{"id":6841,"date":"2026-02-20T22:21:11","date_gmt":"2026-02-20T21:21:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ginclub.website\/home2\/gentsinnyon\/?p=6841"},"modified":"2026-02-20T22:29:17","modified_gmt":"2026-02-20T21:29:17","slug":"no-country-for-old-wimps-19-2-26-la-genoliere","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ginclub.website\/home2\/gentsinnyon\/2026\/02\/20\/no-country-for-old-wimps-19-2-26-la-genoliere\/","title":{"rendered":"No Country for Old Wimps 19.2.26 La Genoli\u00e8re"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Peter Strebel called us for a snow-shoe outing in a snow-storm. This was no country for (old) wimps, a reference to a previous week’s outing where one member turned up because he did not want to be seen as one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I am writing this Blog for Peter while he prepares for his Australian trip, but to him goes the credit for sounding us out and choosing a route which minimised driving and gave us sufficient exercise prior to eating hot cheese. One of his earlier options involved a picnic in a gale causing a strongly negative response. One member in particular did not want to “live his life like a sandwich in the wind”. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The forecast was indeed for continuous falling snow and many realised that this is indeed when the Jura comes alive in winter, the trees are bedecked like a Schilliger’s Christmas display, the wind howls and the fondus feel so much tastier. Our route started at La Givrine tracking up across a field to the woods in a NW direction before turning to head NE towards the Pr\u00e9 du Four Chalet. From there we were to steer towards La Genoli\u00e8re a favourite eatery in a storm, followed by the easy track down back to the parking afterwards. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Turning out at Divonne parking were 7 deranged folk, but non-wimps: Peters Strebel, Solomon and Taylor, Nathan, Mervyn, RichardS and Chris Newton, not to forget Kobie. The road was clear of snow up to La Givrine, but fine snow was in the air and the parking was slushily covered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Kobie rolling in the slush at the parking lot (at 1205m), lots of kiddies out with their sleds too <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The EasyPark was not working for me (lack of internet) but the machine worked and we were soon off guided by staff along the sides of the crosscountry ski trail. No cross country skiers were out that day. Tracking in single file (especially for Kobie who could not move in the deep powder) up the initial slope, the snow was soft and deep and the going hard and hot. My knees (PT) were not going to thank me for today. PeterSt took over the lead as we approached the forest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Line management on the ski trail as we entered the forest<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Now that we were on the ski trail we ignored orders to keep to one side, nobody was skiing, the going became much easier as we chatted until we came in sight of Les Coppettes Chalet at 1300m. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Winter wonderland and easy going on the ski trail (raod in summer)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

We turned off the track and headed up again into the deep powder this time with PeterSo in the lead and it was not long before we heaved into the covered shelter of Pr\u00e9 du Four (1395m). Time for ap\u00e8ros. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Just room behind the huge mound of snow for shelter and ap\u00e8ros<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
A starling mound of snow had slipped off the roof, we were wary about what was still up there..<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Choice of liquor from the Bottle, and some Austrian white, to accompany nibbles <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Brilliant conditions for being up and about<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I don’t think that any of us had seen this much snow in the Jura before. While the Alps were showing code red avalanche warnings, the Jura had a code orange moderate. It looked like the most serious danger might come from chalet roofs..<\/p>\n\n\n\n

PeterSt telephoned ahead to La Genoli\u00e8re to advise them that we would be slightly late for our 12.30 reservation, we had been moving slowly in the deep white landscape. We packed up and exited from the far end (to avoid the roof danger) and headed off in single file up the remaining 35m or so of ascent before starting down past the Grutli Chalet, PeterSt and PeterSo breaking trail heroically. The wind was blowing strongly from our right and it had not stopped snowing and the scenery was of the Jura’s very best. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Out there in the storm, passing Grutli. Look at the snow depth!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

We passed down through the very beautiful forest that contains the lower trail up to Cabane Carroz. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Sublime winter forest, PeterSo looking happy<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Same view but from the rear<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Chris and Nathan loving it<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
As were me and Mervyn at the back<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

We made it down all too soon onto the main trail and turned left and up to be met by Moos at La Genoli\u00e8re. We had reserved a table, and I was little surprised that there were 3 other parties there, but all were couples. After hanging up our wet kit we sat down near the log fire to some initial beers with Kobie his chews on a carpet that I had carried for him. Cheese and other dishes were ordered, some fondu, some r\u00f6sti, some croutes and soup, was down with some excellent white wine. We had earned it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
My Cheese Croute was outstanding <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
looking down to the fondu end. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Classic cheese eating Gintlemen<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There was much discussion at the table about many subjects, including winter avalanche deaths (too many), absent friends (too many to name), dogs, politics, rugby, golf (sic), future events, the arrest of Andrew and even Scottish independence. I may have missed many other topics – it was just nice to feel warm and well fed and watered and back in the company of our chums, while all along the snow fell outside. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Proving that Kobie does indeed rest on his carpet as ordered (after a while admittedly)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

All too soon it was time to pay (cash only) and tog up for the exit outside into the snow again. It was still snowing but only very lightly. We all donned our snow shoes, although it was perfectly feasible to walk back in boots as others were doing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Heading back down the main trail to La Givrine.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

We were soon back at the cars where the tarmac was mostly cleared of snow. The temperature there was perhaps just above freezing, it was not cold enough for ice. We could even see sun at the very end, dimly admittedly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Saying our goodbyes – notice the lack of snow, cleared by the authorities and the warmer temperature <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Another great day out that will linger in the memory on forthcoming hot summer days. I made it 9.7km and 405m (although that does seem a tad over the top – it was on my watch so it goes into the spreadsheet). Thanks again to PeterSt for organising and breaking trail, PeterSo too. May there be many more.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Peter Strebel called us for a snow-shoe outing in a snow-storm. This was no country for (old) wimps, a reference to a previous week’s outing where one member turned up because he did not want to be seen as one. I am writing this Blog for Peter while he prepares for his Australian trip, but … Continue reading “No Country for Old Wimps 19.2.26 La Genoli\u00e8re”<\/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-6841","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-snowshoes"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ginclub.website\/home2\/gentsinnyon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6841","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=6841"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/ginclub.website\/home2\/gentsinnyon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6841\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6865,"href":"https:\/\/ginclub.website\/home2\/gentsinnyon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6841\/revisions\/6865"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ginclub.website\/home2\/gentsinnyon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6841"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ginclub.website\/home2\/gentsinnyon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6841"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ginclub.website\/home2\/gentsinnyon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6841"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}