15 Feb 2024
I had chosen the Marchairuz location ten days before, but had hiked a snow trail there only 2 days before. Then the conditions were really scenic, with snow filled trees and sun and blue sky. Two days later the trees had shed all their white raiment, and some snow had disappeared from the ground. But mostly there was a snow trail to follow and it seemed a suitable pre-lunch amble for our Snow Shoe members.
This was to be a 5 Km hike with 180m denivellation.
Attending were Larry, Mike H and Rocco, Nicolas (without Onyx), Richard S, Paul, Philip, Andrew, Nathan, David, Peter S and me (without Kobie). Sadly Rocco was on his ownsome. Excuses for absence were received from many, some without explanation…
Two decisions were made before we left at 10.15am from the Col. Firstly Philip decided that he wanted to meander solo along the trail N of the col, at his own pace after returning to the fold after surgery. We were a little concerned that he would be alone, but like Adam he was adamant. Secondly, as quite a number of the party had not brought snow shoes (ahem, it was a snow shoe hike!) we opted for boots only, with one or two adding grippers to their soles.
The weather was warmish and cloudy with little wind and gloves were not essential, nor thick jackets. Off we set in the clockwise loop that Kobie and I had done on Tuesday, also not with snow shoes.
It was pleasant going meandering along a snowshoe trail probably set on Monday by a guide – who knew where he was going. It was not deep but in places we went through holes up to our knees. Snow shoes were not really needed however.
After an hour or so of easy going we arrived at Fontaine Valier. Larry had a bottle with no glasses, so the cognoscenti were left to sample ouzo from the Bottle of Many Labels.
Suitably refreshed we turned up right and across the ridge to a parallel trail returning to the col.
Another hour or so of slightly harder uphill tramping brought us back to the col and the Restaurant. Philip was waiting for us – he had enjoyed a pleasant solitary stroll of 3.5km N of the Col.
We had met Larry at this venue almost exactly a year earlier. That time we were in the Stube, this time we had a linen table preapred in the main restaurant.
The food was delicious. Several chose fondu, while others went for the en-croute which was fabulous. Mike thought he had lucked out with piccata Milanese – the dish of the day. The desserts were good too – at least the mousse au chocolate was extremely rich. Beers, wines and coffees washed it all down.
We had drunk the health of absent friends, in particular Stephen. We had discussed much including US politics, poetry, the meaning of French letters etc, rugby and much more, some of which is forgotten and some must remain unwritten.
Needless to say that after such a gargantuan feast, and having done a reasonable stroll in the morning, we all chose to bail out and go home for a siesta.
Thanks to all for a great short day out, almost on snow shoes but not quite. And thanks to Larry for the wine we did not drink, and Richard for the Ouzo. And thanks to drivers too.
The hiking season cannot be far away !
