Hiking in St Cergue (VD) with Famke from Mountful Hikes
This week I had the fortune to be able to join Famke and her Golden Retriever Olle on her Thursday morning guided hikes in the Jura!
She is a fully qualified Mountain Guide, who organises custom hikes/events as well as running a hike every Thursday morning. You can check out her website here and Facebook Page here.
Of course, my first question to her was whether I could bring Luka along, and whether we would be hiking somewhere that he could be off the leash. (Because let’s face it, hiking for hours with him on the lead would be a complete nightmare for both myself as well as him!) The answer came back promptly as yes, and yes! So we were in!
The weather didn’t look that promising and I think she would have cancelled, but as I am not normally free on a Thursday morning I nudged her to see if she felt the weather was good enough to do a hike, and whether she had enough people who would also brave the potential rain/snow that had been forecast. Luckily, there were two other people crazy enough to sign up to a potentially snowy hike so we were set!
Everyone who knows me would attest to the fact that I love to meet people and love to chat. (!) And I relish events like these because it gives me the chance to meet people I would never otherwise meet, and share stories as well as talk about things we have in common. This was no exception and I was fortunate enough to be able to meet and get to know Blondine from Amsterdam and Felipe from Chile!
The dogs got acquainted too, though Olle, being older and a hiking veteran clearly was above all the hype that Luka was about, walking calmly and leading the way whilst Luka did shuttle runs between Olle and myself for the entire 3 hours we were walking. I had hoped that he realised we were in for a long hike since I put his rucksack on him, but that message clearly didn’t get through to him. Sometimes I feel that people must think my dog is mad. Luckily, the two dogs got along well so I think for the dogs as well, the hike was a social outing.
Famke had prepared a lovely loop walk with a stop half-way at Cabane Rochefort with options to turn back or cut the hike short in the event of adverse weather. She had also brought hot tea and home made muffins with her for our half-way stop. It was a welcome touch!
This kind of planning and management is the value that she brings, as well as the knowledge about the local geology, flora and fauna. She described her job as like being a guide in a museum. It’s just that her “museum” is the great outdoors! She helps you navigate the nature’s museum safely, whilst helping you to understand the context around you.
The wind had been picking up for the days running up to the hike, and it was amazing to feel the difference of being in the shelter of the forest versus being out on the open mountaintops. Nonetheless, it wasn’t nearly as bad as I had expected, and the snow that began to fall in the last third of our hike just added to the winter hike atmosphere!
To be honest, since a certain experience some years ago where we were totally unprepared hiking with our then 2 month-old son, and weather system moving in on us as it does in the mountains, I knew the risks of mountain weather when hiking in nature like this. I wasn’t at all worried about it though, because I knew Famke was keeping an eye on everything, and guiding us along.
Photo credit Famke van der Elst
The walk would have been child-friendly if it had been warmer, and provided your child is not too heavy and you are fit enough to carry them for 3 hours. Famke ensures the pace of the walk keeps everyone together, and of course takes stops regularly to allow everyone to catch their breath and take in the scenery.
She organises family-friendly hikes too, so it would be a wonderful way to spend in nature as a family, safe in the knowledge that someone has done all the planning and taking care of your safety.
I’m so glad that I had the chance to hike with Famke and the group on this Thursday, I look forward to being able to join her and Olle again soon!
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