La nouvelle année: a walk from Châtillon-en-Diois

It was going to be impossible to match yesterday's Pic de Luc walk in terms of panoramic views, so today we plumped for something completely different. So we did a circular walk from Châtillon, with a level walk round the base of the nearby mini-mountain Piémard, up to the Col de Mard, a there-and-back diversion to the top of Piémard, and then the return to Châtillon. (The route is on the 1:25,000 Die Crest IGN map.)

The weather promised "ciel serein", and it was just that, as you'll see in the photos. The scenes were wonderfully varied, from the many vineyards and walnut groves in the early part of the walk, to another snowy wonderland on the path up to the top of Piémard. And, at the end, the sight of Châtillon glowing orange for just a few minutes before the sun disappeared from view. It's a remarkable sight, but blink and you'll miss it. We also had the sight of (I think) a solitary golden eagle riding the thermals above the ridge, but my photographic skills weren't up to the job of getting pictorial evidence. Sorry.

A mighty fine walk: Pic de Luc

Another walk from the François Ribard book, chosen for ease of access to the start by car, and safety of walking. I've previously posted about Le Claps (a massive 15th Century rockfall near Luc-en-Diois), and today's jaunt started with a quick photo-opportunity there, followed by a walk to the top of the mountain that supplied the rockfall. I reckoned that the odds of the lump of mountain we were walking on falling off in similar fashion was low enough to warrant getting the view from the top.

Well, in brief, a very pleasant walk through woods, and around and up the hill to the 1084m pic was rewarded with one of the most amazing panoramas I've ever seen. The views by themselves would have been enough, but there was a glistening winter scene up there straight out of a film-maker's over-the-top imagination, enough to put silly grins on all three of our faces. Apart from one slightly 'airy' bit near the top (which was perfectly safe), there was nothing at all challenging, and would be a superb way for anyone to pass four or so hours ... depending on how long you spend taking photos.

Incidentally, if you do this walk, keep your eyes peeled for the tiny sign on the right taking you off the main track onto the Pic de Luc path (see the fourth photo) - we missed it (which happily led us to the rather interesting rocks pictured), and only backtracked when we decided that the path we were on was going down when it should have been going up the mountain.

No cycling, more walking: Croix de Justin

I discovered quite how cold it was this morning, when I was putting out some washing, and briefly rested my wet hands on the railing, and they stuck to it. The washing froze solid too, within 15 minutes, and with icicles.

Although the forecast is for slightly warmer weather towards the end of the week, I suspect that I might stay off the bike and just enjoy walking with Chris and Anna. I'll have covered about 3000 miles on the bike here this year, so I'm not feeling starved of French riding. (The Devon miles are a different matter!)

Today's walk was a snowy recap of one I did last February to Col de Justin. The iciness of paths means that anything at all risky is out - even with Microspikes some of the paths round here would be 'interesting' (or lethal). We were going to take the GR95 up to Col de Beauvoisin, but it appears that a land dispute has led to the removal of the '40 lacets' path from public access, and the alternative (more direct) route to the Croix was taken, and we returned by the long forest track to Die. A great little walk at any time: the views at the top are just stunning.

Incidentally, this week I am enjoying using a new book given to me by my brother: Randonées en Diois, by François Ribard. This walk is in the book, and unfortunately was published before the 40 lacets path was closed. But it's an excellent book, well worth getting if you're walking in the area.

Farewell 2014, welcome 2015

So, back here for the last stay of 2014, and the first of 2015. This is actually my third year here at New Year: it was two years ago that I saw the house for the first time, and shook hands on its purchase - one of my better decisions.

I'm down here with two walking companions, Chris and Anna, and for the first time I've seen Romeyer itself in the snow. Indeed, the snow caused us some worry the day before the drive down, as the news came through that 15,000 cars had been stranded heading for the high Alps, after a massive dump of snow in the region. There is no doubt that the ski industry needed some snow, but I don't suppose the were expecting the previous lack of snow to be made up for all on one go in one day. Anyway, in the end, the motorways were clear, and the drive down was as easy as I have known it. It's still a long way in a car (850 miles), but with all three of us taking turns, the time and miles soon passed.

So to the first morning, and for Chris and Anna, what a morning to see the place for the first time: a blanket of pure white snow everywhere, and a cloudless blue sky. We were just going to go for a ten-minute wander before popping into town to buy provisions, but ended up  being drawn ever further up the valley above Les Liotards. As in October, the skies were of an intensity which has to be seen to be believed. The pictures give at least some idea of the breathtaking stroll. We got to the shops rather later than planned.