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Running down a ski slope in hiking shoes is fun. You’re jumping, bounding and landing back down. The snow is slush and you sink, you rise up and fall on the second thought. Continue for a few hundred meters and you get to the bottom. You can also sledge down and get soaked without worrying about it. The truth is that was the easiest part. You still have a 30 minute walk straight up a hill to the base of the cliff. From here you walk across and to the right until the beginning of the via ferrata. As a distraction you may spot the occasional marmot at this time of year. The via ferrata itself starts vertically and then goes by two chimneys before flattening out. By the time you’re to the top the vista is nice. [flickr-gallery mode=“photoset” photoset=“72157629918614486”] If you’re not tired by the first via ferrata there is a second one lower down the valley. This is an adventure one with quite a few bits of overhanging rocks a dozen or so meters off the ground with a short patch over two bridges and through the trees. It is divided into three sections. The first one is the hardest for the arms and particularly for the hands. The second part is quite easy but if you are slightly shorter be methodical about your actions. You might get stuck. For the third part you have two ladders going out from the rock and outwards. There is a squeeze between the bag on your back and the ladder. The way down is more comfortable.

Atmospheric shots of the lac de Joux. [flickr-gallery mode=“photoset” photoset=“72157629461258445”]

The lac de Joux eventually froze over completely. As a result of this you could walk on the ice. Some people were kitesurfing whilst others were having Marrons chaud. In one or two places you could see that the water level had decreased as a result of which the ice sheet had broken. Walking across the ice was an interesting experience. The ice can be seen through. Due to recent snow melt on the ice you were walking through a few centimeters of water in place. The feeling is disconcerting. Enjoy the beauty. [flickr-gallery mode=“photoset” photoset=“72157629461020099”]

During the short period when we had the “Siberian weather”. many people went over to Versoix to look at the frozen lake and the beauty revealed as ice and wind played with stillness to form nice creations. These pictures were taken between Bellevue, Versoix and the Port de Crans. I particularly like the ice globs that have formed on the reeds. [flickr-gallery mode=“photoset” photoset=“72157629285504573”]

Nature as it appeared a few days ago. [flickr-gallery mode=“photoset” photoset=“72157629508225047”]

These images were taken with the Nokia N9. You can see how the lake has not frozen over. The berries are an amusing sight. You’d expect them in spring or summer rather than winter. [flickr-gallery mode=“photoset” photoset=“72157629184752891”]

Here are some images from the lac de Joux a few weeks ago. I had not had enough of the frozen landscapes so I travelled further afield. I walked on the ice but there are moments when I could feel it creak as I walked. I didn’t fall through the ice. [flickr-gallery mode=“photoset” photoset=“72157629184590941”]

Here are more pictures of frozen Nyon. These were taken with an Olympus rather than the iPhone. Notice the texture of the ice and the berries that have been captured within the ice. Beautiful setting. I wore quite a few layers. They kept me warm. [flickr-gallery mode=“photoset” photoset=“72157629169768185”]

A few weeks ago the Siberian winter came to keep us company and this provided a great opportunity to go out and take pictures of ice sculptures. Any object was appropriate and the wind and water did the rest. [flickr-gallery mode=“photoset” photoset=“72157629169524109”]

An Autumn walk [flickr-gallery mode=“photoset” photoset=“72157628177774925”]