Category: Hiking

The forecast for Thursday 1 October looked wet, our first rain since 9 September. Being unused to wetness I emailed around to see if members agreed to a change to Friday when it looked to be a bit dryer. Sadly some could make only Thursday for which apologies. Mervyn and Andrew agreed and the three of us set off from the parking above La Rippe, with Kobie in tow. Quite a number of apologies and excuses came in (mostly valid and thanks to all for every one) and we missed you all.

My plan was a mainly forested hike starting to ascend sharply from the parking at 620m trending up the French border in the forest to the Faoug plateau then crossing and topping out at 1285m at the field of La Gerle. The descent would be meandering and easier on the knees.

The conditions underfoot were extremely dry despite the mild rains of the day before. I mentioned to Andrew that we would reach Level 2 (at 770m) of Kobie’s regular hike around the Petite Côte, but when suddenly it got steeper as we turned S to the French border he commented “well I didn’t know that we would be moving on so soon from Level 2 to Level 5”. I told him not to worry as the border(line) path would soon reach Level 8.

The border path rises steadily until it reaches the Level 8 steepness gradient.

Happily the trail becomes easier and rises steadily through dappled forest on the French side of the border. After rising 440m, at about 2/3rds height (in just about an hour), we stopped for some hot coffee (and of course milk) that Mervyn had kindly carried up. This was a real pleasure because in another 30 minutes or so we were to have another coffee break, this time cold coffee from the Volg in Founex.

Most of the hard upward graft now done, we can relax a bit.

On up we went.

As we levelled off we heard cowbells in the field to our right at Combe de la Faoug, and we passed through the herd with only a slight commotion until they began to follow us closely. Were they following us because of Kobie (who does not care for cows) or because of Mervyn’s red jersey? I for one will celebrate when all the beasts are down from the hills for winter (see lunch comments below) and the electric and barbed wire fences are removed.

It was not long before we crossed the mountain road (of bike fame) and moved up through the woods to the top of our hike at La Gerle 1285m, where the iced coffee was taken. This was the place that Kobie had found two cow legs (L and R) lying around some 2 years back, evidence of wolves.

The cloud had come in and it had got a little cooler. The trail heads down across this open field, thence into the very green and pleasant woods of Combe de la Joie, named the Bois Badis d’en Bas.

Within 40 minutes or so we were down at the lunch spot at the P’tit Bard at 1060m, occupying the picnic table on the decking constructed by Daniel Lüthi of La Rippe in 2003. We arrived at 12.40pm.

Mervyn extracted a bottle of Swiss red from his sack which helped to stop me from choking on my wrap from the Volg, and Kobie enjoyed some French sausage. We had a good chat for 20 minutes or so, remembering to toast absent friends (of which there were many).

The views today were much less limited than in August, but we did get to see Mt Blanc in the sun, in between two layers of stratus cloud.

The friendly and garullous lady biker entertained us for a while until all of a sudden a white flat-bed truck arrived and two famers jumped out and joined us at the picnic table with a bottle of chilled white wine! Only one of them seemed to be drinking and it became clear that they were heavily involved in the des-Alpes of the local herds (hurrah!). There are still several thousand head up there, coming down over the next few weeks.

After much French banter it was time for us to pack up and descend, starting on the road for one zig and one zag, before heading off into the leaf again for the meandering forested route back to the cars.

A fine walk which I have done quite a number of times solo with Kobie. It was nice to have GIN company along with two (!) coffee breaks and a proper sit down picnic meal with a glass or two of red with no choking, topped off with French banter. My knees seemed OK too afterwards. I hope Mervyn and Andrew were OK too. Kobie did not need his normal evening walk in the Founex vineyards. I was home in good time to collect my car from AMAG after a dent repair.

12.5km and 715m.

Next hike – I’m away in the Auvergne – thanks to Nathan’s advice – so I will cast about for a leader on 15 October.

The last time that GinClub hiked the Noirement was on 21 Nov 2021. Rob wrote that Blog as he led the hike. But after a slip he also tried out the local helicopter rescue service Rega, which, as this was so effective, we all promptly joined up to.

This outing was likely to prove less problematic as the weather had been dry for ages, and the forecast was for sun with slight cloud later.

Six of us signed up and, after a detour via Arzier as the St Cergue main road was closed, we assembled at the (free) parking now available near La Cure (at 1190m) at the sad old site of Chez Mamac, still a derelict fire ruin. (See photo and postscript (below) of a ChatGPT summary of what happened).

Attending :-

Nathan, Andrew, Mark2ts, Mervyn, PeterSt and me with Kobie.

There were many apologies and some notifications of absence (the latter being without apologies..).

We set off in good cheer, already cutting 600m and 30m of denivellation from our hike.

We followed the Sentier 125 path taking the straight-on route to the farm at Les Coppettes. Our intention was to make an anticlockwise circuit of the Noirement as recommended by Nathan as a pleasant alternative to the more normal clockwise. In an hour or so we were up at L’Arzière farmstead (1445m) after a very pleasant stroll up the wide grassy valley.

There were many herds of cows about, with electric fences, and some very clean looking pigs. As we got to the end of the fence in the field in the picture above we realised that we were on the wrong side of it, i.e. of two electric fences and a wall.

The solution was to be found in the forest at the end and by some jiggery pokery we were soon back on track. This trail leads for another 2 km through a pleasant valley to a left turn before the Crêt des Danses leading down round the north side of the Creux de Croue.

At point 1370m below the ridge leading up to the Noirement, at 12.46pm, a non-vote decision was taken to delay lunch until we were up on top, 45 minutes away per the sign. This I believe was the ridge upon which Rob came a cropper descending in 2021. Today it was dry and fairly steady 180m climb up to the top at 1547m where we took lunch. This top is not the actual Noirement top which is another 1km south, but it has splendid views all around including down to Lac des Rousses, and we were all hungry. We were pleased not to have stopped earlier, to have had to climb the ridge after lunch would have been unpleasant.

During our lunch we heard a dog barking. It came closer and soon we saw a large white Swiss guard dog who had come over to warn us away. He judged us (including Kobie) to be mostly harmless, as he soon went back to his flock, abiding the slopes nearby. Mark’s coffee went down well with Mervyn’s milk. After lunch we passed right by the flock and Kobie went over to pay his respects to the guard dog, who remained on friendly terms with Kobie and us.

The way home took in the Noirement top (1567m) itself, which Andrew and I missed via a slight detour to the right. It was on that path that my right foot slipped forward and I went down with my left foot underneath me and a shooting ligament pain came from my left knee. This has happened twice before in recent years, and it does not help that my knees are also wearing out on the inside. I hobbled on (and still do), taking on a painkiller.

There remained a very pleasant (if you ignore knee pain) descent back down through the forest still on Rte 125 turning back along the grass path to Mamac in the hazy sun.

A fine hike in fine conditions with a fine lunch and a fine group of Gintlemen. Kobie behaved well, apart from at lunch perhaps, and we departed for home with memories of a super day out.

13.5km and 659m denivellation.

---

What happened at Mamac

• The fire occurred during the night of Monday 27–Tuesday 28 January 2025.
• The restaurant was deliberately set on fire by its owner/operator, who was alone in the adjoining family accommodation at the time.
• He subsequently left the scene and went towards his other establishment, Le Vermeilley, where police later found and arrested him.
• He admitted to the police that he had started the fire. The restaurant was severely damaged and effectively destroyed. 
• According to his lawyer, there was apparently no financial problem: Chez Mamac had been doing good business.
• His lawyer described what happened as a “coup de folie” during a period of profound distress, saying that the restaurateur had been under considerable stress and fatigue and had recently lost both his home and his place of work.
• He reportedly expressed considerable remorse and said he cared deeply about the restaurant. 
• He had no previous criminal record, according to his lawyer, and was released after questioning. He was subsequently hospitalised, while Le Vermeilley reopened shortly afterwards.
• The family subsequently announced the permanent closure of Chez Mamac. 

The restaurant is indeed now listed as permanently closed, and the tourism office also records Chez Mamac at La Cure as closed. 

In the absence of our illustrious leader, I proposed an inclusive, gentle hike from La Givrine to La Cure via Les Coppettes with a return to La Givrine possible by train. The hike was estimated to be 6km with a 200m climb.

Six hardy young old men responded positively to the invitation: Chris N., David C., Nathan F., Richard S., Rudolf S. and Stephen L. Météo Suisse kindly cooperated and the weather was lovely for the whole day.

Having estimated a 2 hour hike with a half-hour refreshment pause the 9:45 departure would have brought us to the restaurant at 12:15. The hiker’s enthusiasm, however, exceeded expectations and the group progressed so rapidly that we were forced to extend our refreshment pause to avoid arriving too early at the restaurant.

On the way down we stopped to pay our respects to our beloved restaurant, Chez Mamac, that was destroyed by a fire in January, 2025. Not much remains.

We had lunch at the restaurant Le Franco Suisse in La Cure well known for the fact that the restaurant lies astride the Suisse-French border.

At the restaurant as we settled in at our table and ordered our libations we had the very pleasant surprise to see Mervyn appear and join us for lunch.

The consensus after lunch was that the restaurant’s location was really its only interesting aspect.

During the ensuing discussions it became obvious that certain expedition members had not found the hike nearly strenuous enough. So, except for 2 who had engagements and gladly accepted a lift in Mervyn’s car, we decided to return to the Givrine car park on foot.

It was a very pleasant outing in good company.
The stats. for the round trip are: 9.6km with a 230m climb.

The forecast for Thursday 20th had been for continuous rain, but then it changed to something much more benign, so I sent out a late flyer hoping for a response. And it came from stalwart hiker Nathan.

Sadly Ralph responded that his father had just passed away yesterday aged 95. I sent our condolences. With apologies also from Mervyn, Stephen, Mark2rs, Chris and RichardS, this was to be a smallish party, typical of mid-August.

Altogether then and including visiting UK climbing chum from the 1970’s, Alick, and of course Kobie a team of 4 started out from the parking just above Bursins (515m), at the north end of the Sentier des Chataigneurs.

My plan was a clockwise ascent to 880m on the ridge that surrounds the Combe de Bursins, taking in the Pierre à Mille Trous, and coming down the long trail that takes in the Golettes (Schooners) Hut for a picnic lunch.

We commenced in a SW direction along the chestnutters path with a couple of short sharp descents before ascending up to the road that leads to Burtigny (of bikers descent fame). A short section in the field by the road leads to the woods again and the steep section where David Colledge hurt his knee a cuple of years back. We arrived at the ridge top with fine views open open fields, a fox visible lurking on the skyline, and two comfy chairs for my comrades where we took on some restoration. The view from here back to the Jet d’Eau and the whole Jura chain is magnificent.

Suitably refreshed we passed in a N direction on up the path of the erratics dropped by the Rhône Glacier 20,000+ years ago, with the Thousand Hole Stone to admire. See (but don’t open the additional link to an itineraire) :-

https://www.visinand.ch/Blocs_erratiques/Vaud/Burtigny-Pierre_a_mille_trous/Burtigny-Pierre_a_mille_trous.htm#google_vignette

The trail then dives into the woods and for over 2 kilometers crests the scarp overlooking the combes on the right and with another couple of vertical erratics at a covert meeting spot. Passing by the tree trunk with ornaments and gifted trinkets, and the lone chair, it was not long before the hidden link to the descent path that starts just W of Prés Martines. This is an old and underused trail and partly on a disused bike path getting down to the road head at 761m where a small road comes up from Gilly. It was here that the only rain of the day began to fall.

We turned right and started of up the trail that meaders down though beautiful forest towards our lunch spot at the Golettes Hut. The rain soon eased.

We arrived at the Golettes hut just after 1.15pm and ready for our picnic. This would be a good place for a large scale celebratory event.

A bottle of Gerwurtztraminer helped the conversation flow and we covered quite a bit of the world’s problems as well as a few of our own, recognising of course how lucky we are. We toasted absent friends especially Ralph. Nathan enjoyed a particularly exotic and expensive roll, while my Volg wrap did not choke me as we had fluids to sluice it down.

There remained a short descent along the road, then recrossing the Burtigny Road again and down steep steps to the very slippery-when-wet Japanese Bridge over the ornamental lake.

Altogether 10km and 460m (albeit my watch read 560m ??), and enjoyable short hike in beautiful low forest, with some good views to boot.

We were in the middle of the heatwave so we decided on a relatively short hike in the Jura with not too much denivelation. The idea was to hike from chalet de la Dôle, up to la Dôle, down to Col de Porte then on to la Barillette and down to the restaurant for lunch. After lunch less than 3 kn back to the cars.

Despite the short notice, seven plus a dog turned up at the Divonne parking where we grouped into 2 cars for the drive up the Jura, 4 in Richard’s car, 3 plus Kobie in Peter’s.

We were Stephen, Bill, Richard S, Mervyn, Nathan, Mark 2Ts, Peter T and Kobie,

Almost as soon as we’d set off Peter managed to fall over a small dip in the road and badly scraped his knee. He refused to repeat the exercise for the camera so we have no photographic evidence, other than excessive bandages on his leg. (Except the selfie – see below – a shocked PHT added later).

After that we set off for the Chalet de la Dôle and then the usual circuitous route up to the Dôle summit. Someone claimed to see some chamois but they were very far away and not easy to distinguish.

We reached la Dôle after about 1 hour and found a quiet spot just beyond the radomes for the obligatory hydration pause, essential liquid being provided by Stephen and Peter (red and white).

Suitably hydrated we took 2 different routes down to the Col de Porte: Stephen, Mervyn and Nathan took the right hand path above the precipice while the rest of us took the safer path below the ski lift. Bill managed to combine the two as he found a right turn that joined up with the scary path.

After the Col de Porte we were all together until two renegades decided to check out the Chalet des Apprentices, no names but one had the longest surname, the other the shortest. It was closed.

After la Barillette we walked down the road to the restaurant, arriving by pure chance at 13:00, the same time as the reservation. Beers were rapidly ordered then most had sausage of one colour or another, no fondus. Richard produced the famous bottle, now containing an evil looking brew of egg cognac? Most of us had it instead of cream on our tarts aux myrtilles which made it quite acceptable.

Lunch finished, it was time to tramp back up the road to la Barillette then across the fields back to the cars and home for a siesta.

Total trip about 9 km with 470 m of devivelation.

The forecast being for yet another thermometer-busting hot day down on the plain it was decided to head for the higher hills, namely the Alpes Valaisannes above Morgins (1333m) in the Portes du Soleil .

After a record number of apologies for absence (11 received), only PeterSt and I were left to join Stephen, who was already installed in his mountain retreat. The two of us departed early from Commugny and reached the Morgins parking before 09:30 after a trouble-free journey. A car pulled up alongside mine and out got PeterT, Kobie and a delightful surprise – Jill.  These three had been staying up in nearby Champery for the few days prior to allow the aforementioned hound to escape the worst of the heat. 

Stephen had not seen us arrive but heard the now familiar bark and tracked us down.  

After a brief discussion Stephen decided upon a suitable route, which started with a CHF12 ascent by télécabine to La Foilleuse.  This saved both time and a lot of sweat.

Now at 1815m, the sky was sunny and cloudless and the temperature pleasantly cooler than down below.

After an hour and a half of gentle ups and more downs, en route passing the Gite Alpage La Chaux, the scene of a memorable lunch on a previous long hike, we arrived at Chez Gaby, another very well appointed mountain restaurant on the outskirts of Champoussin, for a morning coffee. Our local mountain man had prior knowledge of one of the house specialities – namely their tarte aux myrtilles – and five portions were duly ordered.  And what portions they were!  Truly the most delicious examples any of us had ever encountered.  The recipe was requested but not disclosed, but suffice it to say this was not your usual dry tart base topped with some blueberry jam.  Kobie looked on longingly but was denied a taste. Jill’s  good influence?

Suitably sugar and carbo loaded, we set off eastward, continuing on a long circuit,  while P, J & K headed back northwards to the top of the télécabine for an early return home.

It was getting hotter now as we were above the tree-line but the magnificent views of the Dents du Midi in the foreground and the Vaudois and Bernese Alps in the far distance were more than compensation.

After descending a path through open fields displaying many alpine flowers in full bloom we arrived at our lunch stop, the Buvette de Savolarie, at 1pm, very thirsty and hungry enough to order the house speciality – croute au fromage. The cooking being done using feu du bois, this took a little time, but worth the wait. The toppings included egg, gherkins, onion, pear and pineapple. Any or all could be (and were) chosen. An interesting novelty was tried after lunch, namely a form of skittles, where knocking down the nine wooden skittles with a wooden(?) ball launched from three positions involves the use of curved side “walls”. The geometry required to ensure the balls’ correct trajectory proved too much for all of us after a couple of beers, although Peter did succeed in knocking down the most skittles. Must have been the croute complète.  A creditable achievement but the skill developed is unlikely to be of any use anywhere else.

With the afternoon temperature rising we were relieved that the hour descent back down to Morgins was largely through the forest.  We reached the car at 15:45 and declined Stephen’s generous offer of cold or hot drinks at his chalet, choosing instead to set off in time to beat the usual rush hour congestion around Lausanne. This we almost achieved and were home around 17:30.

A great day out in the magnificent mountains once again, this time covering a distance of 14km and a climb of 750m (of which, it must be admitted, half was by cablecar!)

Mervyn Powell

10/07/2026

It had been hot for days and days and the forecast for Thursday was for a 35C day in Founex. It was therefore unsurprising that a large number of not unreasonable excuses, alibis, pretexts, and aoplogia flooded my inbox just before this planned outing. We missed you all.

In the event there were only 3 of us as I wrote to Nathan and Mervyn:-

“Just the 3 of us and Kobie have signed up. 

Suggest we meet early at Mervyn’s. 

From there I’ll drive us all to Trelex for an assault on the Vieux Chateau via Beatrix at St Cergue. 

Is 8 am ok ?

Suggest we take a picnic lunch – which – if you skip or reduce breakfast – we could have as a brunch. 

There is a coffee stop too!

Train back down to Givrins. “

Subsequently Nathan proposed an earlier start and it was at 7.15 am on a bright and cloudless canicule morning that we assembled at Mervyn’s.

From the normal “Trelex” parking for Dogging (600m) we left at 7.43am and passing the Lac of Frogs (where Kobie takes his normal dip) we entered the shelter of the forest for the fairly direct ascent up to St Cergue. The temperature was still quite pleasant.

Indeed we arrived in fair shape at the Hotel La Pointe du Jour (1015m), on the main road (currently closed to up traffic) just before St Cergue, at 9am exactly. This was an eatery of old days – my last had been 20 years ago for a pizza after night skiing at St Cergue (Chf 35 all in). The friendly innkeeper came out with a water bowl for Kobie and we took on croissants and coffee under sunshades on the rather fabulous terrace. I took time to read out the apologia.

From here the path onward miraculously appears behind bushes over the road directly opposite the hotel (thanks to Ross for showing me this prior to a recce that I did a few days before) and it turns up through the forest reaching the Balade Béatrix. This is a small and quite precipitous path that skirts under the overhanging cliff that guards the summit (1130m).

There is a long and rather tiresome tale (in French) of the legend of Béatrix and what went on in the middle ages before the destruction the Vieux Château. That château must have indeed had a magnificent location atop the hill above St Cergue.

“Le sentier de la « Ballade à Béatrix » est jalonné de 16 panneaux récitant les étapes de la Chronique de St-Cergue. Celle-ci fut écrite par Frédéric-Jacques-Louis Rilliet (1794 – 1856) après qu’il eût effectué un séjour à St-Cergue à une date qui n’est pas établie précisément. Il raconte avoir reçu d’un vieillard du village un vieux meuble, seul vestige du château, qui contenait un ancien parchemin dont cette chronique a été extraite. Elle relate le dernier épisode de la vie du château de St-Cergue qui fut démoli durant les guerres de Bourgogne. Si les personnages de ce roman sont imaginaires, à l’exception du Duc de Bourgogne Charles le Téméraire et des Ducs de Savoie, le contexte politique, militaire et géographique, quant à lui, s’inspire de faits historiques. Nous espérons que l’humanisme des personnages de cette légende st-cerguoise vous rendra les personnages proches et sympathiques.”

Skipping reading the 16 panels we took a short cut and landed on top at 10am facing the rather wonderful panorama over Lac Leman to the alps from the panoply of grassy picnic areas. We took shelter from the sun under a substantial picnic shelter. It was of course a little early for our own picnic lunch, but we did take a nibble and took on more liquid, also wetting Kobie on his back.

Aiming to catch the 10.37 train from St Cergue we were soon down in the air-conditioned comfort of the NStCM carriage from which we alighted in the growing heat in Givrins.

Kobie took a bath in the water tank there and we were soon down and back up to the car, reaching Mervyn’s for beers and our picnics, at noon.

At hot one. Mad dog and Englishmen with a Yank, not out but home just before the midday sun.

7.5km and 640m ascent. Good idea to get out early. Thanks Mervyn for the coffee and beer.

Meteo Suisse did not disappoint and June 11th was a beautiful sunny morning, not too warm, perfect for a GIN hike. Our usual leader had exhausted himself with organisation of a university alumni extravaganza in Champery the weekend before so, when the usual notice of event did not appear, Stephen volunteered to step in to gather participants and devise a route for the fortnightly outing. Recent attendance at GIN events had been rather sparse due to the aging population taking advantage of pre-summer vacation breaks. So it was a bit of a surprise when the returns to the call for hikers saw an usually high positive response rate. In the event, 13 hikers appeared at the rendez-vous of the old station at Divonne, although the organiser had only initially counted 12 and was a little confused at the addition to make it a baker’s dozen (maybe he had forgotten to count himself? No, Mark 2Rs had somehow been left off the initial list).

Rudolph, a relative new-comer to the group, had not quite appreciated the approximation in most of the instructions and had positioned himself exactly at the old station, surprised when no-one else appeared. He soon realised that the people gathering a 100 metres away looked familiar. PeterST thought that the bike leader’s call to action must involve a bike and so rolled up (literally) on his bike. MikeH and Rocco also made an unexpected presence as dreams of a summer on the Med had been thwarted by his boat requiring undesired and excessive repairs. It was also good to see Bill again, returned from his annual USA retreat.

Anyway, all this is to say that a large compliment of GIN members gathered at the right time and right place eager for the gentle stroll promised up to the heights of Mont Mussy and Mont Mourex. This comprised:
Bill
Mark2Rs
Mark2Ts
MikeH + Rocco
Mervyn
Natham
PeterST
PeterT + Kobi
Ralph
RichardS
Rudolph
Stephen
Thatcher

Notably, the full newly-formed 240 club was present (Mark2Ts, RichardS, Mervyn) as was the relative youngster, PeterT, with a recently attained three-quarter century.

The wisdom of the usual hike leader questioned how a 4 km walk was going to occupy two and a half hours until lunch…but the man temporarily in charge had devised a plan: a spiral assault to the heights (hopefully not spiralling out of control). Initial direction was not promising. Trying to escape rapidly from the urban jungle the group was led directly towards a dead end but was happily saved by the man with local knowledge and belatedly acknowledged to be in the group: Mark2Rs. This had the added benefit of passing a little known local point of interest: a 4000 year old hexagonal astronomical stone, hardly noticeable in the modern Divonne, submerged in a grassy verge.

The spiralling begins

Mark led us onto the planned track which followed the base of Mount Mussy to Mourex overlooking the road between Divonne and Grilly when the foliage allowed. The group strung out as the path narrowed forming smaller sub-groups and allowing everyone to proceed at a comfortable speed. Frequent stops permitted reassembly. This group has sufficient medical experience to fill many tomes but once the usual update of ailments had passed our gentle meandering allowed conversations on a whole range of non-medical topics. At some point along this path RichardS let on that he was carrying more than his usual small bottle of surprises with sufficient celebratory champagne to satisfy the crowd once the summit was reached. We carried on up through Mourex on the road that the GIN Bikers fear due to its relentless steep incline up through the village and towards Mont Mourex.

Beautiful views to the Alps and observers

At the base of the final climb (and potential back relief for Richard) the leader consulted his watch and declared that there was more of the spiral to be covered. Happily, he ruled out the longer loop via Vesancy and proceeded on the upper path through the woods on the Jura side, circumnavigating further the Monts Mourex and Mussy. This path had some up and downs, allowing extra elevation to be added to the final statistics, and eventually emerged at a junction where the main track from the Ferme de Mont Mussy leads directly to the summits. By this stage the lack of our usual coffee stop was beginning to show on the hikers and there was a desire to rapidly complete the 1.2km to Mont Mourex and the promise of refreshments and our picnic lunches.

Old dogs on the way up through Mourex

Emerging from the woods into the open with the bright sunlight and stunning views was an almost religious experience for some. Their penance was soon to be rewarded with spiritual gain. Spiralling, or unspiralling, of a different sort was soon in progress as champagne cork wiring was unwound, corks removed with a spiral cork screw and screw top spirit bottles opened. The bench normally used for weary pilgrims was seconded as an impromptu bar. Birthdays were well celebrated and absent friends toasted with addition bubbly being found in PeterT’s backpack. In the middle of all this excitement and diversion of attention, Rocco seized the opportunity to nuzzle his way into Mervyn’s backpack and release goodies for himself. Despite the best efforts of experienced dog-handlers, Rocco was not easily deterred and it took some time before Mervyn’s tooth marked sandwiches were retrieved, almost intact. Happily the Côtes du Rhone Mervyn supplied added to the reduction of any potential rabies threat.

Two uses for the same bench

Ralph surpassed usual spirituality by offering a full bottle of the favourite Scottish tipple as well as a smaller sampler bottle of local kirsch from a neighbour…..all this in addition to Richard’s bottle of unusually acceptable brandy content. Not all was consumed but sufficient that the impact of increasing age coupled with food and especially alcohol was a recipe for uncontrollable siestas. As the years pass and the group ages the number of recumbent figures after lunch increases. This day was no exception.

What a view!

We’re not as young as we used to be…..

Eventually revived after a very satisfying lunch and rest, the group reformed ready for the unwinding spiral, initially towards Mourex but then turning anticlockwise to the direct return route on the lower wooded path on the Alps side of the mountain. This downhill section really separated the group as certain physical ailments are more difficult on the down than the up. By the time we were at the Ferme it was obvious that Ralph was in difficulty and that the cortisone treatment planned for the next day could not come quickly enough. He fairly rapidly agreed to await a pick up and had confidence that he would not be left stranded by the rest of the group. Richard kindly ensured that was the case.

The rest of us continued on the steepish downhill to the road and across by the Divonne Golf course and the Sources de la Divonne. This was flowing well but not flooded as had been seen on previous occasions. From here it was a short walk through the town, where one hiker took advantage of booking an economical haircut.

Farewells were said at the car park. Whilst some left for home a hard core decided that a visit to Charley’s Bar would be a more suitable ending….the retrieved Ralph being very much of that opinion. Mark2Ts generously supported this final fling.

The postscript to the walk was an evening email from Rudolph who had been relaxing in the shower after the hike only to find two ticks in close contact. It seems that siestas on the grass after lunch might have consequences…….

It was great to see so many GIN members out on an enjoyable walk in ideal conditions. What was scheduled as a gentle stroll was 15.5km and 420m climb (although other records may differ). In any case it was a good day’s exercise close to home….another confirmation of that great organisation called Gentlemen in Nyon.

This week saw a heat wave that really started to sap energies so it was not surprising, also given the number of members travelling in far off places, that only three and a dog turned out for this hike. Here is the flyer :-

“It will be hot this Thursday, so I am planning high and shaded, and beer at the Barillette. Maybe 400m – 500m up and not arduous except for the heat. The walk will be Taylored to the attendees. 
And we shall have a picnic after the beer, a little higher up.
 Meet at 9.30 at Divonne or at 10 am at St Cergue parking lot (W3W ///outer.dupe visits) at 10 am. (Note – this is 50m down the second road on the left entering and just before the roundabout in St Cergue, after ascending the hill from the Nyon exit. It is NOT Tancouez.)
Bring a picnic and water and sun gear.”

Attending : Nathan, Chris, Kobie and me.

Apologies : Mervyn (sipping Liffy water), Richard, David, Markrrs and Philip (keeping powder and foreheads dry), PeterSt (in the big hills), Marktts (in west Wales), Rudolf (sidetracked by the Walking Group scheduling), Rudi (golf), Thatcher (sailing the Cyclades), Ross (repatriation admin), etc etc.

The road up to (but not down from) St Cergue was closed and we had to deviate up through Arzier but we arrived shortly after 10am with heat beginning to build. The higher 1040m start point reduced the heat level a bit, and the final denivellation a lot.

Perhaps because of this heat we had to halt after only one minute because Chris’s left hiking boot came apart when the heel-sole came unstuck. He went back for his trainers. Nathan recommended the boot repair shop in La Combe and I can endorse this.

We set off again up the Beatrix trail turning right to ascend beneath the ruins of the Vieux Château and up past Guinfard, through the Bois de Guinfard. Nathan was keen to keep right but we kept left to the ridge and actually later descended down Nathan’s path.

Although the sun was high, there was a nice cooling breeze from the north, not quite a Bise but almost and the temperature was very pleasant all day.

The sun blazed down on us as we headed up the final stony slope towards the Barillette restaurant, which was open and not crowded on the terrace, and we were appointed a semi-shaded table for a most welcome beer – thanks Nathan for the beer!

With Kobie chomping on a meaty chew, splendid cold beer and good company, fabulous views across to the Alps, the question could have been asked, is this as good as it gets?

A decision was made to eat our picnics at the outside table at the Chalet des Apprentis, and we charted a course on the main trail avoiding the steep drop to the Bent Tree. Sadly however the outside table must have been inside, so we ate our lunch on a bench in the porch with superb views across the cliff face of La Dôle.

Fortified by a small tot of Lord Richmond whisky, (lord knows where that is from (and we missed Richard’s Bottle)), we took the courageous decision not to summit La Dôle, nor track up to the Col de Porte but instead wind our way back down the 5 Jura Crest Trail.

It was not long before we found ourselves down at the Bent Tree where it was comforting to see that it is still partly alive.

Kobie spent most of his time lurking in the shade of the mountain trees that we passed but it was not long before he found his true heaven.

The trail back down (slightly up in one place) was pleasant and enjoyable in the cooling breeze and it was not too long before we found ourselves heading down the slope into St Cergue.

This was a fine medium-grade hike made more enjoyable by the company and the good (not too hot) weather. Kobie enjoyed it too.

Back down in Divonne it was 6C warmer (30C) and dusty like Texas.

12.65km and 623 m denivellation (but Nathan had recorded 510m up and 570m down (!), Chris had 580m up – so I’ll go with mine).

This was a repeat of the hike done on 12 October 2023 that included 11 hikers and 3 dogs who enjoyed sunny autumn weather.

On this occasion our number was reduced to 5 hikers (Mark Watts, Andrew Neivens, Ross Linsley, Peter Taylor with Kobie, and Peter Strebel) possibly due the forecast of intermittent showers and colder than expected spring temperatures. Richard Saynor, with his backpack and special bottle at the ready, had to cancel the night before because of recommendations from his doctor.

The group gathered at the parking lot below the lower fort around 10 am. The mood was upbeat in the crisp morning air and under lighter skies. All forms of rain gear were donned including a fine rain jacket for Kobie.

The hike started with an uphill pull of around 170m through green beech forest to reach the Upper Fort.

Light rain had begun to fall with mists surrounding the Jura ridge and Vuache mountains. Questions were asked about the impressive fortifications but unfortunately the leader had forgotten to brush up on the history of Fort l’Ecluse.

After a gentle descent towards the village of Longeray and passage through a substantial metal gate, there was a right turn upwards following the sign indicating Leaz. The path continued uphill through fresh green-leaved forest and after about 45 minutes opened out into lush cow pastures.

There was a brief stop for a water break but with rain increasing the decision was made to continue walking.

On the farm roads down towards Leaz the rain began in earnest and there was growing concern about finding a dry spot for the picnic. Striding ahead with Kobie, Peter T found an empty water fountain shelter which provided a welcome break from the rain.

A somewhat hurried picnic ensued which was greatly enhanced by the combination of chocolate cookies (baked by Robin Linsley) and strong coffee from Mark 2TTs topped with a tot of whiskey to warm the spirits.

As predicted by the meteosuisse, the rain stopped around 1:40 pm and the group set out to the Belvedere de Leaz overlooking the Rhone valley. Miraculously, the sun came out and the mists lifted providing clear views of the west facing cliffs of the Vuache, the winding river below and the Upper and Lower Forts guarding the entrance to the Bellegarde gap.

As the brief patch of sun faded, the group began the descent into the Rhone valley. Despite the rain, the path down was not too slippery. Kobie opted to take the small bridge over a muddy stream rather than venture to the banks of the big river. The trail went passed the ruin of the Moulin de Condiere (alt 363m) and continued on crossing the TGV train tracks and up through the hamlet of Lavoux to reach parking lot. Under light rain, there were brief goodbyes as this was Ross’ last GIN hike before his return to Australia.

Overall, we covered 12 km in 5 hours with a denivelation of approximately 620m.