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Western Switzerland – Maxi-METHS + AGM 2014 August  27 – 31

 

Participants:  Gillian (Morticia) and Tony (Lurch) Adams, Natan Cointet, Stewart (Lightning) Halliday, Bridie and Mike Macklin, Mike (Mad) and Verena (Müesli) Petzold, Esther Ratsma, Rupert (West Face) and Sally Roschnik, Eric (Polevault) and Val Scott, Neil (Bwana Nilo) Stiles, Peter (Up the Down) and Antonia (Twinkletoes) Tolhurst, Gavin, Janet, Lloyd (Comrade) and Ryan Woods and non-members Carolyn Haward and Peter Stiles, (=22). N.B. METHS names as per Green List, January 31st, 2014.

 

On the 27 August 22 Meths members pitched up at the Hôtel de la Poste in Château d’Oex for the METHS meet and the Annual General Meeting.

At the evening dinner Rupert gave details of the mountains that were to be climbed over the next three days.  As the weather was to be a bit dodgy on the second day it had been decided to do the easier one on that day and start with a slightly longer one.

 

Thursday 28th

Vanil Noir 2389 m

 

 

Surprisingly, at the standard time of 9 am all those who were climbing were ready to leave.  After a short drive up the Ciernes Picat valley (70% off-road) we arrived at the starting point at 1390 m to start the climb of Vanil Noir which is in the Fribourg Alps and is the highest summit of the canton of Fribourg.

 

 

Nineteen stalwarts headed up the track in fine sunny weather, but at the mountain hut where hot soup and coffee were on offer Mr & Mrs Polevault (they were knackered) decided to stop and have lunch.  The rest of the group headed up to the summit, 3 stopping at the viewpoint at 2182 m and 3 at an awkward step at 2316 m.

 

                                              

 

The rest of the party who were not climbing walked from Château d’Oex to Rossinière and back.

 

Friday 29th

Rocher du Midi 2097 m

Again at the standard time of 9 am those that were climbing were ready to leave. After a short drive to the car park at 1100 m we headed up through La Pierreuse nature reserve to the Col de Base at 1857 m.  From the col a traverse over a scree slope took 13 of the party to the summit.

Those that stayed at the col enjoyed the views before heading down to the car park.  The weather was again superb with just one brief shower of rain to mar the day.

The non-climbers took the train to Saanen and walked to the village of Rougement and from there took the train back to Château d’Oex.

 

                                                 

 

The AGM* was held that evening in the Hôtel de la Poste after which we headed to the restaurant Le Chalet for Swiss delicacies of raclette and fondue.

            * Click here to see some photos taken at the AGM.

 

Saturday 30th

Gummfluh 2458 m

The morning started with cloud and fog but this cleared by midday . From the car park at 1296m above L'Etivaz 11 hardy souls attacked the mountain.  According to reports this was at the beginning traumatic as the overnight rain had turned the lower path into a quagmire of mud and cow-dung.  After 4.5 hours 5 made it to the summit, while the other 6 turned back at various points.

 

 

 

 

 

The non-climbers took the train in the morning to Flendruz and walked back to Château-d’Oex by the river.  For the afternoon jaunt they took the cable car followed by a chairlift to La Montagnette and then walked back down to the cable car to return to the hotel.

 

 

Sunday 31st

All things good have to come to an end and it was time to say our goodbyes and reflect on another excellent meet put on by Rupert and Sally.  All are looking forward to the next AGM which in 2015 will be held in Wales.

 

Polevault

 

© WDYFO, 2014