Hiking in the Jura

Hello again.

Sundays are usually a day for me to get out and about and if you are an outdoor lover then you are spoiled for choice in this part of the world.

I went for a hike on the Swiss side of the Jura mountains just thirty minutes from Geneva. These are another mountain chain separate from the Alps that form part of the frontier here. There are rolling pastures, pine forests, high mountains, x-country and alpine skiing, little villages. It is great and the more adventurous can even connect up a village or possibly two depending on your stamina in a weekend walk.

It was cool and dry back down in the valley but once yet get above 900m, you are in the snowline. This pic was taken just outside a 'buvette' where you can get solid alpine fare and hot herb wine for a well-deserved lunch.

Like most mountain areas, it has it's own micro-climate too. This area was really cold on this day and tends to be a lot colder than other areas in general.

It reminds me of a fascinating place I heard about once in New Hampshire called Mt. Washington. It is not a particularly high mountain by world standards, but has a micro-climate which can have intense (and very unpredictable) weather. Sunny one hour and then a raging blizzard can hit the next. They have guide ropes around the observatory as you can be within feet of the building in a snowstorm and not even see it (and freeze to death in the same distance from your kitchen to the front door!). http://www.mountwashington.org/. Amazing!

There are areas where kids slide down the slopes on toboggans and others for hikers and skiers. Easy trails near the village(s) for the Mom, Dad and the kids day walkers and more challenging treks for the mountain hikers/wilderness lovers. There is something for everyone.

Gotta get me a mountain bike for summer....!