La Cascade du Rouget

The Cascade du Rouget — a dramatic waterfall above the village of Salvagny (near the better known Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval) — is a popular spot for visitors in the summer. Cars crowd into every available space by the side of the road, and people clamber on the rocks around the base of the waterfall. But not too close!  Many parents hover about, ordering their children not to venture near the waterfall.  Not Mary and I!  Back in the days when we stopped at the Cascade du Rouget with William and Chloé after a hike up in the Vallée de Sales, we basically turned them loose and went for a coffee or ice cream at the nearby café.  The children would eventually show up at the café, safe and sound but drenched from the spray of the waterfall, having had lots of fun.  

It's much quieter at the Cascade du Rouget during the winter and spring.  Deep snow covered the area when I snowshoed up to and beyond the waterfall in January.  Today, most of the snow is melted at that elevation (ca. 1000 m.), so I enjoyed an easy walk along the trail — which is the GR5!  I'll be back on this trail in the summer with Mary...

La Bourgeoise

When the sun shines over the Giffre Valley, one's thoughts turn to La Bourgeoise — a 1,770 m. peak that stands like a solitary sentinel over Samoëns, Verchaix and Morillon a thousand meters below.  With clear skies, there is a magnificent 360° view that includes Mont Blanc.  Several trails lead to La Bourgeoise, including an easy path from the Col de Joux Plane (1,700 m.).  In the winter, it's a pleasant outing by snowshoes or cross-country skies.

The sun was shining this morning, so I decided to snowshoe from the Col to La Bourgeoise.  By the time that I had finished breakfast, gotten organized for the outing and had a second cup of coffee, clouds were forming.  A high layer of clouds filled the sky when I set off from the Col at 11:00.  So I couldn't see Mont Blanc when I reached La Bourgeoise around noon, but the views were still spectacular.  

Le Criou

Le Criou is a mountain (2227 m.) that looms over Samoëns (750 m.). Seen from around a quandrant southwest of Samoëns, the pointed form of Le Criou pierces the sky dramatically. Each season of the year dresses Le Criou in its distinctive colors.  Today, late winter snow lay upon the upper slopes of Le Criou. The clouds that enshrouded its summit cleared in the afternoon, allowing the sun to illuminate the mountain. 

I enjoyed observing Le Criou today as I walked along the Giffre River from Morillon to Samoëns and back. And of course Le Criou is not alone in our valley. For example, when I turned my back on Le Criou, the great pyramid of the Pic de Marcelly stood before me...

A snowshoe hike on Le Marvel

The sunny weather continued today, but rain is predicted for tomorrow, so I was keen to get out for good snowshoe hike. I decided to hike up and (after lunch at L'Igloo – a longtime family favorite) back down the Marvel trail at the Morillon ski area.  The snow on the trail was only mediocre for skiers, but adequate for snowshoeing.  The trail passes through forest and then, as it climbs, offers great views of the surrounding mountains.  The accumulation of clouds in the afternoon hinted at a change in the weather...

Sunshine over the Fer-à-Cheval

Today brought sunshine and warmth to the Vallée du Giffre!  I went for a walk in one of my favorite areas: the Fer-à-Cheval valley.  There were many trees in one distinct section of the trail that had been blown down.  Those trees were standing when I snowshoed through this area in January.  There must have been an intense storm some time since then.

Arrival of Spring in Verchaix

I drove to Verchaix on Friday, 20 March 2015. Traces of snow remain in sheltered places in the valley, but there is a mildness in the air that hints of spring. Of course, spring here does not always bring sunshine. Today, it rained steadily all day.  But it's great to be in the mountains, whatever the weather!