We were in the middle of the heatwave so we decided on a relatively short hike in the Jura with not too much denivelation. The idea was to hike from chalet de la Dôle, up to la Dôle, down to Col de Porte then on to la Barillette and down to the restaurant for lunch. After lunch less than 3 kn back to the cars.
Despite the short notice, seven plus a dog turned up at the Divonne parking where we grouped into 2 cars for the drive up the Jura, 4 in Richard’s car, 3 plus Kobie in Peter’s.
We were Stephen, Bill, Richard S, Mervyn, Nathan, Mark 2Ts, Peter T and Kobie,
Almost as soon as we’d set off Peter managed to fall over a small dip in the road and badly scraped his knee. He refused to repeat the exercise for the camera so we have no photographic evidence, other than excessive bandages on his leg. (Except the selfie – see below – a shocked PHT added later).
After that we set off for the Chalet de la Dôle and then the usual circuitous route up to the Dôle summit. Someone claimed to see some chamois but they were very far away and not easy to distinguish.
We reached la Dôle after about 1 hour and found a quiet spot just beyond the radomes for the obligatory hydration pause, essential liquid being provided by Stephen and Peter (red and white).
Suitably hydrated we took 2 different routes down to the Col de Porte: Stephen, Mervyn and Nathan took the right hand path above the precipice while the rest of us took the safer path below the ski lift. Bill managed to combine the two as he found a right turn that joined up with the scary path.
After the Col de Porte we were all together until two renegades decided to check out the Chalet des Apprentices, no names but one had the longest surname, the other the shortest. It was closed.
After la Barillette we walked down the road to the restaurant, arriving by pure chance at 13:00, the same time as the reservation. Beers were rapidly ordered then most had sausage of one colour or another, no fondus. Richard produced the famous bottle, now containing an evil looking brew of egg cognac? Most of us had it instead of cream on our tarts aux myrtilles which made it quite acceptable.
Lunch finished, it was time to tramp back up the road to la Barillette then across the fields back to the cars and home for a siesta.
Total trip about 9 km with 470 m of devivelation.
Great Mark. I will add some photos including some of the leg division… it was just a scrape. I will admit to being a bit shocked to find myself à terre all of a sudden.
Great Mark. I will add some photos including some of the leg division… it was just a scrape. I will admit to being a bit shocked to find myself à terre all of a sudden.