Author: Michael Hempstead

12 good men and true assembled at the Col du Marchairuz for our GIN hike. 2 hounds also assembled who were good in parts but not in the least true!. We had some extremely welcome participants who had not been available recently in the form of Rudy P,  Rob Pashley (again with non matching boots), Thatcher and Peter Drew. Stalwarts include Peter Taylor, Nathan F, Ross Linsley, Mervyn P, Peter Strebel, David Colledge, and Richard Saynor and myself. The canine section was as usual Kobie and Rocco. The weather was somewhat overcast and on the cool side but Peter T’s forecast ice age failed to materialise. No rain fell. 

The assembled company set off more or less on time, descending behind the hotel towards the Valley de Joux before heading off to the southwest.

There were a number of ‘competing’ groups on the trail who were quickly overtaken and we soon reached the turning point where we crossed the ridgeline on to the lake side of the Jura.

We then had a gently declining stroll back towards the Col, appropriate for the gently declining GIN members, before beginning the ascent back up to the hotel. The last part of the walk was a fairly steep ascent which split the group for a while before we reunited at the Hotel for lunch. Three had to depart early but 9 of us assembled for lunch in the very convivial Hotel du Marchairuz.

Beers were had before the Wine Committee (Peter Drew and Thatcher) chose a highly quaffable red. The croute au fromage soufflé came highly recommended and the entrecôte was also approved of, not least by Kobie. Pig’s ears were found most acceptable by both Rocco and Kobie.

We tried to avoid talking about Donald Trump and mostly succeeded. Lunch can fairly be described as convivial.

Distance walked was approx 11 kilometres and vertical height gained was 350 metres.

Rob and I did discuss a plan for later in the summer which involve starting at St Cergue and walking to the Hotel du Marchairuz and staying overnight before walking down to the Vallee de Joux and taking a train back via Vallorbe. Early stages but we are thinking of perhaps July. We will do our research and come back with a firmed up proposal.  

The sign up for the hike on the 4^th of July got off to a very slow start. Mark and I were beginning to think we were becoming the Millwall FC of the GIN group (Millwall is an English football club whose supporters are wont to chant ‘No one likes us but we don’t care’). Fortunately, the pace picked up and we were eight in principle but seven with a late withdrawal by Philip Jenkins. Hope you are feeling better Philip.

Getting to the Col du Marchairuz was not helped by a major redesign of the road network in Begnins which necessitated a fairly lengthy diversion. Worth bearing in mind if you are headed that way. Probably it will be one of those rush jobs beloved by the Swiss so like Versoix and Bellevue the road will probably only be blocked for a couple of years!

So Mark W, Nathan, Paul, Peter D, Rob, Ross and myself set off with Mike M and Nessie joining us for lunch. Rocco, my spaniel was planning to join but heard stories of fierce cows from Kobie and decided discretion was the better part of valour.

It was a brisk 15 degrees when we set off and, despite MeteoSuisses predictions, more than just overcast but actually raining. Fortunately the rain stayed light and eventually gave up altogether. We set off from the corner of the Hotel’s terrace, descending for a while before following the ridge south west. The vegetation was much remarked upon – dense was deemed insufficiently poetic, lush was considered but exuberant was settled on. The rain followed by warmth of the last few weeks has produced a huge amount of growth. The presence of snails and slugs was also notable and there was some discussion of snail farming. Photos exist of a bit of three way snail action taking place in the middle of the footpath but since this is a family blog with sensitive readers such as Peter T, I don’t propose to add them.

Given the plethora of elections taking place there was some discussion of politics. Rob professed optimism for the SNP’s prospects – plus ca change – while Mike H discovered that some deluded soul was standing in Putney for the ‘Rejoin the EU Party’ so voted for that. 288 people joined me in that and we came last! Rob’s favoured party did a little better (but not much!)

The route loops around south and then comes back north east towards the Hotel, in slightly better weather but not sufficiently better for us to consider eating outside. The interior dining room was packed and a good, mostly röesti lunch was had with appropriate liquid refreshment. This was followed by an historic apricot tart – worth the trip – was the general verdict. It was also agreed that a hike ending at a restaurant was a good plan with stiffened ancient legs having only the car park to traverse.

Much enjoyed by all participants and particularly by me since, for one reason or another, I haven’t managed to get to many walks this year.

All the best

Mike

P.S. When dropping Ross off in Coppet I spent 10 minutes in the Pas de Ian Fleming exhibition in the Mairie. There is not a huge amount there but it is interesting to learn of Fleming’s life in 1930’s Geneva, the use of Coppet as a location in the book Goldfinger and see contemporary photos. Closes soon.