Hiking
A hike of many cols and a visit to an aeronautical crash site on the plateau Justin of the Montagne de Beaufayn. First, we enjoyed the view from La Croix Justin, 988 m., overlooking the town of Die on the river Drôme under the southern cliffs of the Vercors massif.
Under cliffs and walking on exposed rocky ledges typical of these limestone mountains, we hiked on to the Pas de Tripet, 1093 m., then Pas de la Dame then the Col de Beaufayn 1099 m., visiting a different aircraft crash site than this week's A320 crash nearby at La Seyne, also in the Pré-alpes. This unfortunate glider failed to over-fly the Col de Beaufayn about twenty years ago. Some twisted metal survives amongst the leaves in the forest; the two pilots did not survive.
Then on to the Pas du Corbeau, Pas de Reynard, Col du Lion, 1001 m. and the Col du Loup, all on the Montagne de Beaufayn. Although the altitudes seem quite similar, our total altitude up was 333 m. plus the same down as it was a cirular walk.
Again lucky with the weather. Die is on the frontier between the northern and Mediterranean systems. It still surprises me just how few birds live or pass through there, not many sparrows or blackbirds at all, although there are a very few large native raptors. A few primroses and wild crocus in flower amongst the autumn leaves now dried by the winter winds. Now past the equinox, as the day lengths increase, the plant life will come on fast, even at altitude.
Hiking from Arnside on the northern edge of Morecombe Bay on a weekend organised by the Transpennine group of GOC. Warmed by the Gulf Stream, the Arnside peninsular is an area of natural beauty but also an important bird area and has a number of sites of special scientific interest with rare plants, trees and insects including both northern and Mediterranean species in close proximity. My Father made many biology field trips here in the 1930s, I think staying at the same Youth Hostel where we were lodged.
Arriving well after sunset and not really aware of where I had ended up, except that there was a lot of snow, next morning I climbed 120 metres or so above the refuge at the col for a view of the volcanic mountains right opposite in the coloured light of a magnificent sunrise. There was no wind, but the thermometer on my rucksac showed -12°C; every footfall made a loud cracking noise in the stillness. No traffic except the snow plough, spreading grit on the pass road.
We were staying at the Col de la Croix Morand, 1401 m, above the town of Le Mont Dore in the Auvergne in a weekend arranged by the French motorbike club AMA (thanks Édouard, Jean-Paul and Éric). Immediately facing the Buron du Col refuge are mountains of the Puy de Sancy range, the Puy de la Tache, 1629 m., Puy de Monne, 1692 m. and Puy de l’Angle, 1738 m., the highest of the range, which was our stop for lunch.
Postcard from some fine spring days hiking in the Lake District with Mike from Keswick. We've been round Loweswater, Borrowdale, Watendlath Tarn, Home Rigg and Kings How and Derwent Water with it mirror-like views of the snow on the peak of Skiddaw.
I hiked on snow shoes (that the French call raquettes) from the top of the Beauregard lift (1647 m.) up from La Clusaz in Haute-Savoie. The mountains are the Chaine des Aravis and the glaciers of the Mont Blanc massif. The skier is going down the cross-country black route down from the lift.
Me, this was the first time I have been to a ski report in winter, let alone getting up on to the snow. I was staying with Arno in Annecy and was trying out hiking using raquettes (Raquettes à neige) that I’d bought just the previous evening. Sure, hiking with raquettes is literally the most pedestrian of the Nordic winter sports, but having the equipment to get away from the crowds at the top of the télécabine and being able to enjoy the winter wonderland at 1450 or 1500 metres or so was a revelation, even without the adrenaline rush of downhill skiing. The clarity of the air, the sheer brightness of the fresh snow and the apparent proximity to big rocks and Europe’s highest mountains was fantastic.
