A first wanderweg wander
The weather lately has had the uncharitable habit of being beautiful during the week and awful over the weekends. Like clockwork the clouds and rain would descend on Friday night, just in time to ruin any plans made for getting outside on Saturday or Sunday. But we persevered and this weekend the weather grudgingly provided an absolutely stunning couple of days, with storms in the evenings for good measure.
The Dent du Jaman.
So it was time to hike! On Saturday Tanya and I set out with our friends Jacopo and Gosia. We chose to start at the little town of Les Avants, above Montreux, based solely on the fact that we knew there was a well-endowed hiking sign post there with plenty of yellow signs to choose from. Indeed there were, and we chose to walk to the Col du Jaman.
There is so much fresh water in Switzerland.
It was gorgeous, easy walking through incredibly pretty countryside. We started up a quiet road through farmland, then veered off onto a path through forest that to my Australian eyes was ludicrously green. We popped out of the forest at the col itself, from which you can see Lac Léman and in fact all the way back past the Lavaux Vineyards to Lausanne.
Lac Léman from the Col de Jaman.
None of us liked the idea of walking back the way we'd come so we continued over the col and into the Canton of Fribourg, and followed our noses (and yellow signs) until we got to another train station. From there we could catch a train back, taking a shortcut tunnel through the hill we had just walked over.
It is spring time at last, and the mountains were filled with flowers drinking up the sunshine. My friend Daniel told me about the Narcissus flowers that are known for showing up in swathes in the fields above Montreux and Vevey; they are famous for being beautiful yet short-lived. Tanya and I were hoping to see some and inspected each white flower type we saw.
This is a crocus; a type we know because Docteur Gabs' spring beer was called Crocus this year.
Sure enough there were some Narcissus out and about - although only in a small patch.
Our walk ended at a very little train station where you have to wave to the train so the driver knows to stop for you. Next to the track was a small stream - perfect for sitting next to while we waited for the train, which, shockingly, was three minutes late. Around the tracks were various bits and broken pieces, including this strangely beautiful set of broken tiles. Les Avants to Les Cases - a very nice introductory wander to start the season.
