Dwight Peck's personal website

Kristin's visit: June 2009

Maddening months at work, trying to migrate a very large Web site to a different technology, and no end in sight. It's time to take a break and, as luck would have it, Kristin's coming for a visit.

We'll get started with a relaxing walk up La Dôle
(and then we'll go to France).

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.

We've got a guest along with us today, and La Dôle's always a favorite for guests. We're starting out from the Chalet de la Dôle (1439m) with a broad circuit in contemplation, 30 May 2009.

Trudging out amongst flowers, vigilant for chamois.

Chamois nearby, a few adults, a few kids.

Some of the kids are probably virtually newborns, because this is the season.

La Dôle as we come up along the shoulder of it, with its Geneva airport navigation embellishments

Determinedly upward

We're walking up onto the southwest shoulder of La Dôle, through the combe called Les Creux.

On top of La Dôle (1677m): Teny, Joe, and friend Fran from The Nature Conservancy (TNC)

Crossing the summit plaza, with the equipment lift up from Chalet de la Dôle perched on the brow of the cliffs

The Chalet de la Dôle below, the bottom of the equipment-lift just to its right, and our lovely high-performance blue Volkswagen dead centre.

One of the north-side paths down to the Col de Porte (1559m).
(I took the other one and had a little time to myself to do some of my spiritual exercises.)

Someone starting down after us

A look back at out upward track in the distance

The expedition straggling into camp as if they'd been lost for weeks.

The expedition salute in a moment of heartfelt enthusiasm

Adaptive expedition planning, and a couple of rude jokes. A rare consensus: we're going up over the nearby Pointe de la Poêle Chaud as well.

We're over the top of Poêle Chaud, and now we're circling down off it somewhat elegantly, still thinking up rude jokes.

Kristin and La Dôle, 30 May 2009

We recall that there is a track down through here somewhere. But where is it?

Recalling humorous barbed-wire incidents from the past

We've found the little track down, so whoopsy! down we go.

It's a wee tiny path, but it will do.

The Chalet de la Dôle beckoning below us, and only Joe blocking the way. Soon time for dinner.

Feedback and suggestions are welcome if positive, resented if negative, . All rights reserved, all wrongs avenged. Posted 23 September 2009, revised 30 August 2014.

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