Weekend hike: La Pierreuse, Pay d'Enhaut.

We had been told about this small nature reserve by a friend and thought we'd check it out - we weren't disappointed. A morning ride on the famous MOB train got us to Chateau d'Oex by 10.30. We crossed the Sarine river and headed eastwards. The directions are well marked (as would be expected in Switzerland) with the famous yellow signboards. At the village of Gerignoz we turned southwards and puffed our way up a steep tarmaced road which ran beside a plesant gurguling stream.

It was a steep uphill slog.....

......for which we were well rewarded. A 'hidden valley' full of colourful spring flowers protected by a semi-circular rampart of cliffs. Spectacular.

We had not given ourselves enough time to wander round this idyllic spot, so a return visit is high on the list of 'must do's' for 2010.

More information about the reserve can be found at: http://www.chateau-doex.ch/english/html/nature/pierreuse.htm

Spring in Champery

View of the Dents du Midi from just above Champery. This was taken last year - spring hasn't really come yet this year. There are a lot of good hiking trails starting out from this sleepy resort village which is accessible via a rather slow branch line from Aigle.

Day hike: Vallorbe - Le Pont

We had just done the first steep(ish) section out of Vallorbe and seen a small herd of chamoix.


There was a bit of snow higher up....


...and towards the top it got a bit deeper............


The view from Dent de Vaulion of Lac de Joux.

Day Hike: Vallorbe - Le Pont (the long route)

Just did this walk today. Really enjoyed it. For the first long hike of the season it was strenuous - an 800+ metre height gain and a distance of almost 13kms. Don't believe the sign boards - it takes a good 4.5 hours if you go via Dent de Vaulion.

The start from Vallorbe railway station was not promising, the town must be one of the less pretty and more run down ones in Switzerland. But once we had crossed the stream and begun the uphill slog it was all peace and tranquility. Snow still lay in patches on the ground with a light covering on the pine tress, but spring was definitely in the air with bird songs filling in the air, and the tinkling sound of melting snow. We were also really fortunate to see half a dozen chamoix - one of the beauties of hiking so early in the season is that we have the whole route to ourselves (we only met 1 other hiker on the whole route!)

The views from Dent de Vaulion were spectacular - the jagged white massif of the Alps are arrayed in front of you, the Bernese Oberland to the left, sweeping round to the Grand Muveran, the Dents du Midi and finally onto the Mt. Blanc massif. When you can finally take your eyes of that feast you have the limpid waters of the Lac de Joux to your right.

This is one of the sections of the Chemin des Crêtes du Jura, a 310km long distance footpath which starts just north of Zurich and ends in Nyon on the shores of Lake Geneva. Further details of the route can be found at here.

View Chemin des Crêtes du Jura: Vallorbe - Le Pont in a larger map

Hôtel-Restaurant du Marchairuz, Canton Vaud

Sorry don't have a picture as I visited the hotel for a team meeting!

The hotel is a the Col du Marchairuz between the Lac Leman (Lake Geneva) valley and the Vallée de Joux. From here one has various options for both winter and summer hikes, as well as, cross-country skiing in the winter.

The hotel has functional double rooms with attached bathroom, TV and phone for CHF140.00 and singles for CHF 95.00. There are also family rooms and dormitories with shared showers and toilets.

Information on the hotel can be found at www.hotel-marchairuz.ch or call 021 845 2530.

Map of cross-country ski and snow shoeing routes can be found at www.myvalleedejoux.ch

Details of the hotel (in French) can be found at: http://www.wanderland.ch/fr/orte_detail.cfm?id=313451

Snow shoeing in Kandersteg, Canton Bern

As you can see it wasn't the best weather, but at least it wasn't snowing or windy. We walked up from the village using the summer hiking route up to the Oeschinensee. It was a bit difficult to find the start of the route - basically any route from behind the Chapel going eastwards! Initially the route is between the icy road and the river.

After the path crosses the piste coming down from the Oeschinensee we moved uphill through a tranquil forest along quite a narrow snow path. The cliffs on the opposite side with the frozen waterfalls were truly impressive.

After about 1.5 hours we reached the frozen Oeschinensee, where we saw people fishing through a hole cut in the ice (can't think of any thing more boring!).

View Kandersteg-Oeichensee in a larger map

Snow Shoeing above St. Cergue, Vaud.

This is the view of the Alps from Vieux-Château above St. Cergue. There isn't actually a chateau at the viewpoint! Nonetheless the walk up to it and view is very rewarding - the trail starts at the west end of the village from the Route de St.Cergue.

We continued from the Vieux Chateau to Guinfard and wandered up the path towards La Givrine. There are plenty of trails in the area. You can't really get lost, but just in case, go right or head downwards and you'll come eventually come to the rail line or the village!

For further information about hikes in the St. Cergue visit the Tourist Office (Office du Tourisme) at Place Sy-Vieuxville in the centre of the village or at www.st-cergue.ch. You can also call them on 022 360 1314

Pictures of Chalet de la Place, Rossinière, Pays d'Enhaut.

These are the promised pictures of Chalet de la Place, Rossinière (see previous post). It was raining heavily, so not the best of pictures, but you get the idea......

The key to the chalet - was it big and heavy.......
The grand chambre - yes, it was the biggest bedroom in the chalet!

Chalet de la Place, Rossinière, Pays d'Enhaut.

Just had to write about this B'nB (Bed and Breakfast). What can i say....a massive double room in one of the oldest chalets in the village (built in 1664) with charm, warmth, character and history oozing out of every solid bit of timber. The owner- Mrs. Eliane Pilet was equally warm and charming, greeting us with a welcome afternoon tea and a little bit about the chalet and the village. A delicious breakfast followed the next morning at which she plied us with soft, home made bread, 6 types of home made jams, local cheeses and eggs. The only items not from the village were the orange juice, coffee and tea!

We found this gem of a B&B in the bilingual guide book Chambre d'hôtes de charme en Suisse (Charming Bed & Breakfasts in Switzerland) which we would heartily recommend.

What of Rossinière? It' s a tiny village. It's principal claim to fame lies in the Grand Chalet where the famous painter Balthus spent the last years of his life (his widow still lives there). In the small Chapelle Balthus there is a history of the artist with letters, photos and 3 documentary films about the Grand Chalet, his friendships and his art.

There is not much else there, we saw a gourmet restaurant that we plan to try next time, and a couple of hotels and few other B&B's, as well as a jumping off point for some good hikes in the region.

Coordinates: Mrs. Eliane Pilet. 026 924 71 73 or 078 662 32 85.

I'll be putting up a few pictures of the Chalet soon.

Delights of snow shoeing

This is what it's all about - crisp snow, deep blue skies, and not a whisper of a wind.

Snow Shoeing Resource

Wanted to share with all this website for marked snow shoeing routes in Switzerland: http://www.sentiers-raquettes.ch/default2.asp?l=e&c=3&s1=2&pp=1

Does have an annoying pop-up for their book but still useful as a first step in finding routes.

Winter hikes - Snowshoeing around Les Diablerets

The stunning view from above Col du Pilon. We had taken a navette (free bus) up to the Col from Les Diablerets (they run every 30 minutes at peak times) starting from the railway station.

The hike starts just to the south of the Glacier 3000 cable car station and is a wide, well groomed track through the trees. It's so well packed that one doesn't need snow shoes to get up to Isenau - bit boring for those who like to play around in the deeper stuff like myself! This is a gentle uphill walk of just under 2 hours.

The weather was beautiful - crystal clear blue skies, the scenery was stunning - snow dappled firs and jagged cliff faces and peaks, and all shared with a bare handful of people. What more can one ask for??

Isenau (ski lift terminal and restaurant) itself is a mad-house at lunch time with skiers and snowboarders of all shapes and sizes vying for tables and chairs. The hassle and noise is all forgotten once you are out of there and heading back down towards Les Diablerets.

We took the Les Crêtes route back down which started off beside the pistes (ski runs) losing the ski runs as they dropped off on either side of the ridge line. This route was much more fun (deeper snow) and just as beautiful. We took under 2 hours to reach Les Diablerets.

Details of all the hikes in the area and a map can be found at: http://www.diablerets.ch/index.php?aid=344

View Les Diablerets - snow shoeing routes in a larger map

Col du Mollendruz, Canton Vaud

The Mollendruz pass is one of the main access roads between Morges/Lausanne and the Vallée de Joux, sort of a hyphen between the large valley of Lake Geneva and the marvellous Vallée de Joux in the Vaud Jura.

We drove up from Morges (a small town beside Lake Geneva and close to Lausanne) and parked at the large parking area on the crest of the pass. Here one can find a shop to rent sking gear and snow shoes as well as a large restaurant (which was full when we got there!). The hike going south-east wards (beside the restaurant) is the longer of the two options with a relatively steep uphill section to what is supposed to be view point - we didn't see a thing! (top picture).

The walk took about 2.5 hours and can be done by anyone with a basic level of fitness.

Chalet Le Croisée, La Lavanche, Les Diablerets.

This rustic and homely chalet which is a B'nB is where we stayed for the weekend. It is just outside the tiny mountain village of Les Diablerets. Mrs. Evelyne Nicolier is a friendly lady who speaks fluent English (as well as French, German, Italian and Norwegian!). We had a comfortable bed, piping hot shower and a delicious breakfast spread with home made bread and jams.

It is about 30 minutes walk from the village and about 5 minutes walk uphill from the train stop (Les Nicolets - you have to mention it to the train driver as there is no sign post and buy a ticket for either Les Aviolats or Vers-l'Eglise). For those with cars, the chalet is sign-posted just off the main road to Les Diablerets. The only downside is that the nearest restaurant is some ways away in Vers-l'Eglise, though she does provide dinner (which we found overpriced).

More details about the Chalet can be found at: http://www.holidaysnicolier.com/

Details about other B 'n B's in the area can be found at: http://www.diablerets.ch/index.php?cid=79

Winter - Snow Shoeing

Must get back into the grove.....here's my first post of the new decade! The above picture says it all. Snow Shoeing or Raquette in French is principally about enjoying the countryside or nature in all its winter spendour as far away from the maddening crowds as possible.

Over the next months i will report on the various routes we have walked this season.

Saas Valley - impressions

Saas Valley

This valley just to the east of the Zermatt iswell known for skiing, mountaineering and hiking. There is literally something for everyone (who's into outdoors). We have done some really enjoyable days hikes based in the small village of Saas Grund, but have not started on the steeper and longer hikes/climbs.

To find out more about this beautiful and peaceful valley check out this informative portal:

http://www.saas-fee.ch/en/welcome.cfm

Kreuzboden, Saas Valley

The Saas Valley is a well-known hiking, skiing, mountaineering area. This is one of the classic view points easily reached by cable car/chair lift - we took the more difficult option of hiking up from Saas Grund in the valley floor.

Above Solalex.

Solalex close to Villars-Sur-Ollon is the road head for a number of day and weekend hikes. There are summer bus services, but by far the easiest way to get there is by private car.

3 day hike: Tour de Dents du Midi

A couple of pictures of and from the Col de Susanfe.

This is literally one of the high points of the 3 day circular

hike around the Tour de Dents du Midi.

Map

More information