Ropes, Ridges and Barbecues

Ropes, Ridges and Barbecues

Well the scientific tart-loading worked. I think. However, one raspberry tart does not a trial make, so I think I might need to carry out a bit more long term research, possibly involving a spreadsheet and some statistical geekery.

I had a wonderful day out, conquering (in my head) mountains and ridges. It’s a run I did last year and I was pretty nervous, because this time I knew what was ahead of me. Challenges notwithstanding, it’s a beautiful route. 22.5 kms with 1221 metres of climbing – the ratio means my legs feel pretty smashed up today, along with the rest of me.

My goats were having their breakfast as I passed and decided they were going to come with me, which was nice.

We made it up to the top of Ranfoilly without incident and I ate my pain au chocolat whilst contemplating the next section. A lovely zigzag path down to Col de Joux Plane then a relentless climb up a red ski run to the top of the Chamossiere chairlift afforded some pretty outstanding views – I was looking down on Les Gets, Morzine and the top of Mont Chéry.

From here, it’s only a short distance to Pointe d’Angolon – and it’s also where the fun starts. The route is a ridge, with some roped rocky sections. And a lovely clamber over some cables which appear to be supporting a concrete cylinder.

I had my GoPro with me, so for those of you who don’t suffer from vertigo, there are some videos in the video section of the website.

It’s all worth it – the views from an altitude of 2,090 metres are breathtaking.

And then there’s the fun of the run down the other side. Nick and I managed, by some miracle, to coordinate timings and meet up on the path down to Les Gets until I got bored of walking after 5 minutes and abandoned him to run home.

To add to all that excitement, guess what? Next Door has new inmates. This lot are terribly chic in their spindly heels and skinny jeans. Impressively, their barbecue was lit at 10 this morning and as I write this at 1.30pm, it’s still going. There’s an awful lot of ash flying about, adding to the general sense of mystery about the place.

It’s a work day for me today and my lunch break is over. Not that sitting looking at the mountains really feels like work – it beats suburban Cardiff, for sure.

No hard run in the alps is complete without recovery cheese, so tonight we’re heading out to La Fruitière des Perrières. Our arteries are trained enough to test their Morbier raclette, so tomorrow I will be broadcasting from a cheese coma.