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squiz Member Member#: 6644 Location: Registered: 27-05-2007 Diary Entries: 3071 |
18th September 2012 Hiking - Walking: Lac Archard, Chamrousse, France Wind Direction: Wind Stength: Surf / Sea State: Air Temperature: Sea Temperature: Weather: sunny periods Max Speed: Distance Covered: Tuesday 18th September – walking ***** sunny periods Did exercises in car park above lift in Chamrousse. After breakfast we packed a picnic and set out to do the walk to Lac Achard. We did this walk on 22nd March and really enjoyed it. We wanted to see it in the summer – the lake was frozen over in March. It is quite a tough hike up – a lot of scrambling up rocks and tree roots, but very beautiful with woods and rocks. When we got to the lake we could hear a marmotte shrieking but couldn’t see it but did spot a lone chamoix walking down the shale. The lake is surrounded by high mountains including the one with the ski lift on the top. We were pointing out where we had stopped for a picnic at the top :) There were a few hikers there but we had it mostly to ourselves. We walked round the lake this time and sat at the other end to have our lunch. We read for a little while and we managed to spot the noisy marmotte right up at the top of the mountain. Unfortunately the sky had clouded up and it got a bit chilly after an hour so we started to walk back following the circular route. As we were passing through a group of fir trees a flock of cross bills flew in, both orange males and green females :) They gave us a brilliant display – pecking at fir cones and sometimes taking the whole thing off the tree and flying to another one to get the seeds out. They seem to like sitting on either the top or the edge of trees so are really easy to watch. All you could hear were the birds calling and cones dropping onto the ground! We also had a great display from a Nutcracker – they have an enormous black beak and a white bum and are very speckled – beautiful :) We walked a different way at the end of the walk and ended up half way down the piste at the top of the lift we are parked under. We had a look at the pistes we had skied in March, pointing out the time trial and border cross we enjoyed so much. It certainly is amazing how such a barren rubble strewn area with many ditches can be transformed into the lovely smooth piste in the winter. Walked back down the piste to the van and had a coffee and a rest. Played Phase 10 and Mag won again! It is soooo quiet here, no sound at all apart from the birds and the odd car but there is hardly anybody here. After an omelette tea we went for a walk back up the piste to Chamrousse 1750 which is quite high rise and has a shopping mall! All closed of course and only a few apartments with lights on. It was nearly dark but we had a look round and walked back along the road and over the bridge. As I am typing this it has started to rain. http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.3972768310279.2154244.1012660562&t ype=1&l=f605c0a128 Wednesday 19th September – travelling + Mc Donald’s – rain then sunny It rained all night and carried on this morning. We had breakfast and packed up then left our spot under the lift and drove to Chamrousse 1600 and filled up with water. We stopped at McDonalds in La Mure for Mag to get her birthday messages. Had a lovely e-mail from Rob saying they have had their 27 hours on a train opposite a Russian couple who spoke no English. They played cards a lot! They have spent some time in the Ural mountains and are now heading somewhere where they can hike and canoe :) There is some trouble between China and Japan so that is a bit of a worry but they will be fine I am sure. He also sent a really nice picture of them in Moscow :) Everything went really well, photos on facebook etc. But the Forces password wouldn’t work again so I am very cheesed off about that. The weather had improved greatly by the time we came out of there :) We carried on to Lac Sautet where we stayed the night in March. Back then there was hardly any water and the whole place was full of trees which had been washed down the rivers into the lake and the wood bleached out by water and sun. Today it was nearly full and very blue :) Where all those trees went we have no idea! Had our lunch then carried on through mountainous scenery to Gap and on to Lac Serre Poncon. We thought it would be full up to the top but as we drove in it looked quite low still. However, once we reached the car park we stayed in last time, overlooking the bridge you could see how full it was. The water is nearly covering the far end of the bridge whereas before it was miles below. Had a walk around the wooded bit at the top car park then parked up for the night near the sailing club again. Had a rest and a read – travelling and McDonalds are always the most exhausting days – far more tiring than any hike! Had a tin of chilli for tea. |
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