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A motley crew of 5 assembled on a sky-blue and sunny but windy morning at the carpark at La Givrine to attempt a circuit to Chez Mamac for lunch at La Cure, anticlockwise. Good snow, not very recent but deep enough for snow shoes to be needed. Attending Mark2Ws, Richard, David, Nicolas and PeterT.

Apologies were received from various characters, some of dubious merit. They missed another good one.

We set off (after a quick tot of rum in Stanley cups) on our raquettes following a trail up into the forest, turning up onto a smaller one-raquette-wide path into the ever denser woods.

It was nice going, out of the wind as sunlight filtered through the pines.

The trail meandered left and right, up and down.

We were shortly back on a ski loipe but veered off it towards the right with hills towards the Noiremont in view. No helicopters were seen. A greek fellow in orange called Adulostas? was spotted shadowing our progress so we invited him into our party.

This was fine easy going and we breasted a gentle col in fine powder with spindrift blowing across the crystal surface.

We sped downwind across and over into the valley leading to La Cure.

Other snowfolk were out enjoying the conditions as we approached Chez Mamac, where Richard had indicated the wind would be particularly strong. Happily conditions had eased and we were able to sit at a table outside in the full sun sheltered from the mild breeze.

A most convivial lunch indeed. Trifon fondû and rösti, followed by crème brûlée and tarte citron, washed down by suitable beers and wine, followed by coffee.

As I recall it, perhaps not well, we deferred any vote on Scottish independence to a later date when we could interview a main protagonist. There was some negative sentiment expressed on Boris’s chances of staying in his role. Nicolas seemed pleased when he was told he could come dogging without a dog, albeit he said he wanted to get one. Kobie would also be pleased in that case.

Our route back involved a crossing of the rail and road routes over the col, to a trail in the cold woods to the south. This was a pleasant and fairly uneventful march back to the car, enlivened by the odd antics of Richard who proceeded to prostrate himself on the snow twice within 10 metres. We wondered whether he was trying to express something to us about how much he loves the white stuff.

Richard said he never falls… and then did it again.

We arrived safely back at the cars 90 minutes after leaving the restaurant, still in the slanting rays of the January sun, albeit we could see low cloud hovering above St Cergue and threatening to spill up onto us. Lucky lads, fun outing with fine company. May there be many more. About 9km and 250m denivellation.

Mark promised 8km, 400m deniv, mixed weather but great food and a warm welcome at La Loge and we were not disappointed. Assembling at the Crozet lift at 9.45 am saw Leader Mark, Guido Richard, and punters Philip, Mervyn and me. We packed snow shoes, emergency gear and not a lot else. We wore our warm gear and sunglasses and after the Eu 9 tickets purchased by Philip we ascended the lift to the station at 1300m in bright sun and blue skies with a potential for a cold N wind higher up.

Recent snow and below freezing temperatures portended excellent conditions and indeed we immediately donned our raquettes to head off rightwards away from the ski pistes and up an icy track dusted with blown snow, heading for the Col at 1560m.

We made good progress in the bright sun and we soon in sight of the summit for the day enjoying magnificent views in the cold air.

This was a very pleasant and yet mildly strenuous ascent.

It was not long before we reached the viewpoint summit col.

At this point Richard brought out some strong liquid which he served in cracked cups – we need to invest in some Pashley goblets. Rum from Guatemala (sic) had us dancing in the wind.

From the viewpoint it was an easy descent down the other side past the Lelex lift and snow blowers across through snow laden firs to La Loge 140m below the col.

We received very warm welcome from Franck at his window from which he served us aperos outside on the banquettes.

Suitably revved we entered the Loge’s warm and welcoming saloon. Christmas lights and a large warm stove, a friendly smile from hostess Kate underneath her mask and we we soon tucking into sausage and Jurassien Croute washed down with some suitable red. We toasted absent friends – they were sadly missing a really great lunch, and outing, as we missed them. We also toasted to all of us still being the right side of the sod.

There were only a few other diners and we were treated right royally, taking our desert tartes around the stove, even playing a game of chess – Richard’s first in several years and he played a blinder.

Franck came over with a box of Genepi, mental note for shopping list. Right. We were ready for the off.

Which of course required an ascent back up to the col. Where had the sun gone? Instead of blue sky we were in cloud and a freezing wind. But we were suitably fortified and were soon back at the col and descending powdery slopes on the way home.

Altogether one of the best snow-shoe outings I have been on. La Loge is highly recommended and it is reachable with not a lot of effort. Thanks again to Mark. Here’s to many more.

It was grey when eight stalwarts (Richard S, Paul S, Mervyn P, Drew M, Philip J, Bill W and the two Marks) plus new boy (Nicolas Ulmer) set out in falling snow from the Givrine railway station on the well-marked, and familiar to most, trail to the Vermeilley Refuge. But that wasn’t how it started. It was sunny on the way up to St Cergue with the trees covered with the previous night’s fall of snow but soon after, into the clouds we went. There were hardly any other people, the fields were covered in smooth and untrammelled snow and even the path was free of the usual hundreds of footprints indicative of its popularity. Our leisurely ascent was disturbed by two motorised sledges carrying supplies to the refuges – the first, the Genolier, was closed but no doubt preparing for a weekend opening. Kobe’s friend from last year was running around happily. So, on we trudged leisurely to the Vermeilley which, as we knew, was open. Here Richard left us to return to meet his son for lunch in St Cergue (this was less leisurely as it only took him 50 minutes).

It was lovely being back in this Refuge; in fact, it was almost like being back home since we had it to ourselves until one and then a second individual arrived. The beers flowed, then the charcuterie, fondue (what else!) and apple tart. In the absence of Rob, Drew kindly offered the Scottish fluid.

The return was too easy for some, with one Gent doing the “angel” in the snow requiring help to get up which had his helper sprawling in the snow in his turn.