Chalets de Bise

27 July 2015:  WARNING!  This blog post and the posts in the coming days are likely to include numerous – perhaps too many – photos.  We've entered the Alps, and it seems that every step of the way offers offers a spectacular view that must – must! – be photographed.  Walk a bit farther, and there is a new angle or the sky has changed: click – another photo!  A sunny day with puffy white clouds artfully arranged in the sky obviously offers good views to be photographed, but the grey rain clouds that sometimes envelop mountaintops also inspire the photographer...

Yesterday was our prologue to the Alps, walking up from Saint-Gingolph to Novel.  Today, with no further transition, we enjoyed a great Alpine hike from Novel (970 m.) up to the Col de Bise (1915 m.) and then down to the Chalets de Bise (1502 m.). Here is a selection of pictures that tell the story of our hike:

Threatening skies (the remnants of last night's storm) greeted us this morning. 

Departure from Novel:

Carroll marche toujours avec élan! 

The trail started in the forest. 

Un sujet de philo au Bac, peut-être? 

Which way?

Banana break, with a glimpse of Lac Léman:

Climbing higher, we passed the tree line and enjoyed spectacular views of Lac Léman and the surroundings. 

On a cool, windy day, we no longer look for a shady spot for lunch. 

We chilled our yoghurt in a water trough while eating lunch. 

Looking down at the place where we stopped for lunch:

Col de Bise, today's high point:

Descent from Col de Bise to the Chalets de Bise:

The Chalets de Bise include a CAF Refuge (very basic – sommaire, as the French would say), some farm buildings, a simple restaurant – and many goats.  

We enjoyed dinner with Dominique, who is hiking a section of the GR5 from Chamonix north to Saint-Gingolph.