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squiz Member Member#: 6644 Location: Registered: 27-05-2007 Diary Entries: 2882 |
22nd February 2019 Hiking - Walking: Circuit of Le Tabagnox and then to Les Dappes Wind Direction: Wind Stength: Surf / Sea State: Air Temperature: Sea Temperature: Weather: sunny and mild Max Speed: Distance Covered: 4 miles (Nautical Miles - unless stated otherwise) Friday 22nd February – Snow shoe and short walk ***** Circuit of Le Tabagnox and then to Les Dappes – sunny and mild. 4 hours 30 minutes out, 4 miles covered. A fantastic peaceful night being the only people in the carpark at the Le Tabagnox T-bar lift which leads you into the Les Rousses ski area. The van is parked in France but the trees just across the way are in Switzerland:) No real plans today after a hectic few days so had a relaxing read as the sun came up over the line of pine trees to reveal another sunny day. There were a few clouds at first which were whizzing past, an indication that the wind had picked up! There were several cars arriving but they were only dropping off their kids for a ski lesson and three buses arrived with loads of kids at an activity centre just up the road who then kept us entertained when at the van with noisy, manic sledging and cross-country skiing. They were only 6/7 and spent most of the time picking themselves up!!! It was really amusing and fun to watch. Again, being such a nice day, it was too good not to get out on the snow shoes again. Mag soon made delicious tuna wraps and we had a decision to make, most walkers used the pisted path right in front of the van but we decided as usual to be more adventurous and try to make it to the top where the huge golf ball which we think is a radio mast (?) is situated, giving you great views down to Lac Lemen. There are no marked snow shoe trails so we headed over towards the lift and started up the side of the La Germine blue run keeping to the edge so as to avoid annoying the skiers. It was a steep climb and we got off-piste as soon as we could either heading through the trees or using little used paths. We eventually got high enough to see the golf ball and it didn’t look that far, so I thought we could definitely get there. Mag wasn’t so convinced by my theory!! It was only when we got a bit higher that we discovered a large tree lined gorge which had to be crossed before the long slog to the summit. We soon changed our plan turning right away from the main ski area and had the most fantastic time making tracks in fresh snow through the trees and then out into the open where a mile or so ahead was a slope - the route used by ski tourers to reach the top but that was too far for us after the amount we had climbed already! We continued that way for a bit and met a ski tourer with two yappy Yorkshire Terriers who were mighty brave considering they were smaller than an average cat! They came running over and barked, one even had a go at my sallopettes much to the owner’s disbelief!!! We then turned right again, uphill to a beautiful ridge with some amazing dead trees and found a small dry rocky place under a tree which we soon discovered had the most amazing views over to Mont Blanc:) We had a truly great hour in next to complete quiet enjoying our picnic and then reading. It was then just a case of heading straight down to the van, all off piste between the trees and very very steep in places but we made it safe and sound and although we had been out for 3hrs 30 min. we had only covered 2.41 miles but it was seriously up and down! A cuppa and chocolate biscuits were the order of the day before we set off walking again - along the path in front of the van but to the left this time. We soon reached Les Dappes which has the main lift to the very top but nothing much else, a small car park, cafe and ticket office and none of the crowds of recent ski resorts! Mag got a piste Map from the office and checked the prices and discovered you could have a half day (9-1) for 62.80 Euros for both of us – sadly no discount for a senior until 66 so I will have to wait a year here!! We decided to buy a pass for tomorrow morning and then head down through Switzerland and around Lac Lemon for a few days of rest as it’s been a full-on week for a couple of old timers! Yummy M & S stewed steak and mash potatoes for tea and again we are all alone in the car park. The wind has just got up, fingers crossed it will have dropped by tomorrow! Photo Gallery Here |
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