Chalet des Platières
https://www.carolinadeluca.com/chaletsofthejura
The chalet des Platières is situated at 1216m in the Creux de l'Envers, a valley formed by the Mont Chanais and the crest of the Montrond, one of the mountains above Gex. I haven't been many times in that valley, but the place is beautiful. To the chalet I'd been only once before yesterday, once passing by during a long run, yesterday to draw it.
Yesterday it was a bit of an adventure to get there. First, me and my husband rode the bike to a trail closer to the chalet, parked there and followed a route I had planned. But the path had been all messed up by a tractor while cutting some trees, and at some point we took a wrong turn. We ended up as it often happens when trails are open by working tractors: nowhere and far away from the planned track. We started climbing up the forest to get to the path, but the forest was REAL steep and sometimes there was no place to grab. But in the end, rock to rock, tree to tree, root to root, we got there! And it was all totally worth it, the chalet and its surroundings were absolutely splendid.
Then, after the run, we rode back home. A well deserved downhill :)
Narderans
https://www.carolinadeluca.com/chaletsofthejura
Narderans is possibly one of the most visited pasture chalets in the Haut-Jura. Situated at 1340m above Thoiry, the way up to Narderans from the Tiocan is frequently busy with people. The chalet is managed by the association Les Amis de Narderans, a group of mountain lovers who take care of the chalet and its entourage, and try to encourage the locals to visit the mountains and to get to better know their natural heritage.
This drawing is based on a series of pictures I took one morning back in June, when the cows were pasting right in front of the chalet. Before that, and after, I've been there several times, looking for that perfect view. But it is not an easy task! The chalet is encased in the mountains, making it difficult to have the good light. One of these multiple days was during a run on a Thursday afternoon. That day I got to meet a couple of the people from the Association, and told them about my drawing project. But the light was not good, because in the afternoon the sun comes from behind, so we agreed I would come back and that they would send me some pictures so I could offer a drawing to them. I hope they will like it!
Thoiry Devant
https://www.carolinadeluca.com/chaletsofthejura
When looking towards Summer, it always seems to me a land of endless time to do everything I want to do. And probably because of this I never get to do everything, because "everything" is always too much!
So, two months after the run that got me to this chalet, I get to finish the corresponding drawing :) But that's the good (and bad) thing about personal projects: there are no deadlines!
This chalet is called Thoiry Devant. It is at 1485m high above Thoiry, and you can pass it going to the Reculet, or to the Crêt de la Neige when starting from the Tiocan. From another view you can see the Reculet behind the chalet, and a small water pond for the cows in Summer.
I hope I managed to get to my other overdue homework tasks soon... I have at least two more chalets from runs I did a while ago!
