Autor: radoslaw.orecki

Aiguille Verte (2045 m) and Lac de Lessy

This weekend I went for a hike to see Lac de Lessy situated in French Aravis mountains. Even before doing a first step, I knew it would be something special, because in order to get to the starting point I went by car through a marvelous pass situated at ~1700 m. Eventually, I started at 1350 m and ascended to 2050.
This is how my starting point looked like:

The route was rather mild in the beginning, I followed the trail which was well marked (I lost it only once and had to go past the field in order to get back on track). After a while I reached a viewpoint where most families with children stopped. It looked really nice, but it was only a prelude to what I was to encounter later.

I continued the trail side by side with a flock of goats hidden in a shade (it was a very hot day). I continued along the trail which led first through a hill-side and then through the ridge of the mountain with a spectacular view on the valley. The higher I got the more beautiful the view became. While on the ridge I was able to see both sides, Lac de Lessy on my left and valley and view on the Alps on my right.

In the last picture you can see Aiguille Verte („green needle”) on the left and Lac de Lessy on the right. Up to that point the route was a mild one, but the last 50 meters to reach the peak were much more difficult with last 10 meters I called a „Cursed Pass of Death”. I read earlier in the net that the small passage between the two teeth of the mountain is a very dangerous one and the Internet was right this time. I didn’t dare to cross the Cursed Path of Death. But the two peaks were situated just a couple of meters away, so although technically I didn’t claim Aiguille Verte, practically I feel like I did.

To descend I took a short and very steep way down. Although it wasn’t an official trail, a lot of people went that way and it saved a lot of time to me. All in all I made almost 8 km that day.

Hiking: Le Môle (1863 m)

Today I got a bit further out of my city to climb Le Môle (1863 m). It’s a nice little mountain with a spectacular panorama that stretches out both, on the Alps and on Geneva. In fact, you can see almost 360° round when you reach the top. Moreover, an ascent to Le Môle is a mild one making it a perfect mountain for the season start, or for a pleasant walk.
In the very beginning of my climbing the weather seemed a bit ominous, but these were only the remnants of the past day which was very grim with a lot of rain. However, the higher I went the more sun I could see through the clouds.

When the forest finished I reached the plains and cows herd grazing on the grass. From that moment on the route became way steeper and more difficult, but also more enjoyable since the views became magnificent.

When the steep part was finished I was left with only a couple of meters left till the peak. However, I kinda lost my way to the peak and took a neighboring mountain to be Le Môle. But, as French say, c’est pas grave. Le Môle was just 50 meters and maybe a couple of meters higher, so I don’t feel like I missed anything. I rested for a while by the cross, admiring the Alps in clouds (with Mont Blanc showing oneself every now and then) and enjoying the breeze and then went down through Le Petit  Môle path.

Le Reculet never bores

I guess we can finally say that winter over le Reculet is finished. It took some time for a spring to push through, but now snow in the mountains is, let’s say, occasional. In the past few weeks I went to climb that mountain a couple of times but each time is different so I really don’t mind following the same route repeatedly. I also like observing my form getting better and better, now it takes me much less time to reach the top than it used to.
So, this time on Le Reculet slopes:
– fields of daffodils replaced by fields of marsh marigolds
– Le Reculet cross no longer frosty
– wildlife safe and sound on the rocks and ready to pose for pictures as usual.

Le Reculet at last

A month has passed, some snow melted and I was able to reach Le Recule top. In lower part of Jura mountains spring was already visible.

But because this May is the coldest May in Geneva region since 1908, when I went higher I still saw fight between spring and winter.

Closer to the top winter was wining. All this snow fell last week  (it is quite unusual for this time of year).

Finally after three attempts I reached the pick of Le Reculet (1717 m). Cross on top looks really spectacular during winter weather.

 Route down was very long and exhausting because of slippery snow and mud in lower parts.

Pinot

Last week I has a guest. Her name is Pinot (from the name of wine sort: Pinot Gris). It’s a cat of Ania’s colleagues from french classes – they were travelling on holidays for a week and were looking for someone to take care of their lovely cat.
So, for a week I had yet another flat-mate: Pinot. She is a very adorable cat who likes a presence of people. She also always reacts to her name. On top of that, she is very pretty – a bit grey, a bit ginger, a bit white.

Night Above Jura

I’ve wanted to make some photos of the night sky for long time. First I did’t have lenses bright enough, then I did’t have any opportunity to be in a remote place at night. I hoped to do the photos when I arrive at CERN. I live in a very small town close to the mountain so in a few minutes I can reach a place with no light pollution. But for the first one and a half month of my stay here the weather was awful. Fortunately last week the weather changed and there were two cloudless nights.
So at 19:00 I drove to a place that I spotted earlier and waited until the sun set. While waiting I made a short TimeLaps:

After 10 pm I started shooting and I think that this photos were worth all this waiting. Enjoy:

Sunny Jura

One again I hit the track of Le Reculet. This time the whether was better, snow was less slippery and I had trekking bats. But once again I didn’t reach the top. During the trip I had a few nice encounters, though:

Also there was a lot of spectacular views, without the mist 😉

Unfortunately not so far away from Le Reculet top I was forced to turn back because there was too much snow. When I fell into snow up to my chest and I needed to dig myself out I decided that this was time to go back home. Nevertheless, because of beautiful weather and spectacular view, this day was totally successful.

Foggy Jura

Today I did my first mountain hike. The weather was not perfect, but in the end mountains get a very majestic look when in clouds, so it’s worth hiking even without the sun. I tried hiking the most well-known summit – le Reculet (1717 m).

Higher parts where covered in the soft snow and it was difficult to walk ahead without snow shoes. On top of that, I didn’t see any trail sign (everything was covered in snow) and the fog made the view limited, so in the end, I didn’t reach the cross which stands on the top of the mountain. But that’s fine, I will have plenty of opportunities yet to climb le Reculet. Most probably I’ll have a next trial the next week.

83′ Geneva Auto Salon

Today I visited 83′ Auto Salon in Geneva. That was my first attraction during my stay in Geneva because weather has been preventing me from cycling and hiking. This year it was bit more crowded  then the last time in 2010. But still I was able to see all Geneva premier cars and to sit in all vehicles that I wanted. I was also warmly welcomed by Volvo Diplomatic Dealer. So let’s see all the goodies.

First Geneva beauty shown for the first time was Lamborghini Veneno.  For me it was one of the two most beautiful cars in salon. Too bad that they built only three of them. Second best looking car was Koenigsegg Agera S Hundra:

There was hundreds of cars and everyone looked beautiful with a polished paint and appropriately lit.

After I had asked Volvo hostess about the prices and told her that I was from CERN, I was taken to a very nice Volvo VIP lounge where I waited for a dealer.
During the salon you are surrounded by cars not only on the ground but in the air too:

Most disappointing for me was the new Ferrari – la Ferrari – ordinary name and ordinary look, like for Ferrari 😉

And this infotainment system looks familiar… 🙂

And that’s all. Auto Salon see you next year!