss section only).
Seven of us appeared at the five star car park at La Givrine on a fine morning, variously Ross, Thatcher, Mervyn, Nathan, RichardW, Andrew and me, and Kobie. I had apologies from quite a number of folk, most seemed genuine. We missed you all.
My plan was to ascend via my “secret” path to the col just right of the Pointe de Fin Château, then ascend the ridge to the PdPC, down to the Col de Porte and ascend to a recent lunch spot near La Barillette.
This ascent has the advantage of having morning shade.
It was sad to me to find out that, like Kathy Kirby, the Secret Path was not secret any more. We met a couple coming down and then were overtaken by a sizeable organized and fit-looking hiking group going up. The forest was cool, dank and green.
However we re-overtook that team when they stopped for a rest, and on breaching the col we found another 15 rucksacks stashed under a tree. A second team were clearly out taking in the views on the PdFC. We did not let this unexpected traffic dampen our spirits as we ascended in clear air the ridge to the PdPC, where the sun was warming things up.
We were soon at our goal.
It was apèro time and Mervyn opened a bottle of chasselas, luxury.. and we took in the views and solved the world’s problems.
Onwards downwards to the Col de Porte where we eschewed the choice of summiting La Dôle again and instead headed down left past the Chalet des Apprentis.
Down at the dip we could see on the left the hardy and brave Bent Tree still showing some greenery.
A quick scramble up to the picnic spot that we found on 18 July when we had hiked up from the Barraque a Kuffer, with a fine view to the Dôle ridge and showing stick people in silhouette.
Lunch was most pleasant – as we had the choice of sun or shade, and Richard opened his screw-top bottle of rouge. More world problems were solved and Andrew did some paperwork. Others slept. Kobie filched some quiche.
After an hour or so of lounging in the sun and shade we packed up and headed up over to the Tower of Power (apparanetly a rock group Ross knows about).
We passed by the Barillette Restaurant without stopping for beer (again!) and descended towards the tricky section past Couvaloup de St Cergue and eventually back to the restoration at La Givrine.
We were sipping beers and coffee in time to witness a large crash on the tv in the Tour de France Femmes Zwift.
A very pleasant hike, 13.5km and 564m deniv (Nathan may have a different summary). Thanks for the fun and tolerating my hound, who had a great day out too.
PS That night the heavens opened in Coppet, 34 mm of rain in as many minutes.
