The aim of the walk was to get a group of ten to fifteen men out on a two hour walk which was going through an area which would be of interest and was going to be easy walking for all, and then go to a nearby restaurant for a good meal and put the world on the right path in the conversations.
All turned up on time at the meeting place at the Camping des Cheseaux just west of the village of St-Cergue where there was plenty of parking along the roadside and we then started the walk along the road to the hamlet of La St-Cergue as the paths over the meadows were muddy after recent heavy rain which would have been to easy to slip and fall on, so we stayed on the road all the time.
The Vuarne is a dale to the north of the Barillette hill and the slope of the road there is much less than the earlier part of the walk. A feature there is a pond with a well built wall around it but with no entrance, and by the roadside is a stone with a small metal plate screwed on it and engraved with “La pierre à Vogler”. A farmer who had grazed her cows there had been asked about it but did not know anything about it. Maybe she was in a hurry to start milking the cows.
When we reached the path leading up to the pass between the Barillette and the Dole we turned back and headed down at a slightly faster speed than on the way up. We were lucky to have Philip Jenkins in the group who was able to point out different features of the wayside plants and these were then photographed by Tim Goodyear. When passing through the hamlet of La St-Cergue we were allowed to photograph a pack of sled dogs which were housed in the garden of a chalet there and were not in the least upset by our interest in them. A pleasant change from the guard dogs sometimes found in house gardens.
The restaurant we had booked was the Maison de Ville in the middle of the village and we were joined for the meal by Brian Allardyce who was not able to go on the walk as he is recovering from an operation, so that made the group up to twelve. We were all seated at a long table and were very well fed. At the end of the meal Alan Baker gave a short speech as walk coordinator and we then went out to our nearby cars. By this time it had started to rain so we were lucky with the weather on the walk.
The men on the walk were:
Alan Baker, Barry Armstrong, Tim Goodyear, Gerry Swart, Mark Warren, Mike Price, Paul Sochaczewski , Philip Jenkins, Richard Saynor, Rob MacKenzie, Wouter Van Ginneken.
Rob had chosen an interesting and challenging hike for this mid-summer walk. Challenging for several reasons. 1. The weather was unpredictably dubious. 2. The drive to the start at the Col du Jaman was hair-raising for those with hair as well as those without. 3. The intended hike involved an ascent up a steep cliff on ladders. 4. There was still some snow about. 5. A steep descent, after a full lunch, was hinted at.
Attending Rob, Marks W and W, Richard S, Mervyn, David, Philip, Bill and Peter T. Apologies from several including Thatcher.
If truth be told (which it should never be in these pages) the weather was not all bad. Heavy rains were clearing as we arrived and had started again some 30 minutes from the end of the hike, with some while we were inside having a nice lunch at the Rochers de Naye.
Driving up to the start was interesting. At one point at a red light train barrier, a member of the car behind the leader’s car knocked on the leader’s window and had the temerity to ask if the leader knew where he was going. It seemed he thought he did, but he remarked later that this en-route questioning had been a novel experience and had been slightly unsettling for him. Google Maps had a wholly different routing from the leader’s SatNav.
Three cars driven by Rob, Richard and Mark W2ts eventually arrived at the start col after following wet, winding and steep, narrow roads in brightening weather. We were all exhausted but the drivers perhaps exceptionally so.
Fuming fromagerieTeam ready for the offSun appeared at the start !
It was only 9.30am but the leader urged us to start and so we set off at regimental pace (nb without Steve, a Gintlemen in England now abed) across and up and across again to the misty cliffs guarding the summit of the Rochers de Naye.
Blogger before his fallView back to the RdN train
Ignoring short cuts offered by Philip, one member decided to force a short cut across a large and steep snow patch that lay across the slope. Opting for a high path on the lip of the bergschrund his unsuitable cheap trekking boots could not get a grip and with flailing sticks and a merry shriek he accelerated down on an imaginary bum-board towards a rock below. Happily terminal speed was low and only pride was hurt. Sadly this episode was not caught on camera.
One member descended this snow slope on his backsideStairway to heavenThe route in summer – the grotto we visited is at the higher blue dot, the lower was encased in snowOur leader taking it in his stride
What followed was outside the norm of our experience. A traverse across wet slabby rocks using a hand chain let to a series of long ladders following a steep line up the cliff. Mist swirled around and it was airy. In truth (see above) the party cruised this crux section with little problem. We passed the entrance to the cave of the Grottes de Naye, surprisingly partially filled with snow after a small entrance door.
Deterring Naye sayersRichard spelunking
With no time or inclination for extensive speleology, we continued steeply up and breasted the crest of the ridge into the promised land of open slopes and flowers. Except there was a lot of mist about. Within 40 minutes we were ensconced, 9 to a table, in the warmth of the restaurant at the top of the RdN railway, a full hour earlier than Rob had booked for.
Lunch was most convivial with beers and white wine washing down excellent and tasty Rösti Montagnards, sausage and chips etc served by friendly and efficient young waitresses. Oh, and Richard had a black burger. No mention was made (to my knowledge) of Scottish independence.
Wanting no dessert (other than coffee) and with little in the way of Scottish fluid in prosect, the time for dreaded descent had come and in view of the pitter patter of rain outside we kitted up for the worst. Oddly the worst was delayed for another 90 minutes and it was dryish as we descended the airy, rocky path below a herd of chamois, enjoying some excellent nourishment on the verdant slopes.
Starting to descend Mark making steady progress as sweeper
We were given tantalizing views through clearings in the cloud, down to spectacular green ridges below, finally to a window out over shining Vevey and the blue Lac with an approaching wall of grey rain still 20km away. A long, steep rocky gully was descended with little problem and we were soon speeding across the (sort of) traverse line back to the cars in order to minimize time in the inevitable heavy downpour we had seen coming. Bill spotted some cows so he was happy at last. A fit young lady with strong legs in dayglo hot pants passed us running up and many were happy at last.
Looking back up the steep descent gullyRain storm approach across the LakeMurky woodsHikers nearly home – but before the rain arrived..Mark happy on the level againTraversing homeHeavy rain at the cars
The rain finally caught us and we had 30 minutes or so of drenching. We said our farewells and jumped into our vehicles out of the wetness. A convoy of cars descended a longer but easier route down through Caux, headlights blazing in the dark cloud and rain that made 4pm seem like midnight. There remained a tortuous maze of back streets of Montreux and an uneventful but wet ride back home along the autoroutes. Mark W2tts was happy, Pakistan had been bowled out for 154.
Another memorable hike in great company. It makes the donated subscriptions that our webmaster extorts from us seem like real value. Thanks to Rob for organising such a super trip. He even carried poles this time, but never used them, so it could not have been that difficult a hike. Thanks again also to our three volunteer drivers for your heroic service. 700m deniv – or was it 880m ? 10.5km
Peter D led and domestiques Mervyn, eThatcher, Mark supported, a ride almost entirely through France. In the absence of Peter T and Steve we did not have to go via Bonmont so we left Divonne and headed via Vésenex, La Rippe, Vesancy to Gex, then onto Echenevex and both Nazes: Dessus and Dessous where we stopped for lunch at the Maison Blanche. For the first time in recorded history we did not attack the golf club across the fields but rode in via the main entrance (must be without the hooligan members).
A great lunch, outside , by the 10th tee, watching some youngsters from an interclub (and international) competition. I’ve no idea how they even hit the ball, let alone make it sound so sweet.
Then into the saddle again and onto Cessy, then via the old railway line to Grilly and Divonne.
Forgot al about photos until the end
At the end, outside Charlie’s pub, firmly resisting the temptation for a final beer.Missing the technique of Peter T
A great ride, about 40km. But missing the 2 sprinters.
The Swiss metéo promised a relatively dry morning so 16 walkers gathered at the bridge at Sauverny on Wednesday morning for a walk along the Versoix river and back through the Versoix woods. We had heavy rain the day before so the path was expected to be muddy and did not disappoint, however nobody fell and nobody got hurt. The path down, which keeps a view of the Versoix on the right, was new to several of the walkers making this a journey of exploration.
Several sections of this walk follow Swiss National hike #3, Alpine Panorama Trail, which runs for 510 km from Rorschach beside Bodensee to Geneva. So these sections were well signposted. However the leader insisted on following smaller paths where possible with the result that we nearly lost part of the party.
After about an hour we came to a decision. The path straight ahead was know to contain a large boulder which would be difficult to scramble over, especially if wet, so several of us took a short cut, up a steep bank and through a field we later learnt was out of bounds and onto the main footpath through the woods. The other part of the group continued on beside the river to pont de Bossy and then caught us up.
We then returned along good paths through the woods, before joining our original path beside the river and returning to the parking. Overall about 6.5 km.
The team after the walk, from left Wouter, John, Thatcher, Richard, Mark 2Rs, Dave, Drew, Mike, Rob, Tim, Bryan, Alan, Paul, Bill, Gerry. Mark 2Ts behind the camera.
This was probably the largest GIN gathering since the start of the lockdown in March 2020. Long live the freedom!
Fourteen of us then went to the Vieux Bois in Divonne for a convivial, and unbelievably cheap, meal. An added bonus: this was the first day that France allowed more than 6 people at a table in a restaurant.
Four members volunteered to lead future walks as follows
July 14
Rob Mackenzie
July 28
John Burley
Aug 11
Mike Price
Aug 25
Gerry Swart
They should share their plans with Alan Baker, the walking group coordinator.
Participants: Alan Baker, Bill Westermeyer, Bryan Clark, David Gwilliam, Drew Meek, Gerry Swart, John Burley, Mark Warren, Mark Watts, Mike Price, Paul Sochaczewski, Richard Saynor, Rob Mackenzie, Thatcher Shellaby, Tim Goodyear, Wouter van Ginneken.
A motley crew of ten turned out for a circuit and ascent of the Moleson above Gruyères on a day that promised rain. In the event we were lucky and it kept dry.
Attending: Marks W and W, Richards Saynor and Wiley, David, Rob, Philip, Mervyn, Bill (Westermeyer freshly returned from the Rockies) and myself.
The plan was to repeat the route of 2017 where David, Peter Drew, Jonathan and myself enjoyed a misty round. As such all but two of us were new to this hill, 2007m tall, above the carpark at 1100m by the cable tramway. There was some ribaldry as we ascended the first section to the halfway station, the mountain was not visible in the cloud and a few were doubting its existence, more were worried about getting a lunch. We were joined by a dog, leaving us at the tramway station but which we met later in the day.
There was some further disbelief looking up at the lines of the via ferratas of the main cliff but the fine cows attracted attention (Bill’s in particular as he had been missing them in the USA) and we were soon supping coffee with fresh cream at Gros Plané. Philip was intent on investigating shortcuts and could see little reason why the intended route did not go straight up. I explained that he was pointing up at a possible descent route. A circumnavigation would allow an approach along a fine airy ridge from the south.
It was clear in my mind that we were not going to arrive at the summit for lunch before 2.30 pm and encouraged eating of the local patisserie at our coffee stop. Surprisingly few grumbles were heard if any, as after a downward passage and a turn left, the ascent to the ridge passed almost painlessly. We were soon treated to fabulous views across the valleys, a flower bedecked ridge kissed by misty cloud, fitful sun and a fine breeze from the west. At least one could not get lost and my worries about herding cats eased. David was striding ahead and even Rob was beginning to enjoy the airiness, the ridge provided just enough.
The final ascent to the cable station and thence up to the Moleson summit remained, and at the top we were bathed in sunshine for a minute or two with 360 degree views. There were very few other hikers around, nor many tourists back down at the cable station. Finally at 3pm inter-alia eight Gruyères cheese fondues were consumed with several bottles of Chasselas in an almost empty restaurant. Happy hikers it seemed.
There only remained the question of how to get down. Information passed around that the cablecar departed every 20 minutes. The alternative was a long knee-grind down Philip’s shortcut. Rain appeared on the window. A storm was coming. Rob was finally persuaded that others had knees that preferred the easy way down (including those of his driver). We hurried our coffees and piled into the cabin for a swift descent to the tram, where our hound of the morning was given an allocated cabin to his owner waiting below.
An enjoyable tramp along an airy ridge up a rewarding hill with a simple descent saving our knees, in great company. 10.8 km and 1080m ascent.
Apologies from many. My apologies to Thatcher – I had mis-copied the distribution list and he did not receive the email flyer I sent to Thatcher.Shellaby@gmail.co ….Sorry Bruce !
Team and mountain. Shorts in preponderance.Team 2The objectiveBill and his cowsCoffee stop with tarts, lemon and vin cut.The way upFine views and weatherLooking back down the ridgeThe Moleson summit and cable station from our ridgeA protected narrow section with our ridge behind. Red and blueLook back to the ascent ridgeSummit 1Summit 2Summit from the restaurantPano summitFondu 1Fondu 2 Route heartbeat map
Five of us played a very pleasant few hands at Dave’s house. We welcomed new member Jerry Swart who has just moved to Divonne from Florida. Ken celebrated returning from Portugal by receiving a yarborough which, the internet informs me, has an expected frequency of 1 in 1828 hands.
I had the misfortune to be partnering Ken and played 3 clubs which only went down by 1.
Participants Dave Gwilliam (host), Richard Wiley, Ken Forrester, Jerry Swart, Mark Watts.
The day dawned hot and I began to experience an unsettling fight or flight reaction. The Barillette bike ride is a rite of passage for certain gintlemen of the biking group on attaining the age of 70, but it involves much pain, misery and perturbation. It’s a right-awful rite. It comprises 24 km of tarmac from Coppet and 1,100m or so of ascent. Perhaps we are trying to prove that we are not dead yet, albeit the ride itself might force such a conclusion, especially on such a hot sunny day.
I had just turned that age and Peter Drew who had accomplished this with others of us in 2019, was organising the event and would join me. Peter’s sons were also absent his year and Stephen was stuck now abed in England thinking himself accursed he was not here. Happily Mark Watts was organising a support hiking group who would join us for lunch at the Barillette restaurant, should we make it. Mervyn was going to be delayed but elected to drive up and provide moral and taxi support. These support groups really did give us moral support – a convivial beer and fine meal on a terrace would follow the coming nightmare and this thought kept me going through the ordeal.
Peter and I set off at pace from Divonne Lake and I was disappointed when he told me that our route would be direct, straight up and no messing about, through Crassier and La Rippe to the start of the climb itself. The heat was hot as they say and only slightly diminished as we entered the Bonmont woods. I began to realise that I had forgotten to pack painkillers and electrolyte for my water bottle.
Turning up past Bonmont a large and luxurious Mercedes open top sports car passed us with a biking-now-hiking member waving his cap at us, causing a sap to morale. We were beginning now to weave across the road to shelter from the hot sun on the shady side of the surface. I pulled ahead a little sensing Peter was pedalling in a lower gear than me. We had both done a little training before this day, but perhaps not enough. My biking activities were being curtailed by dog hiking but I had managed the P’tit Bard at 1060m on the road to Combe du Faoug a few days earlier; Peter had trained on the 3 Hills.
Gasping in the heat we stopped at 870m for a rest and a drink. We tried to assess if we could make it with one more stop at 1200m but this proved futile. On we went, an elderly couple on e-bikes sailed up past us. As did a young lady on a road bike. Gradually I realised that Peter was not keeping up behind me and ground to a halt at 1140m. I called him by phone and he said he was resting but would be up shortly. He eventually arrived and we discussed tactics in the continuing heat, his words to me were – just carry on and I’ll see you at the top.
So, on we separately went in lower gears than of past, unremembered, ascents. Trying to blank out the grim reality of what was happening – we were here actually attempting to bike the Barillette – at our ages. At about 1300m or so I stopped with cramp in my right thigh, and another young lady passing me on a VTT calling out “Courage!”. I responded “Crampe!”. Peter was somewhere below and eventually I massaged my leg into action and continued. It was just after the turning to the Chalet de la Dôle that Mervyn passed me in the Batmobile “it’s only the last mile to go” he exhorted waving a red bottle. Finally after more numbing switchbacks and near-cramp leg experiences, Mervyn himself appeared by the roadside with 400m to go, offering to empty the contents of his bottle over my head.
The top was in glorious sun and I collapsed on the ground in relief. We spoke by phone to Peter who was somewhere lower on the mountain but who said he was taking his time and would be up shortly, he suggested we go down to the restaurant. Mervyn duly loaded my bike onto the rack of the Batmobile and we glided down past Mike and Mark Warren who were close to the venue. The terrace was decked out splendidly under some white flecked sunshade material that gave me the impression of paradise above the Shangri-la valley and lake far below. Richard and Mark Watts arrived from La Dôle summit and we quaffed down some beer. Finally Peter arrived looking thinner than usual but in good cheer. Not dead yet we had made it! , and a most convivial lunch followed of salad, sausage and chips, with apricot tart washed downed with several bottles of excellent white wine (I was too exhausted to make a note of the exact make but I think it was indeed Chasselas) then coffee.
Mervyn eventually taxied Peter and I and our bikes safely down to the heat of the Terre Sainte and home.
Many thanks indeed to everyone involved. The support team were amazing and the lunch was great. Peter D deserves a special medal for joining me in conditions that were far hotter than we had previously experienced. Thanks too to Richard for the magnesium meds. They worked and I had no further cramps.
Apologies from absent friends from Stephen, Philip, Paul and Thatcher – and there may have been others, my apologies to them. We toasted absent friends and missed them.
Ebikes next time ?
The route up with heart beat colouring for me.
The author at the top, on a bottle provided later by Mervyn (Merci M!). To be laid down for a year or two.
Thank god that’s over !Necessary beers to rehydrate
Following the walking group’s expedition to the Gorges de l’Areuse, Mark 2”r”s decided to take the hiking group to the same starting point but to head off in a different direction and visit the Creux de Van, Switzerland’s Grand Canyon. Mark had given careful thought to the location of a suitable restaurant for lunch and decided that we needed to leave Divonne at 08:00, a restaurant closer to the end of the walk would have entailed an earlier start and potential mutiny.
Accordingly 7 of us gathered in Divonne at 8 a.m. and decamped into 2 cars for the roughly 90 minute drive to Noiraigue railway station, alt 729m according to several GPSs and the signpost, where we had a coffee and ate the pains aux chocolate that Mark had kindly provided (hope no precedence was being set!). Then Captain Bligh announced that we were already 30 minutes behind schedule so we hurriedly donned boots and set off.
We had a reasonably gentle climb over the first couple of kilometres to les Oillons at 1015m.
Team at les Oillons: Rob, Mark, Richard, Mervyn, Philip, David. Other Mark behind camera.
Then the path started to get steeper and zig-zagged up through countless contours until we came out to the spectacular view at 1374m. There was much ooohing and aaahing and taking of photographs, including one of the whole team.
Full team at the rim – don’t step back!Our illustrious leader, aka Slartibartfast, surveying his handyworkThe old railway station got in the way of a good photo so the team had to move itMoved, that’s better, Philip directing and taking the photo.So tame it almost appeared to be a model.
After the excitement of the rim and moving the railway station and the bouquetin it was time to move to the restaurant for lunch. This was the real excitement with Mark wondering if we should have turned left at the bouquetin and imagining the abuse he was going to get if we were late for lunch. However we arrived at the charming la Grand ‘Vy for well deserved beers and a great lunch. We were supposed to socially distance at 2 ends of a long table but somehow failed that test – maybe it was the absinthe.
la Grand ‘VyFailing the social distancing testIce cream with a pool of absinthe, local speciality
Reluctantly we eventually continued with Mark encouraging us by announcing that it was all downhill from here on. True but much harder on old knees. We got back to the cars just after 4 for the drive home.
This trip beyond the usual geographical scope of our walks was delayed until the daily deluge had abated and the pathway through this amazing series of gorges had a chance to dry out somewhat. A sudden improvement in the weather forecast triggered the organiser to copy General Eisenhower’s 5 June 1944 decision of “Let’s go…”
The Areuse Gorges lie within the Jura foothills, close to Neuchatel, and form an often-hidden area of the scenic Val-de-Travers region. Cared for by a local charity, the route follows the River Areuse for 11 kms between Noiraigue and the outskirts of either Bole or Boudry. For much of its way, it skirts the river as the Areuse meanders leisurely, followed by periods as a raging torrent forcing its way through two narrow and deeply incised canyons and white-water rafting country. Local publicity informs us that the path climbs 52 metres and descends 334 metres, with a duration of 2 hours and 43 minutes of “family friendly but moderately difficult” walking. OK – This is what faced our gallant team.
The group of six members arrived by car or train at the pretty village station in Noiraigue, fortified themselves with a coffee, managed not to be tempted to take an early morning absinthe and headed off in glorious sunshine along what was initially a straight, surfaced path alongside a babbling brook. A large gathering of lady hikers had already disappeared from sight, the only remaining sounds coming from the river itself and a variety of Skimmers and other birds. Everything changed some 30 minutes later, when we ventured into the upper of the 2 prime gorges. A sleepy stream suddenly became a cascading torrent. The pathway became a mix of jagged rocks and glutinous mud. The fun had begun.
As this expedition took the group to an area perhaps not known to some readers, more than the normal number of photos are included in this trip report. They tell a story that need not be repeated in detail in writing! We crossed several bridges, the ancient and arched one of which offers the picture postcard image of the Areuse in full fury (as it was on 28 May). The number of slippery wooden steps negotiated at times felt endless, even before our hungry band reached the halfway stage. Suddenly – and like a mirage – some houses appeared in sight. We had reached Champ du Moulin and its Hotel/Restaurant de la Truite.
All thoughts of surviving on a picnic lunch were instantly forgotten as we sat in an oasis of sunshine outside this welcoming restaurant, tucking into – you’ve guessed it – excellent trout, our throats lubricated by Neuchâteloise wine. Then, the second half of our trek was to be faced. This path had almost survived the ravages of a long winter followed by a very wet spring. The mud seemed even more glutinous, the steps steeper and the rocks sharper. The result was the stunning sight of a torrent thundering almost below our feet as it fought its way through the second gorge. Minor deterrents were all taken in good spirit, no walker tripping or slipping but a small number of us found ourselves inadvertently crossing the river and following a surfaced road for a while. Mobile phones soon brought us back in line! As suddenly as the second gorge had started, it ended, and a signpost pointed our group towards Bole. Little did your scribe know that this track led steeply up to road level via a good 100 slippery wooden steps followed by an even longer walk to Bole station. The short train journey back to Noiraigue came as a welcome chance to recharge our energy batteries.
Well – Was it worth the 100 kms+ journey from our homes? The conclusion of this group was a resounding YES and a recommendation that some future walks be conducted in other areas of natural beauty or of specific historic etc interest. Long summer days and an easing of Covid-19 restrictions offer possibilities as long as we avoid exceedingly popular tourist destinations during “Le Saison”. Thinking caps on, please…..
Here are some of the photos. The full set is to be found at this link
A magnificent crew of 7 again turned out for this purported jaunt into the French Jura starting at W3W magnolias.upends.decorators . Attending : Mark Watts, Stephen, Richard, David, Philip, Mike and Peter T. Shorts were 3:4, but soon were 5:2 as Richard soon rolled up his leggings and David unzipped his.
The leader (PT) had already spotted a flaw in his original plan to hike up the Pas de l’Echine to the Colomby de Gex. The top of the gully was still filled with snow – as seen from Coppet. So, the leader optimistically asked others if they would be up for a longer circuit of the Creux de l’Envers, anti-clockwise. Most seemed to acquiesce, at least agreeing that it avoided an otherwise up and back the same way, but little realising that this circuit would mean some 19.5km and 1270m of denivellation (there being 300m of extra down involved).
Accordingly we all set off downhill in sinking but high spirits from point 728 (it was 711 to me Ed.) (magnolias.upends.decoratos) marked on this map, in a general NW direction aiming to reach the pass left of Petit Mt Rond via the path (on better maps) called La Vie de Chaux. The Life of Lime. It was quite a haul wending up through the beautiful forest with occasional views back across the deepening Creux.
After various traverses we eventually we reached the limelight and the line of the Life of Lime in regimental order (ie Stephen ahead). The crux involves a long diagonal upward traverse of a steep smooth grassy/rocky slope, thankfully the path is good and the going was dry underfoot. Do not slip on this path. Several chamois were spotted at this point (and many more later).
La Vie de Chaux with Stephen scouting aheadRichard enjoying the LimeLeader resting on the Life of LimeLooking back down across the the Col de la Faucille road.Cresting the ridge
The team assembled at the top believing that the worst was over. The breeze here was noticeable and we donned fibre piles for the traverse across to Mt Rond (the Grand).
The Team arrives on the pass and the top ridge line with the distant target of the Colomby de Gex above Mark’s head.
Shortly above this pass Richard spotted the location of his award winning shot of Stephen in winter on a wave of snow, the Wave. Duly they shot Wave 2.
Wave 2, by Richard of Stephen, looking more like a green swell. Wave 1
The enormity of the task that lay ahead began to sink in to some as we tackled the ascent of Mt Grand Rond, that seemed like Mt Grind. Accordingly some ravitaillement was needed at the top and a check was made as to timing. Clearly we were going to miss the scheduled 4pm bath, and my 6pm AGM in Geneva looked iffy. Others had 5pm Grandkids on their agendas. Oh well..
There was no way for it but to press on; a retreat down the Lime was unthinkable as was retreat generally. So the leader rallied the troops to get agreement to delay lunch to 13.45 when we would be more within striking distance of the final CdG summit. On we went on distressingly Nepali flat territory. Finally, sensing mutiny, a halt was called on a lesser summit on the ridge and a bottle of Gigondas appeared and was uncorked and passed around for sustenance. There followed an Italian red. Lunch in the sun on a fabulous ridge with views across Lac Leman to the alps one way, and across green forests stretching into France profonde the other. Subjects discussed did not include Scottish independence. Boris was mentioned as were Indian variants. Medication was taken as needed.
Lunch
The leader realised the need to plod on and entered a steady trod across past the snow filled gully of the original intended line and up to the glittering summit of the CdG (1687 – nb. 10m higher than La Dole).
Looking back after lunchThe snow filled top of Le Pas de L’Echine. Showing also the green col passed on the way down later on. Looking back before the final ascent to CdGThe Creux de L’Envers we circuitedCdG Summit : Finally we had knocked the bastard off.
Arriving atop the Colomby de Gex was an exhausted but jubilant party. Accordingly Slivovitz (72% proof) was provided. As well as some (chilled) white wine from Mark. Duly stunned it was time to face the knee grinding descent down into the combe of the Chet de Branveau, wherein we spotted a large herd of chamois.
Herds of wild animalsLooking back at the Chet de Branveau combeStunning view across Geneva Airport. How concrete was my valley?View back up to where we had been.
There followed the long strait stony track back down to the cars, where we arrived somewhat 2 hours and more overdue, and with some in need of medication (sugar).
The leader apologises for pain, misery and perturbation caused. But hopes that these negatives will eventually be surpassed by the memory of a fine day out on the hills of the French Jura. May there be many more.
PS – Well done Philip for busting through his 830m training regimen after his operation.
PPS Apologies from Mark, Rob, Thatcher, Mervyn, Richard Wiley, Peter Drew and others.
