Leader Mark Watts had proposed a challenging day – ascent by the Orbojet Cave, lunch at the Auberge des Montagnards at La Croisette, traverse of the Salève summit, descent by the Grand Gorge and return to Le Coin.
Refreshingly perfect weather saw 10 (Mark W and Mark W, Mervyn, Steve, David, Rob, Philip, Richard Wiley, Drew, and Peter T) of us assemble at 10am at Le Coin, minus Arthur, honorary member, who had apparently had to isolate after some of his family (or their contacts) tested positive for Covid. Next time Arthur.
We rose steadily up the switchback path, mildly damp in places from previous days, but with not yet many fallen leaves. Steve and I went ahead to research Le Coratterie, while the main team explored the Orbojet cave at leisure.
Spectacular views of the Alps and the valley of Geneva at the top were revitalising with not a cloud in sight and hardly a breath of wind. More revitalising were the beers and convivial lunch, beef, frites, quiches and tart myrtille. In view of the impending difficult and somewhat arduous descent of the Grand Gorge to come, perhaps as a nod to safety, little Scottish fluid was evident, albeit it could be found.
Setting off from the Auberge, although some missed recognising them, the main group encountered Pamela Harris and Alan Norton. Well met, Pam signed a couple of our guide books. On the summit plateau sleepy cows framed the Alps while large white sheepdogs jealously guarded a large flock of sheep and goats.
So to the bombe surprise, the Grand Gorge proved indeed a long, tiresome, steep and somewhat tricky descent, with endless slippy switchbacks. Eventually however remnant stragglers meandered safely back to Le Coin under swooping parapenters in glorious sunshine. Philip even got a ride in a Porsche. Between 700m and 800m deniv, and 14.5 to 17 km according to variants. A great day out which required hot bath followed by Scottish fluid or similar to effect a start to recovery. Merci Mark!
