{"id":6941,"date":"2026-04-06T16:14:41","date_gmt":"2026-04-06T15:14:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ginclub.website\/home2\/gentsinnyon\/?p=6941"},"modified":"2026-04-12T19:44:17","modified_gmt":"2026-04-12T18:44:17","slug":"the-last-fondu-la-genoliere-2-april-26","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ginclub.website\/home2\/gentsinnyon\/2026\/04\/06\/the-last-fondu-la-genoliere-2-april-26\/","title":{"rendered":"The last fondu – La Genoli\u00e8re 2 April 26"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Sitting here on a very warm Easter Monday it is hard to think back to the cold winds and deep snow that we encountered and endured only last Thursday up in the Jura. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This was to be a last visit and fondu of the winter season to say farewell to Maria and her fellow crew at the Buvette de La Genoli\u00e8re before they close for the summer season when the place becomes a cow byre. Initially ten signed up, but we had one cancellation and one addition – that of Robert O’Riordan who was to join us for the lunch only. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So – nine of us with two dogs Kobie and Plato, met up at Tancouez (1057m) at W3W\/\/\/udder.able.tilts – which as Rudolf Staehelin found is a location in Canada as well as near St Cergue. Happily he arrived safely at the parking with Joe Kutzin who accompanied his dog Plato (aged 12). I cannot recall Joe out on hikes before, albeit he is a ski regular and has attended the main club lunches – welcome Joe. Also attending the regular crew – RichardSay, Philip, Stephen, DavidC, Nathan, PeterSt and me PeterT.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Tancouez not in Canada<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The day was bright and clear but with a cold bise wind still somewhat evident. My plan was to track past Les Mouilles through the wood to fields then W and NW then SW to the Fruiti\u00e8res de Nyon Chalet, thence up to Cabane Rochefort 1388m for ap\u00e8ros. After that we would travel WSW through the wonderful “secret” forest before a drop down into Grande Combe then steeply up to La Genloi\u00e8re itself at 1348m.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Philip, David, Joe, Richard, Stephen, Rudolf, Nathan and Peter with Plato and Kobie<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

We were all dressed well for the cold but sunny conditions, even Stephen could not be tempted to air his shorts. The initial part of the hike was on dry ground – there had been some doubt as to whether or not we should have packed snow shoes, but as this was the first hike of the hiking season, and as I had managed the same hike without such kit only 11 days earlier, I determined that we should just about be able to manage without. In the event this was just about the case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Encountering some snow in the forest at 1150m.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

We formed a sensible line with Stephen me and Kobie at the front, generally Joe and Plato to the rear. The two dogs seemed the get on tolerably well, but mostly happily ignored each other. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

(I looked up the sayings of Plato. The one I liked was – “Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools, because they have to say something”)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Very soon we were up in the sun at the Fruiti\u00e8res de Nyon, Chalet Devant. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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At the Chalet Devant, Fruiti\u00e8res de Nyon, La D\u00f4le behind. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Lining up in the sun but no time to rest. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

There was no long stop planned here as we needed to bash on up the Cabane Rochefort for ap\u00e8ro refreshment, and where some Luins was joined by brandy from the famous bottle. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ap\u00e8ro time in the sun. These are the good times. Nathan, Joe and me – trying to log our cars into the parking at Tancouez. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Calling ahead to warn Maria that we would be likely arriving closer to 1 pm than 12.30pm, I hoped that Robert would be OK on his walk up from La Givrine. Philip decided not to branch out on his own, but stayed with us, as the snow was becoming deeper with not a lot of sign of activity on the trail ahead. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Joe with Plato. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Getting set to leave<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Broaching the top at 1400m we turned slightly left to follow the path down along the ridge to the gap in the wall to the secret forest. Only here the snow depth completely covered the wall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Deep snow in the secret forest<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Kobie found a bike track useful<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Looking back from the slope up to La Genoli\u00e8re into the Grande Combe<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

We found that the lack of snow shoes was just about justifiable. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The final section<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Suddenly we arrived and entered the Buvette, meeting Robert who had safely made it too. There was a nice log fire to keep us all toasty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Beers helped to revive us after the last tough uphill battle in the snow<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Joined by Robert at the far end<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Croute and R\u00f6sti for me and Nathan<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Two teams tackled the fondu offering, and it seemed that the cheese was performing well. My croute was exceptional too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Seven chose fondu<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Maria giving us good service <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

We had some very pleasant Chasselas to help it all go down. Tarts were enjoyed for dessert, then coffees. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Kobie reasonably behaved. At the other end Plato was a model of composure and training. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The was much to discuss and debate about the problems of the world, many stemming from Trump and the Iran war, fuel crisis looming, the Ukraine war ongoing, climate change tipping points etc. Scottish independence gained little traction. Outside Kobie played occasionally with Moos and Zwichon giving me some rest while eating. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

PeterSt had to be home by 4pm so he and Robert, Richard and Philip all left with 35 minutes to spare to meet the 14.57 train at La Givrine. The remainding 6 of us chose my plan to track directly back down into the Grande Combe again, then back up and over steeply down into Combe Grasse to pick up the mountain road that leads ESE down to Tancouez.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Back down to the Grande Combe<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Looking back to La Genoli\u00e8re and the Grande Combe, Joe and Plato coming back to join us. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

At one point we wondered where Joe had got too. It seems that Plato was loth to leave the Buvette, he has a herding instinct and wanted to herd all the folk still there to join us. We finally spotted them coming down and across to rejoin the party. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I knew that the path into Combe Grasse was steep, and being covered in snow made it not much easier, but we all made it safely down onto the mountain road, still also with snow. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

From there it was a pleasant stroll back down in the warming sun. I made it 12 km and 546m (but my I-watch seems inaccurate and Nathan’s 490m seems more true). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our drive back (Stephen, Kobie and me) was only slightly marred by getting stuck in yet another jam on the autoroute. We listened to some good Coldplay Everyday Life to help us through. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thanks for the company everyone. The hiking season 2026 has started. Maybe less snow next time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

POSTSCRIPT<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sunday 12 April 26<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Maria had indicated that the Buvette closes on 13 April 2026 for the season. As I felt that I had left 10 days ago without saying a proper goodbye, I decided to re-hike the last route to La Genoli\u00e8re and give them a bottle of bubbly. It was a wet Sunday and Kobie and I waited until midday when the worst of the rain had past and it was merely moist. From Tancouez to the Buvette we encountered only one other party, the hills were damp and quiet. There was still plenty of snow in the forest and on shaded slopes – it’s going to take weeks for that to melt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We knocked and entered at 1.40 pm with Moos and Zwikon there but no guests at all and signs that the team were packing up. There was some tart evident and Maria came down hearing Kobie’s bark. I gave her the bottle and was provided with a coffee and tart on the house. Then Maria fetched from a shelf a pair of gloves – my nice pair with wrist loops that I had left there 10 days ago and had still not noticed that they were missing! We thanked each other. Maria said that she and her team (family or friends?) move to a Mt Tendre chalet for the summer to look after the cows up there, sadly there is no buvette at that chalet. The Genoli\u00e8re Buvette will reopen on 6 Novembre. Put that in your agendas:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kobie and I left and returned to Tancouez the same way as on the Gin hike. The steep snowy slope which caused consternation before, was devoid of snow and was slippy in the rain. Kobie found an impressive leg bone with a furry “tail” which he proudly carried for 45 minutes all the way to the car. As it was wet, there were many worms out on the tarmac and tracks, looking for their fortunes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Entering the secret forest through the gap in the wall – covered in snow 10 days earlier<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Approaching La Genoli\u00e8re in the Grande Combe, still a lot of snow in places, but none on the sunny slopes. There were many new crocuses. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Bye Bye Moos<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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The return descent into the Grande Combe<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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The same place 10 days earlier <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Sitting here on a very warm Easter Monday it is hard to think back to the cold winds and deep snow that we encountered and endured only last Thursday up in the Jura. This was to be a last visit and fondu of the winter season to say farewell to Maria and her fellow crew … Continue reading “The last fondu – La Genoli\u00e8re 2 April 26”<\/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":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6941","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-hikes"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ginclub.website\/home2\/gentsinnyon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6941","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=6941"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/ginclub.website\/home2\/gentsinnyon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6941\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6995,"href":"https:\/\/ginclub.website\/home2\/gentsinnyon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6941\/revisions\/6995"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ginclub.website\/home2\/gentsinnyon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6941"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ginclub.website\/home2\/gentsinnyon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6941"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ginclub.website\/home2\/gentsinnyon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6941"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}