Once upon a time in France

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Once upon a time in France

Postby iandsmith » Sun 16 Jun, 2013 12:11 pm

From my notes on the trip:
.......then, suddenly, all other water experiences became second rate.
We’d driven there in fog and light rain, winding over a 4,000ft mountain pass, saying goodbye to Switzerland for the last time and eventually heading up a dead end road past a lovely lake with some unattended open boats accumulating precipitation. It costs 4 euros to park but you get a free (and welcome) map before trudging off past the lone tourist shop and on the path adjacent the river.
That’s about where the gasps start. Just 100 metres in and the largest and most dramatic fall, L’Eventail, can be seen through the foliage but travel another 20 metres and, off to your right is the prettiest of all the falls called La Tuffiere though it’s but a sidestream to the main event.
Now L’Eventail becomes clear. Claimed to be a 65 metre drop, it’s not the height that thrills us but the volume. It’s clearly in flood, great sheets of water plunging, spraying and dashing themselves on the rocks beneath. As we approach, normal conversation becomes impossible, drowned by the furore.
If that was all we came to see we would have departed satisfied, but nay, we climbed above and the enshrouding mist and moss laden forest added to the enchantment of the next fall, Grand Saut, itself draped by the sparkling leafiness of the vibrant spring shoots. At 60 metres it’s also impressive but difficult to get a decent photo of, so I slipped over a couple of barriers to get something decent.
We moved on, at times even the trail was overcome with the volume, steps were slippery, fallen leaves saturated and a danger sign with skill and crossbones and a death warning appeared but we walked on by because that’s only for the French.
The further we went the harder it was getting to see anything as rain laden clouds moved inexorably up the valley. We called it quits, apparently, according to the map, having seen the best of it. So we left for our new digs just over two hours away.
Attachments
France 2013 - days 22,23,24 Cascades du Herisson 297 (640x424).jpg
The river
France 2013 - days 22,23,24 Cascades du Herisson 297 (640x424).jpg (254.85 KiB) Viewed 8037 times
France 2013 - days 22,23,24 Cascades du Herisson - La Tuffiere (2).jpg
La Tuffiere
France 2013 - days 22,23,24 Cascades du Herisson - La Tuffiere (2).jpg (327.12 KiB) Viewed 8037 times
France 2013 - days 22,23,24 Cascades du Herisson - Le Grand Saut (3).jpg
Le Grand Saut
France 2013 - days 22,23,24 Cascades du Herisson - Le Grand Saut (3).jpg (214.28 KiB) Viewed 8037 times
France 2013 - days 22,23,24 Cascades du Herisson - L'Eventail (12).jpg
L'Eventail
France 2013 - days 22,23,24 Cascades du Herisson - L'Eventail (12).jpg (267.98 KiB) Viewed 8037 times
France 2013 - Lac du Val (25).jpg
Lac du Val that the river flows into
France 2013 - Lac du Val (25).jpg (318.78 KiB) Viewed 8037 times
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Re: Once upon a time in France

Postby vagrom » Wed 19 Jun, 2013 8:27 pm

A French email! :D C'est chouette.

Are you travelling along a GR route or just touring? Hard to find those beautiful falls on Google.
Surgite et .. andiamo!
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Re: Once upon a time in France

Postby tasadam » Wed 19 Jun, 2013 11:45 pm

Great read, thanks.
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Re: Once upon a time in France

Postby iandsmith » Fri 21 Jun, 2013 9:51 pm

I was simply travelling. However, I've just slapped myself on the wrist because I didn't mention they are all part of Cascades de Herisson in the Jura, Franche-Comte district of France.
If you run that through google you'll get heaps of responses.
Thanks also for the encouraging response, I was wondering if anyone cared.
Cheers, Ian
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Re: Once upon a time in France

Postby vagrom » Fri 21 Jun, 2013 11:23 pm

Thanks Ian. Yes, easily Googled. The Jura borders Switzerland. Watches, Le Corbissier, mustard, the Lion of Belfort. Harder to find large acreages of wilderness, but beaut when you do as with these regioal parks. But the intro to history is worth it. And the food.
Your top shot reminds quite a bit of the Little Fisher River type country in Tassie, on the way up to Rinadeena Falls and a couple of falls, of those on the Mersey, off the OLT.
Good travels. Hope you find the people friendly and some good trails. Haute Provence and the Pyrenees (...where the fleas tease). Checking out Camino country?
Surgite et .. andiamo!
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Re: Once upon a time in France

Postby iandsmith » Sat 22 Jun, 2013 7:41 pm

Been back for about a month actually. Might put my Cirque de Gavarnie walk in a bit later and will definitely be uploading my Pas de Loup walk out of Le Rozier - simply fantastic.
Cheers and thanks for the feedback, Ian
Attachments
France 2013 - days 22,23,24 Cascades du Herisson 182 (640x424).jpg
The river
France 2013 - days 22,23,24 Cascades du Herisson 182 (640x424).jpg (322.96 KiB) Viewed 7728 times
France 2013 - days 22,23,24 Cascades du Herisson 186 (640x424).jpg
Happy trails
France 2013 - days 22,23,24 Cascades du Herisson 186 (640x424).jpg (312.68 KiB) Viewed 7728 times
France 2013 - days 22,23,24 Cascades du Herisson 232 (640x424).jpg
Smaller rapid
France 2013 - days 22,23,24 Cascades du Herisson 232 (640x424).jpg (296.43 KiB) Viewed 7728 times
France 2013 - days 22,23,24 Cascades du Herisson - L'Eventail (19).jpg
L'Eventail
France 2013 - days 22,23,24 Cascades du Herisson - L'Eventail (19).jpg (304.7 KiB) Viewed 7728 times
France 2013 - days 22,23,24 Cascades du Herisson 245 (640x424).jpg
Forest mist
France 2013 - days 22,23,24 Cascades du Herisson 245 (640x424).jpg (356.06 KiB) Viewed 7728 times
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