Chamonix Activity Report: 8th October 2007
I've dug my flip flops out again this week. Now whilst there may be very little sensation remaining in my toes once I've cycled to work in the morning; come the afternoon, it's been flip flop-tastic! As is so often the case, October is presenting us with some truly glorious autumnal weather. As the valley begins to shed its leaves for another year, the blaze of colour at the moment is just amazing. There are crisp piles of fallen leaves everywhere just begging to be scuffed through, and even though it has been more years that I care to admit since I last played…..I just can't help but collect conkers at this time of year!
We decided to take ourselves off down to Servoz this weekend for a nice gentle ramble through the forest in and around Lac Vert. Not thinking properly, I'd completely forgotten that Servoz was hosting the 18th Chirv'athlon - a relay race combining a 6.2km run, 10.6km cycle and then a MTB leg to finish off. Before we know it we're trying to drive right through the thick of it and, even though the roads weren't closed, the stewards were getting impatient with us and we couldn't find the parking we'd hoped to and to cut a long story short, we did a quick re-plan, found another route that headed up to the lake from the road between Servoz and Chedde and parked up there.
From our parking spot, the route climbed up quite steeply at times (well, certainly for a Sunday afternoon stroll!) as we headed up through the deserted forest. The path itself was sometimes a bit tricky to spot due to the amount of fallen leaves and we were reliant on the helpful flashes of paint on the surrounding trees to show us the way. It was also quite muddy and slippery in places which would later make the descent a bit interesting! As the path climbed up, the views open up to the most stunning panoramas of Mont Blanc and Les Houches, offering an entirely different perspective of the mountains from Cham. What with the sunshine, the autumn colours and the peace and quiet, you could just sit and stare forever.
After just over an hour's steady climbing, we arrived at the parking at Lac Vert. Casually ignoring the murderous glares from one or two of my walking companions as they realised we could have parked right at the lake side; I deflected their attention to the lake itself which immediately restored their good humour. Lac Vert, whilst only small is just breathtaking. With its dark green but incredibly clear water, it's a little like Lac des Gaillands in terms of the reflections you can see on its surface. Around the edge is a little nature trail that highlights many of the plants and birds that can be spotted in the area. It's a bit rough underfoot but it only takes about 10-15 minutes to walk around. You'll find that you want to spend a lot longer than that though simply gazing into its depths and admiring the surrounding scenery. If you haven't taken a picnic with you, not to worry, there is a restaurant nearby with a big sunny terrace and full lunch menu, as well as drinks and snacks for the thirsty walker. As I pointed out earlier though, this lake can be enjoyed by everyone as you can drive right up to it, so it's a great place to take Granny for spot of afternoon tea.
I haven't really walked around this part of the valley very much and when I have, it's tended to be about this time of year. Like many people, I suppose I take advantage of the lifts whenever possible to get up high, so once they all close, I have to look elsewhere for my hiking fix. Well, Servoz makes a great choice. It's an incredibly picturesque village of two parts; Servoz itself and Vieux Servoz (Old Servoz) where you will find examples of the most beautiful original chalets and mazots, some of which date back hundreds of years. As it's situated nearer the bottom of the valley, it also enjoys the sunshine much earlier in the day than Chamonix, which is getting its first rays at about 10.30am at the moment. If you don't have a car, then the train will drop you at Servoz station, from where it'll take about 10 minutes to walk into the centre (Maison d'Alpage) and another 10 to get to the old part.
I think I might head back down there again next Sunday as the village will be hosting its annual “Foire aux Moutons” (Sheep fair) – a country show that celebrates the return of the sheep from the high mountain pastures. Apart from lots of bleating and frolicking, there will be numerous craft stalls, traditional dancing and best of all…….apple pressing! Now I've already had a sneak preview of this year's apple juice and it's absolutely delicious. €2 for a 1.5 litre bottle which, judging by the fizz when I opened it for breakfast this morning……turns into cider after 3 days! Hic! :O)
Piste Maps for Chamonix (pdf format), Les Houches (jpg format), Cross-country skiing (pdf format), and Mountain-bike trails (pdf format)
Current status for opening of Pistes & Lifts
Chamonix Webcam Index
Useful Links
Swiss Federal Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research
French Avalanche Research Institute
Meteo France - Mountain weather and avalanche conditions bulletins (in French)
Henry's Avalanche Talk - popular avalanche training sessions based in French Alps as well as translation of current avalanche conditions
PisteHors.com - Backcountry Skiing and Snowboarding News in English for the French Alps. Excellent coverage of avalanche safety and advice
Additional snow and weather information provided, with thanks, by meteo.chamonix.com and the Tourist Office
