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Maxi-METHS + AGM, Cheylade, Auvergne, France.  4 – 11th September 2011

 

 

Participants:     Mike (Mad Mike) & Verena (Muesli) Petzold, Eric (Polevault) & Val Scott, Peter (Up the Down) & Antonia (Twinkletoes) Tolhurst, Rupert (West Face) & Sally Roschnik, Tony & Gillian Adams, Stuart (Lightning) Halliday & Linda Barnes, Gordon Craig.

 

Sunday 4 September

Polevault and Val were the first to pitch up on Sunday afternoon closely followed by Mike and Verena.  In the evening and after a very convivial dinner, the Famous Four made our plans for the Monday.  Mike was to finish his recce of the main walk while Eric, Val and Verena were to recce the Plateau de Limon.

 

Monday 5 September

After breakfast Mike shoved off on his recce while the rest of us headed up onto the Plateau du Limon direct from Cheylade.  This turned out to be an epic struggle against the French farmers defences, fields with fences covered in barbed wire.  It was a bit daunting but we negotiated them safely and we eventually reached the road where we had to admit defeat as the onward track was impassable.  There was nothing for it but a 2-mile trudge down the road to Cheylade.  But salvation was at hand.  A car with Brit number plates screeched to a halt and out popped Monsieur Tolhurst who had noticed three odd bods at the side of the road and thought that they looked vaguely familiar.  The offer of a lift back to Cheylade was gratefully accepted.  The Famous Four were now the Fantastic Six.  Later on in the evening Gordon Craig pitched up so we were now the Magnificent Seven.

 

Tuesday 6 September

Piscatorial Pursuits was the order of the day for Mike and Polevault, who rushed off to the Lac des Cascades for a bit of hunter-gathering.  While they were slaughtering the local fish the remnants drove to St-Hippolyte then walked on the pilgrims' way to La Font Sainte and from there along the ridge sampling more barbed wire fences to Suc du Lac at 1402m.  Meanwhile down at the lake the rainbow trout population had been reduced with Mike catching 6 and Polevault 5 – which were eventually cooked and consumed for dinner that night.

 

Wednesday 7 September

This was a free day with folks doing what they fancied.  Mike and Verena were off again to tidy up their recce for the Thursday’s hike and the rest motored around investigating the local churches and villages. The fences had their revenge with Gordon tripping over a hidden snare of the dreaded barbed wire lacerating his leg somewhat.  But true to the Meths ethos ‘it was nae bother’.  This evening saw the arrival of West Face, Sally and the Adams family, so we were nearly the 12 apostles.  Unfortunately the last apostle was lost in France heading for Le Cheylarde instead of Cheylade, but modern technology came to his aid in the shape of a Blackberry and Lightning and Linda finally turned up at 11.30 pm (guess who got the POTM award.)

 

Thursday 8 September

This was the day of the main hike.  After breakfast everybody headed up to the Pas de Peyrol for the start of the climb.  At first, when on the GR4, the route went downhill for a while but soon started the climb to the main ridge between Puy Mary and the Puy de Peyre Arse (yes that is what it is called).  Along the ridge there is a steep cleft called the Brèche de Rolland (mebbe he was a brickie) which required some scrambling skills.

 

 

 

 

 

This was safely overcome by everyone and then it was a pleasant stroll along the ridge to the twin summits of the Puy de Peyre Arse.  The views were tremendous and were enjoyed whilst we had a leisurely lunch.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After lunch it was back along the ridge for another go at the Brèche de Rolland and then along to the start of the steep climb to the summit of Puy Mary. Polevault, Linda and Sally decided that it was too much so took the low level route back to the Pas de Peyrol, a wise decision as the clouds moved in and covered the summit.  A great day was had by all.  For the evening dinner we forsook the Hotel and supped in the excellent restaurant at Les Cascades, scene of Mike's and Polevault's piscatorial success.

 

 

 

Friday 9 September

This was third peak day, and the object of our desire was the Plomb du Cantal, the highest mountain in Cantal.  This was to be a two pronged assault.  The slow party (Polevault, Verena, Linda, Antonia, Valerie, Gillian and Sally) were to climb from the Prat de Bouc while the fast party (Mike, Rupert, Peter, Stewart, Gordon and Tony) were climbing from Super-Lioran, to meet on the summit where a cross-over would be attempted.  This was successful and the tortoises headed down to Super-Lioran whilst the hares hared off to the Prat de Bouc.  After dinner we took over the local village hall for the AGM (Minutes to be in the January Circular).

 

 

Saturday 10 September

Saturday saw us walking from the hotel to Les Cascades where there was a split in the party.  Some, after an excellent coffee headed off on a 2-hr walk from Les Cascades onto the Pic du Christ and back to the starting point then back to the hotel.  Mike flushed with piscatorial success went off to partake in a bout of fishmongering catching a further 5 trout before heading off to climb the Pic du Christ.

 

 

Sunday 11 September

This was going home day and it was with some regret that we said our fond farewells after an excellent meet.

 

© WDYFO, 2011