Londoner, now also Swiss lives in Coppet with Jill and Kobie the Cobberdog. Ex DuPont and Conoco. Also TMcL (before then KPMG London, Manchester and Bristol). FCA and ATII. BSC Physics - Bristol 1973. Ex-President of NGO Norlha (closed down). Likes dogs, mountains, prog rock, bikes, hikes, climbs, swims, skis (x-country - down and uphill), raquetttes. But joints are getting creaky.
This was a really super day. With Maestro Mervyn on other slopes and Mark packing his bags for the USA, David led our smaller team of Thatcher, Steve and myself around the ski areas of Villars and Diablerets. The day dawned bright, sunny and cold, with a front coming in later in the day, so we started out early. For Steve it was a return to Villars ski area after a 20 year gap, odd given he is oft seen in Morgins over the valley. New snow the previous day meant for wonderful conditions. Coffee and lunch stops were welcome as we toured around the nicely empty pistes. One faller – me once – others skied in fine style. A great day out. Thanks to David – especially for hosting Thatcher and me the night before.
The Snow-Shoe GIN-racket hit the Glières Plateau on Tuesday 21 Jan. Attending were Robert Pashley, Drew Meek, Richard Saynor, Peter Taylor and Mark Warren. A cunningly devised walk aimed to reach the same denivellation of 499 m as the last outing. Immaculate conditions of snow and weather saw the team demolish some chocolate croissants supplied by Mark, then rise through frosty forest up through the Pas du Loup to stupendous views out toward the Aravis and the Alps. The snow was glorious as was the company. Lunch was taken in warm sun at the Chalet des Auges. Richard supplied the grappa. Thick snow on the broad summit ridge gave crystalline glistenings in the sun, or was it the grappa? A brilliant day out. Thanks to all for coming along. P
A solo effort but conditions were superb. After a fartage chaud my skis ran well, a perhaps excessively well as they were a bit too fast on a couple of descent corners on the Grande Grand.. I bounced OK.
The sun shone for four of us who set out on a perfect morn. Dodging autoroute mayhem we assembled in the carpark at Marchairuz after first taking coffee at the restaurant that we would return to for lunch. Richard had planned a Mollendruz hike but the snow did not play there. So we set off into deserted country on the well trodden trail of firm snow, ideal conditions with little wind. Realising Mt Tendre was a tad too far, we stopped at the top of the rise at 1567m, before the Caban de Servan. Peter served Johannisberg, sipped while surveying the stupendous panoramic view in 360 degrees and matching clarity. Lunch back on the col focussed on fondu under the surveillance of the 82 year old parrot, almost nailed on her perch and who did not seem to want to go to meet her maker. A great day. Thanks to Richard for rescheduling to get snow. Attending:- Mark Ws, Richard, Robert, Peter T. Apologies : Mark Wn, Mervyn, Bill.
Three intrepid peddlers started out from Divonne, two in shorts. We had a splendid short ride on two hills via Bonmont and Vesancy to Gex where we took the excellent plat du jour at L’Essentiel on the main Street. There remained the fast and excellent bike path back to the start. Cloudy but no rain!
Mervyn had organised a challenging 3-day circuit anticlock-wise of the Dents-du-Midi starting at 1600m at Chindonne, an Auberge above the Valais. Eight of us gathered on the Tuesday 17 Sept, in promising weather, at 8 am, five of us had spent the night at Chindonne (some slept better than others).
Mervyn had assembled a crack sauntering team. Sadly missed were our hiking leader David C, Thatcher and Mark W1, Mark W2, and Peter D. In all then we were; Mervyn Powell, Philip Jenkins, Steve Long, Frank Ekman, Robert Pashley (Treasurer and keeper of the purse), Richard Saynor, and Peter Taylor. 46 km and 2600 m denivellation were promised, but I think the deni was higher, especially for three of us who ascended the Haute Cime.
Day 1 comprised a long traverse along the N side of the DdM, ascending and descending quite a bit (Nepali Flat). The path was narrow in places, some fine bridges were passed, the Dents loomed high above us, the views were sublime and the company was clearly in fine spirit. A chamois was spotted close to the path. Spirits were not dampened (much) by the surprise that the lunch-spot eatery was closed. As we descended in hot sun before the final 500m climb to the Susanfe Hut, Frank decided (wisely) that he had done enough and retired with dignity towards Champery and home. That final climb was impressive and quite tough involving narrow ledges and chains. An exhausted crew of 7 slumped into chairs at the hut at 2100m with welcome beers and a trio of sheep-dog puppies to play with, before a fine meal of soup, spaghetti carbonara and a dessert, washed down with some decent red wine that our Treasurer (as always) assured us we had the funds for. We toasted absent friends. Pass the Pig was played and Steve scored a big zero, Jeremy and Mervyn winning the rounds, but Richard scored highest in total.
Day 2. An early start after a good breakfast gave us access to the desolate Col de Susanfe some 400m above the hut in partial sun. Here the team split with 3 electing to try the ascent of Haut Cime up 765m to 3257m. The saner 4/7ths descended to the hut planned for that night, the Auberge de Salanfe at 1900m where they tucked into a large lunch (despite having packed lunches from the previous Cabane) and telephoto’d the HC team on the summit. The HC team had struggled up the steep, loose and seemingly precarious trail to the top for spectacular views and the spotting of a bird unkown to Philip. The descent was not as bad as we expected it to be and we met a biker hiking to the top with his machine. Meanwhile the Auberge team spent the afternoon at the arsenic mines, wondering what use the arsenic was mined for. They also played trains and speleo’d the mine a bit. After beer and hot showers we sat down a feast of pork and pasta, washed down with some excellent wine our Treasurer payed for. Pass the Pig was won by Grand-Hog Rob, winning both rounds, the second in one turn.
Day 3. Morning before dawn, the fog was dark and dank and we set off up to the Col de Jorat 400m above. We caught glimpses of fabulous views through the spilling fog, out across the cloud blanket of the Valais, and up to the sunlit soaring towers of the Dents. An endless switchback path 1100m down to Mex challenged our limbs, but the coffee and tart we took there compensated somewhat. Oddly we were ahead of schedule, this had not been a day of pure sauntering. Too early for lunch we set off on a 3 hour and 600 m hike up back to Chindonne. Peter forsook the short-cut (for a change) but one member took it. Congratulatory beers were taken before a fine lunch provided by Edward the friendly American owner of the Chindonne Auberge. Thanks to Mervyn for organising impeccably, to Rob for keeping our finances regular and to all for their fun and good company.
29 Aug 19. Richard Saynor led a fine hike up almost 1000 m in fine weather from la Chèvrerie. Our team with Richard comprised Mervyn, Philip, Frank and PeterT. Lunch on the summit of the Pt de la Chalune (2116m) gave us a fantastic view across atmospheric mountains. A circuit of the peak concluded we enjoyed a welcome beer at the hostelry. Magical day. Thanks Richard.
Summit photo. Peter, Philip, Richard, Mervyn, Frank (in front)
15 Aug 2019. A team of six started out on the 720m ascent from Noiraigue to the Creux du Van (in the Jura above Lac Neuchatel) on a day promising mixed weather. In the event a pleasant hike, masterminded by our intrepid leader Peter Drew, up took us to a superb overlook and the start of the Creux itself and where we were joined by the general populace who had walked over from the upper car parks. A quick shower (which brought out some interesting gear) refreshed us and we were soon back down into the dryer forest and a very convivial and warm lunch at Ferme Robert, where all but one of us had saucisse rôti and röesti but where all was washed down with the usual fine beers. A very pleasant visit to this Swiss treasure.
Peter, Frank, Mervyn, Mark and Thatcher yearning to be off..
The regular crew sent in their excuses but Philip and I enjoyed a very pleasant ride in warm weather ahead of the storm. Inevitably a Bonmont then via Vesancy to our favorite Belle View Hotel café in Gex. The set menu seems to be pork and tagliatelle on Tuesdays and I can report that it went down well with beer. The route back was downhill, down-storm and down the old rail-track on the great new bike path back to Divonne, starting (not surprisingly) from Gex’s
old station.
Philip and I found we had quite a bit in common mountain-wise, including climbing on Dorset’s dangerous cliffs, Avon, Cornwall, Mt Blanc, Reunion, Stromboli, Etna and many others. Philip is also a devotee of Indonesia and has led many hikes in the pre-Alps with the French Alpine Club.
Great ride before (or in ?) the canicule up past Genolier, Bassins and Le Vaud before swooping down into Gilly and Peter Drews favourite terrace. Porc and spaghetti was excellent, as was the beer, and the company. A day among many to remember. Peter T, Peter D, Steve and Mark.
