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.
A walk out to La Perrause
31 March 2012: A fine day in the new Global Warming dispensation, we're on snowshoes and avoiding the snowless patches.
![](../pictures/win/winter2011h52.jpg)
The farm of La Perrause, just a kilometre and a half north of the road over the Col du Marchairuz
![](../pictures/win/winter2011h01.jpg)
We've been out merrily plodding about on the 'Platforme' and have just come up onto the little La Perrause hill from the north.
![](../pictures/win/winter2011h02.jpg)
It's still March, technically speaking, and we've not only got snowless patches -- we've got flowers. Thanks, Senator Inhofe, for that much at least.
![](../pictures/win/winter2011h03.jpg)
A LOT of snowless patches
![](../pictures/win/winter2011h53.jpg)
In fact . . .
![](../pictures/win/winter2011h54.jpg)
![](../pictures/win/winter2011h55.jpg)
We're going off now to the south, to complete a circular route back to the car.
![](../pictures/win/winter2011h05.jpg)
Near the end of the same day, we're passing the farm at Pré de Bière, the Brassus-Marchairuz road in the background, and heading into the forest of Petite Rolat.
![](../pictures/win/winter2011h56.jpg)
And back to the road
Kristin and Lisa and the sources of the Toleure
![](../pictures/win/winter2011h06.jpg)
8 April 2012: the Toleure, near Bière
![](../pictures/win/winter2011h07.jpg)
Kristin and Lisa looking for the sources of the Toleure and comparing notes
![](../pictures/win/winter2011h08.jpg)
The occasional waterfall near the sources
![](../pictures/win/winter2011h09.jpg)
In a week's time, this could be bone dry.
![](../pictures/win/winter2011h10.jpg)
We've left the Toleure and are forging up into the forest of La Bioleyre above the village of Gimel, and comparing notes.
![](../pictures/win/winter2011h11.jpg)
Comparing notes and catching up on news. We're in the military artillery range -- luckily, it's a Sunday.
![](../pictures/win/winter2011h12.jpg)
And we're stepping lightly.
![](../pictures/win/winter2011h13.jpg)
Unexploded munitions!
![](../pictures/win/winter2011h14.jpg)
Catching up on news and . . .
![](../pictures/win/winter2011h15.jpg)
. . . comparing notes.
Mont de Bière Derrière in the rain
![](../pictures/win/winter2011h16.jpg)
15 April, a rainy day. We elected for no snowshoes and . . .
![](../pictures/win/winter2011h17.jpg)
. . . regretted it. A sodden, sometimes knee-deep trudge back out again.
Sèche de Gimel
![](../pictures/win/winter2011h18.jpg)
6 May 2012, the farm of Joux de Bière off the Marchairuz road, raining again
![](../pictures/win/winter2011h19.jpg)
Joe and Kristin becoming rainworthy
![](../pictures/win/winter2011h20.jpg)
The sun's out, and huge holes appear in the forest floor
![](../pictures/win/winter2011h21.jpg)
Here are two great fans of huge holes in the forest floor (risk-taking behaviors)
![](../pictures/win/winter2011h22.jpg)
Exploring all round in the protected-area depression in the middle of the Sèche de Gimel
![](../pictures/win/winter2011h23.jpg)
Teetering, briefly
![](../pictures/win/winter2011h24.jpg)
-- What are you shaking your head at?
![](../pictures/win/winter2011h25.jpg)
Another great hole in the forest floor. Who's going in?
![](../pictures/win/winter2011h26.jpg)
We're being stared at whilst looking for the bottom of the hole in the forest floor
![](../pictures/win/winter2011h27.jpg)
We're through to the bottom of the hole, rewarded by sunlight.
![](../pictures/win/winter2011h28.jpg)
A friendly wave from Joe. Time to get out again.
![](../pictures/win/winter2011h29.jpg)
But not this way.
![](../pictures/win/winter2011h30.jpg)
Not that way.
![](../pictures/win/winter2011h31.jpg)
Our friends are laughing at us.
![](../pictures/win/winter2011h32.jpg)
Joe leading us to level ground
![](../pictures/win/winter2011h33.jpg)
Kristin following towards level ground
![](../pictures/win/winter2011h34.jpg)
Stuck on the wall
The river Aubonne
![](../pictures/win/winter2011h35.jpg)
10 May: The river Aubonne all in a rush (but much less so than just two days ago)
![](../pictures/win/winter2011h36.jpg)
Kristin and the river Aubonne
![](../pictures/win/winter2011h37.jpg)
The mighty Aubonne racing towards its rendez-vous with Lake Geneva
![](../pictures/win/winter2011h38.jpg)
Two days ago the tree was underwater (but I didn't have my camera).
![](../pictures/win/winter2011h39.jpg)
The Aubonne (located near Aubonne)
![](../pictures/win/winter2011h40.jpg)
Shall we chance it back across?
Back to the Sèche de Gimel
![](../pictures/win/winter2011h41.jpg)
13 May 2012: We've started from farther down the valley (the road is open now), and pushed our way up to Kristin's favorite holes in the forest floor.
![](../pictures/win/winter2011h42.jpg)
Dropping a stone in and counting the seconds till it hits something
![](../pictures/win/winter2011h43.jpg)
Into the abyss, again
![](../pictures/win/winter2011h44.jpg)
Kristin looking for her favorite hole in the forest floor
![](../pictures/win/winter2011h45.jpg)
It was here somewhere.
![](../pictures/win/winter2011h51.jpg)
There it is, down in there somewhere. That'll do.
![](../pictures/win/winter2011h46.jpg)
What now?
![](../pictures/win/winter2011h47.jpg)
Back out of the forest
![](../pictures/win/winter2011h48.jpg)
A meteorite crater in the limestone Jura meadows of the Sèche des Amburnex
![](../pictures/win/winter2011h49.jpg)
With bedframes and what not thrown down the throat of it to keep the cows out.
![](../pictures/win/winter2011h50.jpg)
Out of the forest and back to Üli the Volkswagen, waiting for us at the Pré aux Veaux.
![](../pictures/buttons/button-winter2011-12.gif)