The Creux d'Enfer near Grand Cunay

Stern Glances Dwight Peck's personal website

Summer 2008 -- The Creux d'Enfer near
Grand Cunay

You may not find this terribly rewarding unless you're included here, so this is a good time for casual and random browsers to turn back before they get too caught up in the sweep and majesty of the proceedings and can't let go.

The Creux d'Enfer, literally something like "Hell Hollow", is a feature of the Swiss Jura limestone topography, big depressions with lots of holes, caves, chimneys, and bits to stumble over, and today we're barging through the middle of the unnamed one near the Grand Cunay mountain.

Dr Pirri is leading us up into the area, sporting his new "aborigine hat" in the drizzly rain.

Dr Pirri leads us farther down towards a doubtful landscape.

A lovely anthill industriously built all around the tree branches, which are still sticking out of it

Dr Pirri gazing down into the Creux d'Enfer with relish

Better now than when the snow is on it -- Dr Pirri picking his way amongst the holes in the forest tapestry

Dr Pirri issuing regular cautionary bulletins

The Creux d'Enfer areas are generally walled or fenced off from the grazing meadows in the region and seldom visited, at least not on purpose.

They make a big jumble of outcrops, little cliffs, and small and big holes in complicated patterns -- with lots of vegetation in summer, and snow in winter.

Entrances to the Underworld

Dr Pirri in the distance

A moment's pause, and then the long way up and around the side of it

Out of the Creux d'Enfer and with time on our hands, we've gone up the second part of Grand Cunay, with the Grand Cunay farm over on the other one. The Col du Marchairuz is off in the semi-distance.

Another big hole, this one on a grazing meadow and nicely fenced off.

As well it should be

Having leapt over another hole near Petit Cunay, Dr Pirri prepares to go home now.

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