A Weekend of Hiking

This weekend I went on two hikes. The first was from St-Cergue to La Dôle and back and the second was from Marchairuz to St Cergue. It amounts to about 66,000 steps and thirty four kilometres of hiking. The La Dôle walk is a familiar walk that I have from multiple directions over the years so it was relaxing. There were some patches of snow where appropriate shoes and crampons or hiking sticks will help but other than that the conditions are good.

This is the time of year where you see a multitude of flowers have come out in such numbers that you have to follow the path, and even then you might have to avoid stepping over flowers. The temperature was comfortable on the first hike.

On the second hike, from the Col De Marchairuz to St-Cergue I was worried about a wind warning I saw. It warned of a level two wind. I worried that it might affect our safety in the trees but I saw “small branches”.

When we got to the top of the Col by bus the wind was calm. It was coming from the North East so the trees and Jura pushed the wind upwards and away from us. This made the hike comfortable and warm.

At this time of year, when you stop it’s good to have a warm layer to put on as soon as you take a break, especially for lunch. For the last four hikes people have been cold when we stopped. The last two hikes this weekend were finally not so bad when we stopped. It’s still worth considering wind chill.

Transport

If not for paying parkings I would have driven up for the St Cergue to La Dôle walk, but as the train is convenient I took it instead. The wait is just half an hour. With Marchairuz the situation is different. In this situation buses are every one or two hours, so the wait can be quite long if you arrive 5 minutes after it leaves. That’s why it’s good to start from the irregular line to the more regular line, rather than vice versa.

Helping Others

Hiking in Switzerland can be different to walking in other parts of the world, especially at this time of year. On Saturday I had microspikes and I had hiking sticks. I was going to wear my microspikes on one bit, for fun, but when I saw someone struggling and sliding I lent them to her. She needed them. It was only for a few metres and it is a simple gesture that made a difference.

For a section that I consider dangerous, due to exposure I stayed nearby for moral support and assistance, but without crowding too much. I have been going up to La Dôle since childhood so it’s a familiar place. On the way back down I lent my batons and provided more assistance. I like to go to the mountains, over-equipped so that in case something is needed, it can be used.

Rationally I didn’t need to take microspikes, and batons, for the last two days, but it’s better to have and not need than the opposite. Yesterday I had a winter hat and other clothing, to protect me in case of a cold, persistant wind. It didn’t materialise. I also have a rain coat on all of my hikes, in case of hail, and as an extra wind protecting layer.

And Finally

It is the first time that I have started hiking and doing other sports in March. Usually it’s in April, in other words, around now, that hiking begins. I already have a month of hikes, and spring/summer has only just begun. This could be a good year for hiking and other summer sports. I also enjoy the company of people that have been on activities so far.