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.
![](../pictures/win/winter2003r-01.jpg)
Starting out at the Hotel at the Col du Marchairuz (1449m), 29 February 2004. La Côte is our lively local newspaper.
![](../pictures/win/winter2003r-02.jpg)
The Col du Marchairuz in some very beautiful new snow
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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.
![](../pictures/win/winter2003r-04.jpg)
One is starting out now, but according to this photograph, in the wrong direction.
![](../pictures/win/winter2003r-06.jpg)
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.
![](../pictures/win/winter2003r-07.jpg)
It's seen better times.
![](../pictures/win/winter2003r-08.jpg)
In fact, it's scarcely upright. Like me.
![](../pictures/win/winter2003r-09.jpg)
We'll check the market listings -- it can probably be got for a song.
![](../pictures/win/winter2003r-10.jpg)
We'd been rehearsing logarithmic tables for mental exercise and stupidly lost our way, but surprise! here we are.
![](../pictures/win/winter2003r-11.jpg)
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)
![](../pictures/win/winter2003r-12.jpg)
Ladders are thoughtfully placed at intervals down to the bottom, where passages lead off in several directions.
![](../pictures/win/winter2003r-13.jpg)
From the bottom I once tried to squeeze off though a few of them, lucklessly, as they were clearly intended for skinny people.
![](../pictures/win/winter2003r-14.jpg)
The sign hanging from the gateway tries to dissuade people from descending in winter. No worries.
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Some other holes and caves in the forest on the way back
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The Gouffre of the Pré de Rolle, a registered Gouffre Monument
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The farm of Pré de Rolle as the sun makes a late appearance
![Winter 2003-4](../pictures/buttons/homeW2003-4.gif)
Feedback
and suggestions are welcome if positive, resented if negative, .
All rights reserved, all wrongs avenged. Posted 28 January 2014.
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