Hike -Noiremont Circuit 17 Sept 2026

The last time that GinClub hiked the Noirement was on 21 Nov 2021. Rob wrote that Blog as he led the hike. But after a slip he also tried out the local helicopter rescue service Rega, which, as this was so effective, we all promptly joined up to.

This outing was likely to prove less problematic as the weather had been dry for ages, and the forecast was for sun with slight cloud later.

Six of us signed up and, after a detour via Arzier as the St Cergue main road was closed, we assembled at the (free) parking now available near La Cure (at 1190m) at the sad old site of Chez Mamac, still a derelict fire ruin. (See photo and postscript (below) of a ChatGPT summary of what happened).

Attending :-

Nathan, Andrew, Mark2ts, Mervyn, PeterSt and me with Kobie.

There were many apologies and some notifications of absence (the latter being without apologies..).

We set off in good cheer, already cutting 600m and 30m of denivellation from our hike.

We followed the Sentier 125 path taking the straight-on route to the farm at Les Coppettes. Our intention was to make an anticlockwise circuit of the Noirement as recommended by Nathan as a pleasant alternative to the more normal clockwise. In an hour or so we were up at L’Arzière farmstead (1445m) after a very pleasant stroll up the wide grassy valley.

There were many herds of cows about, with electric fences, and some very clean looking pigs. As we got to the end of the fence in the field in the picture above we realised that we were on the wrong side of it, i.e. of two electric fences and a wall.

The solution was to be found in the forest at the end and by some jiggery pokery we were soon back on track. This trail leads for another 2 km through a pleasant valley to a left turn before the Crêt des Danses leading down round the north side of the Creux de Croue.

At point 1370m below the ridge leading up to the Noirement, at 12.46pm, a non-vote decision was taken to delay lunch until we were up on top, 45 minutes away per the sign. This I believe was the ridge upon which Rob came a cropper descending in 2021. Today it was dry and fairly steady 180m climb up to the top at 1547m where we took lunch. This top is not the actual Noirement top which is another 1km south, but it has splendid views all around including down to Lac des Rousses, and we were all hungry. We were pleased not to have stopped earlier, to have had to climb the ridge after lunch would have been unpleasant.

During our lunch we heard a dog barking. It came closer and soon we saw a large white Swiss guard dog who had come over to warn us away. He judged us (including Kobie) to be mostly harmless, as he soon went back to his flock, abiding the slopes nearby. Mark’s coffee went down well with Mervyn’s milk. After lunch we passed right by the flock and Kobie went over to pay his respects to the guard dog, who remained on friendly terms with Kobie and us.

The way home took in the Noirement top (1567m) itself, which Andrew and I missed via a slight detour to the right. It was on that path that my right foot slipped forward and I went down with my left foot underneath me and a shooting ligament pain came from my left knee. This has happened twice before in recent years, and it does not help that my knees are also wearing out on the inside. I hobbled on (and still do), taking on a painkiller.

There remained a very pleasant (if you ignore knee pain) descent back down through the forest still on Rte 125 turning back along the grass path to Mamac in the hazy sun.

A fine hike in fine conditions with a fine lunch and a fine group of Gintlemen. Kobie behaved well, apart from at lunch perhaps, and we departed for home with memories of a super day out.

13.5km and 659m denivellation.

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What happened at Mamac

• The fire occurred during the night of Monday 27–Tuesday 28 January 2025.
• The restaurant was deliberately set on fire by its owner/operator, who was alone in the adjoining family accommodation at the time.
• He subsequently left the scene and went towards his other establishment, Le Vermeilley, where police later found and arrested him.
• He admitted to the police that he had started the fire. The restaurant was severely damaged and effectively destroyed. 
• According to his lawyer, there was apparently no financial problem: Chez Mamac had been doing good business.
• His lawyer described what happened as a “coup de folie” during a period of profound distress, saying that the restaurateur had been under considerable stress and fatigue and had recently lost both his home and his place of work.
• He reportedly expressed considerable remorse and said he cared deeply about the restaurant. 
• He had no previous criminal record, according to his lawyer, and was released after questioning. He was subsequently hospitalised, while Le Vermeilley reopened shortly afterwards.
• The family subsequently announced the permanent closure of Chez Mamac. 

The restaurant is indeed now listed as permanently closed, and the tourism office also records Chez Mamac at La Cure as closed.