Tag: Autumn

Lac Blanc et Lac des Chéserys (2352 m)

I am feeling that these might be the last days to go hiking this season for me so I am trying to use the time I have. With two other colleagues I drove past Chamonix to do a must-do route (yet another one!). I know this place is very crowded in high season so I waited until autumn to visit it. There were still quite some people but nothing too bad. The surroundings were not new to me as only a couple of weeks earlier I did two routes close by.

We soon reached Aiguillette d’Argentière – two spiky tops – that started a fun scramble to the lakes through chains and ladders. It’s always a very efficient way to hike because the more vertical you move the faster you get to the top. This time we moved very vertical.

When we finished the ladders section we found ourselves on a beautiful mountain plateau full of the most amazing autumn colours and a view on Mer de Glace glacier. Trully stunning.

I accidentally changed our planned route (yeah, I’m not a master of navigation) and we reached Lac des Chéserys first. I kind of thought it was our destination point so we made a pause there to have a bite and bask in the sun.

I was surprised to learn we still have some meters up to cover but I was also content to have additionals steps ahead. When we reached it,  the White Lake and it’s surrounding tops were in clouds making for a mystic ambiance.

We descended through a different path but the views were more or less similar. We quickly went out of the cloud and benefited from the sun rays. Have I mentioned I love autumn in mountains?

Aiguillette des Posettes (2201 m)

We hesitated till the last moment with a decision what to do with the day. A quick look at the forecasts… Ok, looks like a fine day for hiking. It was not our first time in mountains with our baby boy, but the most serious outing without a doubt. Technically the route was the easiest one you could have, but it was not that short and moderate when it comes to elevation gain – Aiguillette des Posettes (2201 m).

Yet again, I wa ssurprised by the colours in higher parts. It’s summer in plains, but fall in mountains and I love it!
Our road led through a forest up to Col des Posettes. When we reached it we experienced what I call „the WOW effect”. Beautiful landscape on the surrounding mountain and La Tour glacier. It’s a pity that clouds covered it a bit but still, it was amazing.

From there we continued through more and more colurful surroundings to reach the top. We had the glacier on our right side continuosly so we watched it showing up and disappearing behind the clouds.

Originally we planned to do a loop but because the weather was changing we decided to go back by the route we already covered. Distance-wise it was similar but at least we knew what to expect and there was also a possibility to take the cable car down in case of rain.

I really enjoyed this walk. Autumn… It makes me melancholic!

Discovering France and Switzerland in autumn

I did a similar post about summer (check it out here). This time I want to show autumn marvels of the area we live in now. Although this fall is a special one for us and we weren’t able to visit as many places as we would like to, still even with those few we did, we came up with some nice autumn photo shots.

Divonne-les-bains

Jura mountains

Concourge – pumpkin festival in Vernier (those evil pumpkins were carved by children) – a bit scary, huh?

Vineyards in Challex:

Le Tiocan:

Park in Prevessin:

Lac de Divonne

With a remarkably beautiful weather today, we decided to go out to catch some sun. We went to Divonne-les-bains which we had visited a week earlier for Gourmandiv’ Festival. This time we went straight to the lake side (we hadn’t seen it earlier). We were planning to make a tour round water, but I was too tired, so we sat on a bench instead and relaxed in the calm atmosphere of warm sunbeams and surrounding nature.

Cascades de France

 

What to do when weather is rainy and „on foot” mobility is reduced? I asked myself that question on the gloomy weekend and decided to have a „waterfall excursion”. There are just so many of them in the neighbourhood – easily accessible by car. Not discouraged by the rain (which later turned into actually nice and warm weather), we set off to discover the beauties of French nature.

We started with Pain de Sucre cascade. I need to say, it was pretty awesome. It felt a bit like we were in a fairy-tale forest full of magic. Dark colours, soft drizzle and a waterfall you basically can walk around and hide yourself at its back. The only thing missing was a cave with a treasure 🙂 We really enjoyed the view as well as the humming sound of water.

Next stop: Cascade de Cerveyrieu. The water of river Seran falls down for around 60m to meet rocks on the ground and splash with great rumble. We watched it happen from the top, with a nice view on the valley.

Waterfall number 3 – Cascade de Claire Fontaine – was situated well in woods, but we managed to reach it by car and needed just a few steps up to see this beauty. I imagine it must be even prettier in spring or late autumn, when there is more water falling. Anyway, there is something ethereal about the waterfalls, is it the levitating mist? Perhaps gentle or aggressive roar of water? Crudity of rocks? Softness of moss? I don’t know, but for me they are enchanting.

Lastly, we saw Cascade de Glandieu, situated in the centre of a small French village. Although it was the biggest of all we had seen, it didn’t make such an impression on me. Perhaps the proximity of agglomeration stripped the waterfall from its charm? Other possibility, we had had enough of cascades for one day. I mean, don’t get me wrong – it was really nice, it’s just that we liked the other three better. Anyway, we stayed for a while in the village to have a meal in a restaurant and went back home.

 

Lysa Hora hiking (1323 m)

On Sunday we set off for a (longly awaited by me) ascend on Lysa Hora (Bold Mountain, 1323 m). We started our hike from Ostravice village and followed up a red trail up to the top. On our way up we could admire the pastel colours of the autumn intertwined with the green of the conifers.

The pace was very quick (we were guided by a marathon runner, so it was a real challenge to keep up with him), and after only 2 hours (8,5 km) we reached the summit. My first impression: „God, it’s windy”. My second impression: „God, it’s beautiful”.




 On our way back we took a milder but considerably longer route. At the end we passed by a fabulous, slightly dried up lake and a spectacular dame. At this point I was already „a bit” tired as shown in the picture. All in all we did more than 25 km.

Foggy autumn

This year the autumn is one of the prettiest I have ever seen in Poland. It almost never rains, the sun is shining through the colourful leaves, people are happy when the weather is so fine. A perfect training for Radek’s new camera. That is why we went for a short walk to take some pictures of the nature.

We set off in the morning, when the afternight fog was still lurking close to the ground.


 

After a while we reached the bridge, a well known place by all lovers and marriages, but also the residence of the ducks, swans and many other species of birds that I’m unable to name. At some moment the birds were frightened away by some sudden noise and lifted from the (so far) undisturbed surface of the water.

After a while the view became clearer and the colours more vivid. Our park (named after Helena Majdaniec, „the twist quenn”) is a very nice place to stroll around in all seasons.