The forecast being for yet another thermometer-busting hot day down on the plain it was decided to head for the higher hills, namely the Alpes Valaisannes above Morgins (1333m) in the Portes du Soleil .
After a record number of apologies for absence (11 received), only PeterSt and I were left to join Stephen, who was already installed in his mountain retreat. The two of us departed early from Commugny and reached the Morgins parking before 09:30 after a trouble-free journey. A car pulled up alongside mine and out got PeterT, Kobie and a delightful surprise – Jill. These three had been staying up in nearby Champery for the few days prior to allow the aforementioned hound to escape the worst of the heat.
Stephen had not seen us arrive but heard the now familiar bark and tracked us down.
After a brief discussion Stephen decided upon a suitable route, which started with a CHF12 ascent by télécabine to La Foilleuse. This saved both time and a lot of sweat.
Now at 1815m, the sky was sunny and cloudless and the temperature pleasantly cooler than down below.
After an hour and a half of gentle ups and more downs, en route passing the Gite Alpage La Chaux, the scene of a memorable lunch on a previous long hike, we arrived at Chez Gaby, another very well appointed mountain restaurant on the outskirts of Champoussin, for a morning coffee. Our local mountain man had prior knowledge of one of the house specialities – namely their tarte aux myrtilles – and five portions were duly ordered. And what portions they were! Truly the most delicious examples any of us had ever encountered. The recipe was requested but not disclosed, but suffice it to say this was not your usual dry tart base topped with some blueberry jam. Kobie looked on longingly but was denied a taste. Jill’s good influence?
Suitably sugar and carbo loaded, we set off eastward, continuing on a long circuit, while P, J & K headed back northwards to the top of the télécabine for an early return home.
It was getting hotter now as we were above the tree-line but the magnificent views of the Dents du Midi in the foreground and the Vaudois and Bernese Alps in the far distance were more than compensation.
After descending a path through open fields displaying many alpine flowers in full bloom we arrived at our lunch stop, the Buvette de Savolarie, at 1pm, very thirsty and hungry enough to order the house speciality – croute au fromage. The cooking being done using feu du bois, this took a little time, but worth the wait. The toppings included egg, gherkins, onion, pear and pineapple. Any or all could be (and were) chosen. An interesting novelty was tried after lunch, namely a form of skittles, where knocking down the nine wooden skittles with a wooden(?) ball launched from three positions involves the use of curved side “walls”. The geometry required to ensure the balls’ correct trajectory proved too much for all of us after a couple of beers, although Peter did succeed in knocking down the most skittles. Must have been the croute complète. A creditable achievement but the skill developed is unlikely to be of any use anywhere else.
With the afternoon temperature rising we were relieved that the hour descent back down to Morgins was largely through the forest. We reached the car at 15:45 and declined Stephen’s generous offer of cold or hot drinks at his chalet, choosing instead to set off in time to beat the usual rush hour congestion around Lausanne. This we almost achieved and were home around 17:30.
A great day out in the magnificent mountains once again, this time covering a distance of 14km and a climb of 750m (of which, it must be admitted, half was by cablecar!)
Mervyn Powell
10/07/2026
Great blog and a great summary of a great day! Tough life as a retiree in Switzerland !