{"id":6997,"date":"2026-04-19T22:15:25","date_gmt":"2026-04-19T21:15:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ginclub.website\/home2\/gentsinnyon\/?p=6997"},"modified":"2026-04-19T22:15:25","modified_gmt":"2026-04-19T21:15:25","slug":"16-april-26-the-annual-daffodil-hunt","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ginclub.website\/home2\/gentsinnyon\/2026\/04\/19\/16-april-26-the-annual-daffodil-hunt\/","title":{"rendered":"16 April 26 The Annual Daffodil Hunt"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Here is the Flyer I sent :-<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mark2ts usually leads this botanical adventure but he is still in Blighty, and will be so then, so I will lead.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s hope the daffs are still there. We\u2019ve missed them before\u2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The map below shows the route over La D\u00f4le, 14km and 690m so quite a tough one for us. Say grade 5. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Picnic needed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Last year the team of 10 was as follows :-<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Each\u00a0Five of us: David C, Mervyn, Nathan and 2 Marks met at the parking in Divonne and drove up together to meet Peter, Steven, Ross, 2 Mikes: Hempstead and Mathews, and 2 dogs: Kobie and Rocco, at La Givrine.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

This year a novel approach was taken. I had advertised this as a hard hike (Grade 5 needs calibrating) in order to ensure that folk were well informed before accepting a harder outing than they wanted. After a kernel of tough-nut hikers seemed to be forming, Mark2rs suggested that an alternative easier approach might attract daffodil delinquents who might not appreciate mixing harder ardour with beautiful botany. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We had 8 hikers start at La Givrine for the traditional D\u00f4le troll, and 5 botannical boffins who would come in from La Vattay and meet us in the fields of gold. Mark2rs’s Botannical Blog is given below (thanks Mark).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meeting up on time at La Givrine (1205m) were Stephen (bravely sporting shorts), Ross, PeterSt, Mervyn, Chris, Nicolas and Onyx, and me and Kobie. Accountants and nitpicking quiz experts among you may have counted that there are only 7 Gintlemen in that list, along with 2 dogs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We duly set off in bright weather with a light breeze. After a few hundred metres my accountant brain (such as is left of it) kicked in as I counted only 7 of us when we should have been 8. We had forgotten Michael Mathews who had planned to arrive by train but because of railworks came up on the bus, which had been delayed (as always he says). We duly turned round and on reaching a knoll we saw Michael speeding across the grass towards us. We were now all together. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The initial crew assembled as we began to realise that Michael was missing<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The next challenge was going to be evident fairly quickly. How much snow would there be? None of us had grippers, snow shoes or ice axes and we were going to attacking the north face of La D\u00f4le (1677m).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Mervyn and Michael who has now been gathered in<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

It was not long before we began to transit rather large snow patches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Quite a depth of snow in shaded parts<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A further slight problem arose in that Onyx seemed set on humping Kobie at every opportunity, albeit unsuccessfully each time. Nicolas was sadly having to keep Onyx on a leash in accordance too with Swiss legal requirements.. It may be that Onyx may have to be attended to in the tackle department if such behaviour is to be cured.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After 2 km of pleasant going in a SW direction we headed up past the closed Couvaloup de Crans Restaurant towards La D\u00f4le in a general SE direction. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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At Couvaloup de Crans starting the ascent of the ski slope<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

At this point Stephen strode ahead and took a more southerly route up the mountain. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Looking up towards the ridge of La D\u00f4le<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

It was clear (to me anyway) that our ascent would be aided by staying off the slushy snow and keeping to the grassy slopes to the left, meeting the ridge and then strolling up the grass on the ridge to the summit; and so it transpired, albeit Stephen preferred the snowy more direct route. We arrived at the top at noon. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Out of the wind on the summit.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Ross, Chris, Michael, Stephen and PeterSt with Kobie, in the sun<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Mt Blanc had been visible but the clouds came in a bit<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

There was no time for coffee or ap\u00e8ro, as we had a rendezvous arrival time of 1 pm and there were a few km of descent to come. We passed by some chamois which our hounds kindly gave up chasing pretty quickly and then struggled down the rubbly and rocky ridge towards the border where we hope to meet the Vattay venturers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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We spot the Vattay Botanists on the hill to the left, seen much earlier after whistling and waving.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

It was at this point that we began to spot daffodils, in small clumps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We struggled up the hill on time at 1pm to meet our French chums (we were now in France) and a hearting greeting ensued, dogs joined in too. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A lunch spot a little off the top of the hill in the lee of the wind and next to a small triangle of daffodils served as an ideal lunch spot, facing the intermittent sun. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Stephen had some upper crust glassware<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Bottles were opened and our picnic commenced. Red wines, Gigondas and others helped to avoid any choking incidents (as I had bought some wraps). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Kobie settles in to some opportunistic begging<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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General view – Nathan seems to be taking a siesta. Onyx is restrained for aforementioned reasons<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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We were right on time for the daffs<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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A good place to solve the problems of the world – there are a few at present…<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Last of the winter wine<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Kobie likes people, and mostly vice versa…<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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There was a bit of sun. Note shorts in the Vattay team too. Richards Bottle made an appearance.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Beginning to pack up<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Nathan now well rested. Note the yellow fields in the distance…<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

It was time (2.25pm) for us to part and say our goodbyes to the French Frolickers, and we eight hikers and 2 dogs set off down towards the expected golden fields.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Normally the fields on the right would be full of daffodils but the snow pack had only recently melted.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Finally though, on the steeper sunny slopes to our left the daffodils were there laid out in all their glory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A host of thousands<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Getting the shots<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Ross Peter and Mervyn, enjoying the grail of our hike. Mark2ts would be pleased that we made it.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

There followed quite a tough after-lunch section up 150m or so through the forest, therefore on quite deep snow into which our boots were sinking. Stephen laid much of the trail, in whose boot-marks we struggled to follow. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Looking back up the mountain from the forest. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Eventually we topped out on the ski run which we followed back to Couvaloup, and which I found much easier descending than on the usual grass. Was it the wine or the ibuprofen?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Looking back at Couvaloup.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

We had seen at least one skier (with his dog) on the day. Indeed there was quite a covering for those who fancy ski touring. This hike had been tougher than any previous hike led by Mark2ts, on account of the snow cover. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was left to descend easily the road and then the soft grassy mounds to La Givrine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I made it 16km and 740m, slightly above Mark2ts earlier assessment. Our gadgets all seem to differ. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A very pleasant hike, good chats, great to see the Botanists in France too. Sorry we missed some regulars including our daffodil guru Mark2ts. The ladies (IWCN) intend to visit the fields towards the end of April. I believe that they too will see daffs, but in the fields that were yet to sprout because of late snows. We were lucky too. May we continue to be so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Botanical Adventure Thursday 16 April 2026<\/strong> (Mark2rs) <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The announcement by the hiking supremo that the route over the D\u00f4le for this traditional botanical adventure of 14km and 690m was quite a tough one for us stimulated some stalwarts but spread alarm to others. However, instead of throwing their knapsacks down and declining outright, they proposed a less challenging route starting from la Vattay. This was reminiscent of an earlier hike when the border was closed towards the end of the Covid lockdown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Consequently, five Gintlemen, Richard Saynor, Philip Jenkins, Rob Pashley, Nathan Finkelstein and Mark Warren, set off from la Vattay for a hike of about 5.5 km each way with a height gain of 300m on a straight forward trail. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

On discovering that the organiser was a reluctant leader, Richard led us up the direct trail, which though never difficult was covered in compacted snow remaining from the skiing season. In fact, one or two skiers were seen in the course of the day. Botanist Philip informed us of the names of several flowers, including the spring squill, but one, which we baptised the triffid, eluded him. Diligent that he is, he later informed us that the real name of the plant, ignominiously called a triffid, that we saw on the way from La Vattay yesterday, is Butterbur. The unusual flowers are only seen in early Spring. The rest of the year you only see heart-shaped leaves, which get bigger and bigger as the year proceeds and eventually are enormous (rhubarb-sized).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As expected, we arrived at our meeting place 30 minutes before the other group, which gave time to relax and watch approaching hikers for the other party who arrived on time at 1pm. Carpets of crocuses were everywhere as well as several of the promised daffodils, with many more to come. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A leisurely and most enjoyable lunch was had by all. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

All too soon it was time to separate and return our respective ways. Philip to the lead this time, taking us perfectly through the cross-country skiing domaine to our cars. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A most enjoyable outing. Thanks Peter and everyone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

10 kilometres and 300m height difference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Here is the Flyer I sent :- Mark2ts usually leads this botanical adventure but he is still in Blighty, and will be so then, so I will lead.\u00a0 Let\u2019s hope the daffs are still there. We\u2019ve missed them before\u2026. The map below shows the route over La D\u00f4le, 14km and 690m so quite a tough … Continue reading “16 April 26 The Annual Daffodil Hunt”<\/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-6997","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-hikes"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ginclub.website\/home2\/gentsinnyon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6997","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=6997"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/ginclub.website\/home2\/gentsinnyon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6997\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7025,"href":"https:\/\/ginclub.website\/home2\/gentsinnyon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6997\/revisions\/7025"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ginclub.website\/home2\/gentsinnyon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6997"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ginclub.website\/home2\/gentsinnyon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6997"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ginclub.website\/home2\/gentsinnyon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6997"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}