Category: Snowshoes

Mark Warren had chosen a splendid day for participants, 7 of us in all. The conditions were nye-on perfect. Cold, no wind, bright sun, deep powder and a fine hike in prospect up Grand Mt Rond (GMR) and back over petit.

Marks W and W, David, Richard, Steve, Mervyn and Peter attended with apologies from Drew, Rob and Philip.

We assembled and set off from the Col de la Faucille where every establishment and lift including the loos were shut up and boarded in this time of pandemic. Nevertheless there were quite a few folk out and about, including herds of tiny French tots on snow shoes, as well as many others on raquettes and back-country skiers, with a not un-small number of happy dogs (when he grows up next year Kobie is coming!). It wasn’t long before we were stepping gently up the forest trail in fir trees covered in sparkling powder and before long the tiny tots were left behind and we were out in the paradise of a Jura winter and into the glare of a fine sun.

It is fair to say that most of us reflected afterwards that this had been a best-ever and indeed magnificent temperance outing on snowshoes, certainly of recent times. This may have been due to short memories, or partly the fantastic conditions and views and partly due to the numbers of bottles of wine we consumed with social distancing on the top of GMR, accompanied by sandwiches, digestifs and coffee, all of which followed Richard’s Grappa surprise. We toasted absent friends, perhaps several times, as well as fraternising with a pair of Geneva old-timers who had somewhat absent-mindedly forgotten to bring alcohol to the summit. The only thing missing was a bar (to be remedied if we can find a lightweight portable one on the internet from China). Duly sated we flowed down the creamy thick, crystal powder of GMR and cruised across to the Petit Mt Rond amazed by the snow formations on the trees and cornices. After a full team photo shoot on a wooden bar (too small for our future use) we then slid back down the unpisted ski-run of PMR, some of us prostrated on poly-bags.

A truly memorable and staggering day. Thanks to Mark Warren for organising such a day of perfect conditions and raising the bar. Looking forward to many more. Onwards to vaccinations.

But not in quite such surreal conditions

Leader Rob. Attending Richard, Mark Wn, Peter.

Brought forward to Monday in view of an impending snow storm Tuesday, Steve had to miss out because it was his last day of quarantine. Philip was recuperating and Mark Wts had a heating problem, so only four of us assembled in frigid temperatures (it was -11.5C at Marchairuz col) at the EauFroide (only -7C) parking at the start of the ski trail back to Givrine. It was bitterly cold, but there was not a cloud in the sky so we knew we would get the sun to warm us eventually. Crystals of snow glistened in the advancing light as we threaded through a powder maze of christmas trees trying to keep fingers and vital parts warm. The powder was impeccable and after the start we saw no others on snow shoes all day.

Lunch was taken on a small hill in the sunshine, along with some odd liquids including a cold alcoholic version of coffee, Scottish fluid and something Norwegian. This is as good as it gets! The return route included further denivellation and good trails through fine forest. The icing on the cake back at the cars was provided by Mark who poured us champagne taken with galette celebrating the start of the snow shoe season.

A memorable start to 2021. Looking forward to more of the same and a better year than last.

Starting back

A compact team guided by Mark Warren and driven by Richard headed up to Givrine with an arc route to La Cure. Rob, Mark Watts, Steve, Paul, David S and Drew gave sundry excuses. This turned out to be a truly exhilarating day out. Fantastic deep powder snow conditions and bright sun gave us a real treat as we entered the forest into the oblivion. The trees were more loaded than Schilligers in November, and many small branches were bent over the virgin trail waiting to dump us with powder. About 180m up to a barn and then down the long trail to a fondu at Chez Mamac, La Cure. 7 km but enough. Super day and company. Also attending Philip and Peter T. Thanks to Richard for taking the train back to fetch the car while the rest of us drank beers and vin chaud by a warm stove.

A motley crew of 6, missing Drew excused with a cold, ascended from a crowded carpark at Col de la Faucille into the quiet and peaceful snowy forest in perfect weather and then on up to Mt Rond for fantastic views in 360°. Fresh snow powder added to the fun, especially on the steeper descent. Lunch later in Refuge de Florimont was as good as it gets. Even a whisky flask was employed to round us off. Attending – Mark Warren (leader – merci Mark), Rob Pashley (he got all the whiskey), Richard Saynor, Philip Jenkins, Steve Long and Peter Taylor. Not 499 m but memorable, great fun and company.

A fine day out from over and beyond Marchairuz organised by Rob and attended by Richard, Mark and Philip. Fine sun, good fresh snow and the following are quotes from attendees (I bailed out with a touch of the Coronavirus (cold)).

“The trail was 8.8 kms but only half of our normal 499 metres ascent!”

Quotes from Richard (above) and Mark.

“You are right it was lovely weather and a great snowshoe – 8.8km and 256m height difference.The valley from Marchairuz towards the Givrine was a first for most of us. It’s less frequented than coming from the other side. The snowshoe tracks were marked with polls but we were the first on most of it since the last snowfall.
Next date planned is 18 February; I hope you are available  to join us.”

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

Tuesday 7 Jan 2020

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.

  

The gods were kind to the four (Richard, Phillip, Mervyn and Mark Warren) on the first snowshoeing outing of the season on Tuesday 10 December, since after a drenched Monday there was sufficient fresh snow and abundant sunshine for a delightful hike to the Vermeilley refuge, some 4.5 kms from our start at the Givrine station. Unusually for that part of the world, the path had not been cleared and few people had even trampled the path after the Genollier. The fondue at the Vermeilley was its usual high standard and that and the wine made the afternoon return seem easier than the going.

As Mervyn wrote:

“What an ideal way to start off the 2019/20 snow-shoeing season!

Perfect snow conditions underfoot and cloudless blue skies above.

I could get used to that.

Many thanks for your company, good humour and organisation and especially to Richard for his driving and kiwis.

 

Wishing you all a very Happy Christmas and looking forward to more mountain adventures in the New Year”.

And so say all of us.

Mark

 

 

7 Feb 2019 Enjoyable inaugural snow-shoe event, up to Vermeilleys from La Givrine for a fondue in snowy (good) then rainy (not so good) conditions, under the guidance of Mark Warren. With Robert Mackenzie, David Stiebor, Robert Pashley, Richard Saynor and me. Cheese Trifon fondue was excellent as was the chasselas. Sadly not all made it, but we regrouped for a tea at the end. Photos to follow. Peter