The vagaries of weather are making the challenges of snowshoe outings more and more difficult. The rain on Wednesday and Thursday, which confirmed the forecast and the rightness of changing our planned Thursday date to Friday, washed away much of the snow but then snow on the Thursday gave some hope for a good outing on Friday.
The participants were sent an email outlining three plans, summarised as:
Plan A – Ski lift from Crozet and hike/snowshoe to La Loge for lunch and return.
Plan B – Ski lift from Lelex and hike/snowshoe the long way to La Loge for lunch and direct return.
Plan C – If the ski lifts are not operational, a hike Divonne way with a lunch or call the whole thing off.
In the event, the decision was taken for us as the lifts started an hour late which precluded Plan A so Plan B it was. But waiting for clarification, gave Mike H time to reflect on what he should be doing at home which left five of us Peters T (plus Kobie) and S, Richard S, Nathan and Mark2R to drive to Lelex, with particular care from the Col de la Faucille down to Mijoux as it had snowed overnight.
We all bundled into the bubble lift. The temperature at the top was minus 9°C which must have been another five degrees colder with the high wind, so we shoed up and headed straight for the trail out of the wind through the woods. The trail was well marked but we were the first that day so Richard up front was breaking the fresh snow. But with this fresh snow and blue sky, we were in heaven as the photos show better than any written description.
Franck and Katy were there to welcome us at la Loge where we had their usual fare of croute de fromage, tarte aux myrtilles and suitable liquid refreshment, with which we drank to absent friends.
And so back to the ski lift and home – thank you the drivers.
So, what started as a doubtful outing was an incredible one. A return to la Loge will be planned later in the season, weather permitting.
Participants: Richard S, Peter T and Kobie, Peter S, Nathan and Mark2R.
Distance 3.5km, height difference 100m. (Est.)
Stunning conditions sheltered from the high wind we could see from scudding clouds up on the ridge. Great outing, lunch and company, and Kobie enjoyed it too – there were no issues with meeting Laos, and he stole nobody’s lunch – as far as I can recall.