The Glacière de Saint-George, February 2004

Dwight Peck's personal website

Winter 2003-2004

wonderful wintry fun in the country the neo-cons have so far overlooked

The Glacière de Saint-George

A pleasant snowshoe walk to take a peek down into the great gouffre, 29 February 2004

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.

Starting out at the Hotel at the Col du Marchairuz (1449m), 29 February 2004. La Côte is our lively local newspaper.

The Col du Marchairuz in some very beautiful new snow

Another view. The old relais at the top of the col was recently renovated, and as an Ami du Marchairuz one has made one's contributions to the cause.

One is starting out now, but according to this photograph, in the wrong direction.

That's been corrected, evidently, and here we are due south of the col in the forest near Sapin à Simeon. A lovely little foresters' cabin awaits our scrutiny.

It's seen better times.

In fact, it's scarcely upright. Like me.

We'll check the market listings -- it can probably be got for a song.

We'd been rehearsing logarithmic tables for mental exercise and stupidly lost our way, but surprise! here we are.

The Glacière de St-George, so-called because it's got permanent ice in the lower passages and because it's above the village of St-George (of dragon fame)

Ladders are thoughtfully placed at intervals down to the bottom, where passages lead off in several directions.

From the bottom I once tried to squeeze off though a few of them, lucklessly, as they were clearly intended for skinny people.

The sign hanging from the gateway tries to dissuade people from descending in winter. No worries.

Some other holes and caves in the forest on the way back

The Gouffre of the Pré de Rolle, a registered Gouffre Monument

The farm of Pré de Rolle as the sun makes a late appearance

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