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squiz Member Member#: 6644 Location: Registered: 27-05-2007 Diary Entries: 3072 |
14th March 2016 Hiking - Walking: Thollon les Memises Wind Direction: Wind Stength: Surf / Sea State: Air Temperature: Sea Temperature: Weather: sunny periods Max Speed: Distance Covered: 8.76 miles (Nautical Miles - unless stated otherwise) Sunday 13th March – Travel + 3 strolls, mainly cloudy We had a long lie in reading because a look out of the window revealed not a lot – it was pretty foggy and you could only just see the lake! By the time we had sorted out it had cleared and was a lot brighter but still cloudy. We went for a walk along the prom with the Sunday walkers, runners, skaters, cyclists etc.. We walked round the fishing port area and were fascinated by 2 herons who were sitting on a concrete pier when we first saw them but then both took off – landing on the fishing cottages roof! By the time we got there they had taken off but when we looked back one had returned so we walked back and watched him for quite a while. We returned to the van and drove off towards Evian, stopping at the Boulangerie for a loaf of ‘Parisienne’ bread. Decided to carry on as a walk at Evian would have been very similar to this morning but we were pleased to have a look at the latest drift wood sculptures on the roundabout as you first come into Evian. Last year it was Little Red riding hood but this year there were a whole host of deer, reindeer, skiers coming down a slope and some kind of merry go round at the top!! They love driftwood sculpture in Evian!! We carried on up the mountain road to Thollon de Memises which is where I thought we would head for our next ski/snow shoe adventures. There are lots of tasteful chalets and apartments on the way up – no high rise thank goodness. We headed for a panorama view at Le Hucel, parked and walked up to what, on a clear day, would be an amazing view over the lake to Switzerland and up towards Evian and Thonon. Our view was limited but it was a nice place and obviously good for bird watching as there were lots of information boards as well as the paragliding take off. The walk took you up through some woods and back a different way so we enjoyed that. When we were nearly back at the van we met a lovely old black cat who was nearly as bald as Holly!!! We have seen lots of cats today but she was definitely the friendliest. Continued to drive up to the Thollon Station where the cable car goes up to the slopes. Went past to start with and had a look at the villages of Lajoux and Le Grand Roc. After that detour parked up in the packed Cable Car car park and walked to the Lift pass office to get a map and have a general look round. Lots of people were coming down even though it was only 2.30 because the visibility up at the top was very poor and we couldn’t even see the top from where we were. Got talking to two English guys who own an apartment here and enjoy using their free lift pass as they are both over 70!! We walked down the road with them having a good chat. We parked up where we want to stay for the night at the bottom end of the car park and are hoping for the weather to clear out tomorrow, we will then either ski or snow shoe. We had a late lunch and read for a while then went for a long walk around the lower slopes (several children sledging) and down to the village of La Nouy which was a lot older and had some lovely old traditional chalets. Walked back up the hill, getting back to the van about 5.30 to a virtually empty car park:) Monday 14th March – snow shoe ***** Thollon les Memises – sunny periods ( 8.76 miles ) Top night in van, mild too and woke to a cloudy sky so were in no hurry to get up. Relaxed in bed with a cuppa and a good book:) After a late breakfast we walked the short distance to the Tourist info office and asked about the weather forecast and were amazed when the young man showed us the live web cam of the pistes at the top and they were bathed in brilliant sunshine! So will definitely go up skiing tomorrow as the forecast is for the same:) At this late hour I packed a quick picnic while Mag walked to the Sherpa for a loaf. Got the snow shoes out of the top box and were joined at the van by a friendly enormous black moggy, I gave it some chicken which it ignored:( We set off up the empty car park at midday, then onto the road toward Lajoux, spotting a Nutcracker at the top of a pine tree. Carried on to the Virgin Mary in a rocky shrine at the Chemin de Criox where we found the snow shoe path up past a line of wooden crosses as the sun was breaking through:) This is a circular path which leads back to Thollon but when we found the turning point we turned left toward some Col that was 1 hour 20 minutes up the path. To start with it was a snowy road that some 4x4 had driven up for no apparent reason! On reaching the spot where the 4x4 had to turn round the path turned into a narrow track through the snow covered trees eventually coming to an even narrower path with a rock cliff one side and stunning views out over Lac Leman far below – yet another pinch yourself moment! This path continued for an hour over snow covered streams gradually getting higher but no sign of the Col or wild life although there was animal droppings and footprints everywhere! We then came to a steeper windy section which was knackering but we made it to a spot with a large snowy field and signs of life as we could see the La Frasse ski lift coming out onto the Les Vielles Cases red run which hadn’t been skied – there had been a couple of loud explosions which we assume was the mountain team getting rid of avalanche danger so the run was probably closed – we hope it’s open tomorrow as it looks a top run out in the wilds:) This is where we spotted our first sign of life, a man out in the middle of nowhere with no snow shoes – not recommended up in this deep snow! He headed down before us and made the going difficult as he was putting big boot print dents in the path:( Having not found the Col, we think it was another half hour up and being hungry and tired we turned and headed back down which was when we spotted two huge birds circling above the trees they must have been Golden Eagles:) We found a nice sunny spot we great views over the Lac for our picnic and then made good time down and got back to the turning point really quickly. It was here we passed another couple out walking as the path headed up hill again:( We came across an old wooden barn, went inside to check it out and Mag spotted something running about on the wall outside and then we could hear it on the roof, it turned out to be a really black squirrel which soon disappeared up a tree when it saw us! The path came out under the telecabine which left a short walk back to the van, we had been out for 5hrs 25 mins covering nearly 9 miles and where shot to pieces! but it was worth it as it was another 5-star day:) After a cuppa with bread and jam, a read and a doze with the engine running and diesel heater on we felt a bit more human – this being on holiday is knackering and no rest in sight as we hope to be skiing tomorrow! We love it :) Photo Gallery here |
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