It's been a fabulous winter for snowshoers here in the Jura mountains, but now summer's here . . . or is it?
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.
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The first of June, 2013, and the snow has finally disappeared from the Pré de Rolle pastures (ca. 1350m).
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Down the long pastures -- a few months ago we stumbled upon a sort-of-path through the cliffs to the top of the ridge, and today we'd like to see what it's like without snow all over it.
![](../pictures/win/win2012z07-03.jpg)
We're passing by the gouffre, a protected natural monument that goes straight down.
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The marked path to the end of the Pré de Rolle
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At the end of the pastures, here's the uphill view, hopefully now to be guided by little red dots.
![](../pictures/win/win2012z07-06.jpg)
Our first red dot, and up we go -- ooof, slidey wet leaves.
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A breather after the first stage . . .
![](../pictures/win/win2012z07-08.jpg)
but no red dots.
![](../pictures/win/win2012z07-09.jpg)
We'll wander around till we find one.
![](../pictures/win/win2012z07-10.jpg)
Bingo.
![](../pictures/win/win2012z07-11.jpg)
Two more red dots; good.
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Just when we're starting to really like the red dots, none.
![](../pictures/win/win2012z07-13.jpg)
Red dot!
![](../pictures/win/win2012z07-14.jpg)
Please don't let us find a red dot here. (I'd like to get this right, because I tore my shoulder tendons out looking for this thing in 2008.)
![](../pictures/win/win2012z07-15.jpg)
No red dot yet, but a hint of a vestigial path.
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Red dot! But no way we're going downhill now.
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Ha ha ha. Topping out.
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Very reassuring, despite the dilapidated old stone wall
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We've got into the ravine between La Neuve and the main ridge from Marchairuz. This will be easy.
![](../pictures/win/win2012z07-20.jpg)
Scenery roundabout
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Our path, and the remains of an old stone wall
![](../pictures/win/win2012z07-22.jpg)
A red dot. Good.
![](../pictures/win/win2012z07-23.jpg)
Claustrophobic on both sides of our path
![](../pictures/win/win2012z07-24.jpg)
Ancient configurations of rocks and trees
![](../pictures/win/win2012z07-25.jpg)
Straight ahead . . .
![](../pictures/win/win2012z07-26.jpg)
. . . and no plausible alternative.
![](../pictures/win/win2012z07-27.jpg)
Somewhere over those rocks, the pastures that lead towards the Crêt de la Neuve make for pleasant walking.
![](../pictures/win/win2012z07-28.jpg)
In the meantime, we're proceeding up the centre of the ravine, but . . .
![](../pictures/win/win2012z07-29.jpg)
we'll now take a short cut up to the right.
![](../pictures/win/win2012z07-30.jpg)
It was a rough winter.
![](../pictures/win/win2012z07-31.jpg)
Foresters' débris everywhere, we're near the top of something (1427m on the map).
![](../pictures/win/win2012z07-32.jpg)
Wood ants
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We're looking for the former Chemin des Crêtes hiking path, and that's probably it . . . down there.
![](../pictures/win/win2012z07-34.jpg)
The old Chemin des Crêtes. It's been a rough winter.
![](../pictures/win/win2012z07-35.jpg)
A soggy hiking path -- unmarked but well known, direct to the hotel at the Col du Marchairuz.
![](../pictures/win/win2012z07-36.jpg)
But it's time for another shortcut.
![](../pictures/win/win2012z07-37.jpg)
We're plunging down the Lake Geneva side of the Jura ridgeline.
![](../pictures/win/win2012z07-38.jpg)
Briefly lost, but . . .
![](../pictures/win/win2012z07-39.jpg)
relieved to find real trail signs. Enough with the red dots.
![](../pictures/win/win2012z07-40.jpg)
Now just a soggy walk out to the car
![GO!](../pictures/buttons/button-winter2012-13a.gif)