{"id":5641,"date":"2025-02-13T21:29:14","date_gmt":"2025-02-13T20:29:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ginclub.website\/home2\/gentsinnyon\/?p=5641"},"modified":"2025-02-14T20:24:29","modified_gmt":"2025-02-14T19:24:29","slug":"gin-ss-hike-to-restuarant-couvaloup-de-crans-via-col-de-porte","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ginclub.website\/home2\/gentsinnyon\/2025\/02\/13\/gin-ss-hike-to-restuarant-couvaloup-de-crans-via-col-de-porte\/","title":{"rendered":"Gin SS Hike to Restaurant Couvaloup de Crans via Col de Porte"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

At least one intending snow shoer inquired as to whether this hike could be moved from Thursday to Wednesday in view of the poor weather forecast for Thursday, but following the addage that there is no such thing as wrong weather, only wrong gear, we ploughed ahead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

11 and a dog showed up at Le Coutzet parking at 1160m, at 10am, just as a very large truck was loading up very large logs in the car park.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Loading logs with dexterity and finesse<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Happily the log loader had done this many times before and we were not threatened by falling wood. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Attending : Mark2ts, MichaelM, Stephen, Rob, Nathan, Andrew, Ross, Drew, Mervyn, Ralph and me and Kobie. Apologies were received from many, some of them with reasonable sounding excuses. Sad that Larry had had to return to Canada to lower his blood pressure. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I was quite surprised that all 10 others who said they would come, actually turned up on the day. The forecast was indeed not great. My hope was that the precipation would turn to snow as we gained height – and indeed this turned out to be the case. Despite this being a snow-shoe hike, and with it being mild and slushy at the car park we unanimously took the decision to leave our raquettes behind in the cars, and “wing it” on boots. I must admit to being a little apprehensive about this, especially as the snow arrived in spades not long after we had left the car park, both underfoot and falling on us !<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anyway without the snow shoes we were lighter and more nimble as we slid our way up the initial slopes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Nimbly taking in the initial slush<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Stephen led upward and he seemed to be in fine form after his hiking holiday in La Gomera, despite his somewhat niggling replacement knee, possibly to be re-replaced soon. He sported an orange plastic bag which reminded us of another member who also has this in his lexicon of kit (and who also hikes La Gomera).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The team in a “Before” shot, looking positively charged<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

We had been in reasonably dry weather to begin with. The precipitation soon came. Rain, then sleet then snow. Stopping for a breather at the Bent Tree (now more bent as you may discern) brought back memories of winter hikes past.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Kobie at the Bent Tree – before the thick snow arrived<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Kobie at the Bent Tree April 2023<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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looking back from the Bent Tree<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Morale seemed good so we ploughed on up towards the Chalet des apprentis<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Thicker snow falling – the Chalet des apprentis on the right<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Looking back at the Chalet des apprentis, Nathan in his Norwegian white jacket<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Kobie led the way up, sensing or smelling the chamois whom we spotted hunkered down on the steep cliffs left of the Col de Porte which was reached in good time for some aperos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Aperos and coffee at the Col<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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The same spot in April 2023<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Sheltering under the lee of the hut at the Col de Porte (1557m) we were looking out at falling snow, reminiscent of April 2023 when Nathan had led us up here. These are the winter walks at their best !<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thus far we had seen precisely nobody else about, and the trails were virgin snow, surprisingly easy to walk on without raquettes. The descent began at 12.10 pm and indeed it took us only half an hour descending in pleasant powder snow, passed lower down on the piste by the odd skier enjoying very pleasant snow conditions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Looking back up to the Col de Porte<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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The trees beginnig to take on a Schilligers look<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

We arrived at the Restaurant Couvaloup de Crans (1280m) only a little behind schedule. There were a number of skiers taking refreshment, but a big table had been set for us. Dr Gabs beer was soon delivered and a relaxed feeling that “the worst is over” seemed to be coming through. Of course this was a false sense of reality – but more of that later. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Various dishes were ordered duly deliverd and consumed, including much r\u00f6sti and croute fromage and mushroom. One member misrembered his order and started eating the plate of another, but a diplomatic incident was averted as a new dish was required to be cooked and came in good time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Michael and Mark hold the far end<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Mervyn eyes his tartelette de citron<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Stephen related an Irish joke from La Gomera. It was funny but I cannot relate it here as the Censor would make noises. We drank the health of absent friends, sorry to miss them and sorry they were missing another classic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At this juncture I can tell you that I’m typing this on 13 February – ie the same day as this outing. We(I) did inquire of Rob as to when his blog of the SS outing 4 weeks ago was going to be seen, but he seemed to fall back on the “no rules” “rule” of GinClub, some would say a line of argument on thin ice. Given that he is the SS Organiser (and is having an abstemious quarter), he does have rank over me here, so I’m resting my case. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was snowing outside and the fire inside was keeping us nice and warm. More beer then dessert and coffees arrived and Drew shared some Scotch. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Andrew and Ralph pondering the likelihood of escaping alive<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Genral view with our efficient and friendly hostess<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

It was time to pay up and go, the bill being divided unfairly or fairly as to ones choices, but in fact I think we tried to be fairer than a straight split by 11.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Off out into the precipitation now being more sleety rain than rainy sleet. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Wending our way up the trail to Fin Ch\u00e2teau<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

We opted for the shorter higher trail home. Indeed I did not recall this from earlier (April 23 visit) in particular that the trail rises up well over 110m on the way back. Clearly nobody had been this way for some time, trees had fallen across the trail which at times seemed to disappear. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Following the rather sketchy trail<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

This route followed a trail on the map just south of Le Kikajon to the Fin Ch\u00e2teau, the latter being not obvious as, if there ever had been such an establishment, it’s Fin was some time ago. We descended steeply to a clearing and a trail more indicative of use and stopped for a breather and a photo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The “After” photo – many still smiling. Kobie seemed a bit resigned though.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

It was indeed not too far now to the cars. The rain\/sleet had subsided. If there was any grumbling, I did not hear it. Even Kobie had enjoyed himself (when does he not?).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A hike of nearly 11km and 550m denivellation. Some gear was tested. Some found good, some not so. Lessons for the future. And I believe we all agreed that given the soft conditions and low depth of snow that wearing snow shoes would have been worse. Thanks for all the fun folks. Until the next time. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

At least one intending snow shoer inquired as to whether this hike could be moved from Thursday to Wednesday in view of the poor weather forecast for Thursday, but following the addage that there is no such thing as wrong weather, only wrong gear, we ploughed ahead. 11 and a dog showed up at Le … Continue reading “Gin SS Hike to Restaurant Couvaloup de Crans via Col de Porte”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5641","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-snowshoes"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ginclub.website\/home2\/gentsinnyon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5641","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ginclub.website\/home2\/gentsinnyon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ginclub.website\/home2\/gentsinnyon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ginclub.website\/home2\/gentsinnyon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ginclub.website\/home2\/gentsinnyon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5641"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/ginclub.website\/home2\/gentsinnyon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5641\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5677,"href":"https:\/\/ginclub.website\/home2\/gentsinnyon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5641\/revisions\/5677"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ginclub.website\/home2\/gentsinnyon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5641"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ginclub.website\/home2\/gentsinnyon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5641"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ginclub.website\/home2\/gentsinnyon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5641"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}