Le
Noirmont ('black mountain') is a cute ridge lying just north of the Col de la
Givrine in Switzerland, hovering over the border with France on its northwest
side. We come here frequently to restore our noirmontness.
Our
assistant, Mr Pirri, is faithfully laying down a good track to ease our progress,
a warm 26 March 2006, as we pass the farm of Les Coppettes (1323m) at the southwest
end of Le Noirmont, which rises up towards the right. We're just an hour out from
La Givrine, delayed just a little bit by fits of laughing at George Bush jokes.
The
farm of Les Coppettes, about which more here.
Actually, it's not just George Bush jokes that are slowing us down a bit; today,
we've been sharing George Bush quotations. It's not that hard to mimic that trademark
semi-literate cornpone drawl, but no one on earth can imitate the President's
irritating tone, an amalgam of condescendingly didactic
and deeply bewildered.
L'Arzière
farm to the east, from the side of Le Noirmont
A
chamois scout on the southeast side of Le Noirmont, just observing our progress
calmly.
The
scout saunters westward to consult with his colleagues.
In
the meantime, a second scout has been watching from above, as . . .
.
. . we instruct our assistant to get out a camera and wait for the boys to make
their move.
One
of our friends makes a flanking movement to get round behind us.
For
some reason, scout one paused and decided that he didn't like his initial plan.
Whilst
scout two followed along, sinking way down into the warm, wet snow.
We've
sent our assistant, Mr Pirri, on ahead to see where our chamois friends have gone,
but in the meantime they've turned round and retreated back northward, still keeping
a close eye upon us.
And in
due course, we top out on the slope at the old skilift on top of the first part
of Le Noirmont (1547m) and we saunter onward towards the second summit.
We've
sent our assistant ahead a bit to locate the second summit of Le Noirmont (1567m)
and quickly verify that, and, if he's got it right, to wave us ahead.
This
is indeed the top of Le Noirmont, and we've requested our assistant Mr Pirri to
change our camera batteries so we can catch some of these gorgeous views.
That's
the farm of Les Coppettes below.
La
Dôle to the south from the top of Le Noirmont.
The
narrator re-enacting the venerable Noirmont crucifixion joke.
Mont
Blanc in the mist
We've
dispatched our assistant, Mr Pirri, to negotiate a convenient way down through
the slushy spring snow towards the north.
Another
chamois scout observing us from the ridge running northeastward towards Le Croue.
We've
turned down through the cliffs into the Combe aux Tassons and we believe we're
tramping along southwestwards to L'Arzière farm.
Our
assistant rushes ahead to the trail signs to verify that we are where we think
we are.
The
narrator limbers up his new FujiFilm camera for some improved shots of L'Arzière
farm.
Under
the eaves
The
front door
L'Arzière
farm, 26 March 2006. Now at the end of the day, we're heading home.
Not
without mishap. The narrator nearly disappears into the warm slush.
And
despairs and gives up.
Dwight
Peck's personal Web site
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and suggestions are welcome if positive, resented if negative, 
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All rights reserved, all wrongs avenged. Posted 1 April 2006, revised 28 June
2007.
