We had hiked last week but as I had planned to be absent on 13 Nov, I chose to organise an impromptu (tonic) hike up the two peaks north of La Dôle.
A large number of excuses and apologies with varying levels of credibility were proferred, all were accepted – I’m a generous soul (I think). Six of us turned out, eventually at the starting point.
This is not a place for a dispute as to the location of the start of this hike. I will simply relate the following.
My Flyer stated :-
“Meet just after 10 at the parking above St Cergue at Couvaloup de St Cergue (W3W ///piglets.decency.duke), for an ascent of the Pointe de Fin Chateau and the Poêle Chaud.
Ross has done this with me earlier this year but I believe no one else has ever been up the path which goes directly up to the P de Fin Chateau. It’s not much above 400m of up but as it is steep I would rate it as moderate-hard.”
In the event one of our vehicles struggled a little to find the parking – and first tried the “Couvaloup de Crans” – a totally different place. We were indeed starting at W3w ///piglets.decency.duke (Michael found that piglet.decency.duke is in a Moscow suburb).
The parking is actually at 1151m at the “Refuge de la Barillette” the large black building in the photo above. I would own that there is a board at the parking which indicates that one is at L’Archette, but that does not tie with the maps, L’Archette is up the hill.
We finally got sorted though. Michael Mathews came on his e-bike, and by car came Nathan, Mervyn, Peter Strebel, new initiate Chris Newton, and me and Kobie.
We were swiftly underway, the vibe was good, the weather set fair with a bit of high cloud and intermittent sun expected later, temperature reasonable, little wind. The team were guided onto path Code-Red. Large splodges of red paint signalled the narrow path upward through pine and deciduous forest at a persistently steepening angle. We stopped a couple of times for short breathers but the trail relentlessly led upwards until finally one emerges into the open pretty much at the top of the Pointe de Fin-Château, 1556m. We had made the 400m in not much over an hour.
Once we all had recovered our breaths and rested it was time to leave, wandering down then on up the grassy ridge in still air to the Pointe de Poêle Chaud 1629m.
We enjoyed a very pleasant 45 minutes or so, sheltered from the slight breeze below a summit mound. Côtes du Rhone oiled the sluices and I did not have a choking incident. We drank to absent friends, one very far away, one with health issues. I was pleased that newly-retired Chris fitted in so well with our hike culture of reasonable effort and Last of the Summer Wine. I was also pleased that Kobie did not succeed in nicking anyone’s lunch. It seemed a very convivial affair, as are nearly all of our mountain picnic lunches.
It was all too soon time to pack up and return to the parcours. A unanimous decision was taken not to hike up La Dôle, we have all been there many times this year.
Descending to the Col de Porte (1557m) we headed down the trail towards the Chalet des Apprentis. All of a sudden a large herd of chamois appeared ahead up the slope to our left. Kobie decided to make their acquaintance and he scootered off up the hill in pursuit. The herd tracked back across our PdPC skyline and they dislodged a large rock which came tumbling down above me. Happily I could judge that it would miss me by a few metres and I watched it bash noisily into an old tree stump. We watched fascinated as the bulk of the herd traversed the Col de Porte and danced swiftly across the steep ledges underneath La Dôle seeking escape from their lumbering golden pursuer. Kobie soon could be seen returning down the path we were on, sensible lad. He needed a lot of water to quench his chase.
The Leader had decided that the more interesting return leg would be over La Barillette (1528m), albeit one of our party decided on the more direct route to return to the cars – perhaps for a sleep (etc). We were soon there having taken the skirting path to the right avoiding the steep ascent from the Bent Tree.
From the tower the route tracks down the road to the Barillette restaurant (closed – much to the chagrin of an old couple who had just driven there- they said that the internet indicated that it was open…).
We were soon back at the cars, rejoining the member who had taken the easier descent option for a snooze. We were back before 3pm and siestas were the order of the day at home.
I really enjoy this parcours and it was made infinitley better by fine company and really nice November weather. The views were stunning and the whole day will linger in the memory into the dark depths of winter. I think Chris enjoyed himself too, new and younger life for our club.
I had recorded 9.1km and 559m – my watch/iPhone Session said – “Moderate”, albeit I had had 31 minutes above Zone 1 heart rate (112bbm).
Thanks to you all for the company and for putting up with me and my hound. Kobie slept well that night, no doubt with vivid dreams of chasing chamois to no avail.
