Autumn colours in the Alsace country side

by Yann 01/11/2009 · Trail

Run & walk 22 km / 1000 m D+

Fantastic tour in the Alsace countryside starting from Orbey up to the Col du Calvaire and going past two smashing lakes

As I arrive to Sigolsheim.I cannot believe it. Up to now I could not see father than my nose as the vast Alsace plain was nicely patched with a smooth white coat. I was probably driving too fast on the motorway until I was a bit slowed down by policemen around a car with its front completely crashed. Now I was driving in the sun. I arrived at the start of my walk in less than an hour.

I soon found my way to the start point. The road was going up and up but the atmosphere and view were fabulous. I love this part of Alsace. It’s so different from the Vosges side of the mountain.
And this area recalls me happy memories of a trail race I did here 2 years ago. In fact I am partly following the same tracks. I remember a few – narrow and steep – that acted as a gully as we could only go one by one.

I am still enjoying the nice autumn colours when I arrive to a familiar place. Last winter I was nearly every week-end around here cross country skiing. I get up to the Col du Calvaire where I cross a few groups as it’s a popular place. Well it’s true that it is fantastic here!

Lacking judgement – I must admit – and relying on my GPS I follow a track for 1 km before I suddenly come back to reality and realise that I am wrong. Never mind it’s quite flat and I have the view on the all the Alsace plain still in the mist all along. I must hurry a bit though as my GPS says that I have more than 15 kms to go yet and I want to do most of it before stopping to have lunch. I run back to the Col du Calvaire and go down to the Lac Blanc. Now I have two choices. Either I go straight to the lac Noir either I take the way leading first to the “Hans Roc” (Lac Noir par le rocher du Hans). I know it is quite steep to go to the Hans Roc. Good that will be a good exercise uphill and I know the view will be great from up there with this splendid weather. Off I go. I have to struggle through a few groups on the narrow tracks and I have to go past some of them twice as I am stopping to take a few photos. It’s stupid I come here regularly but I always think it’s the best panorama I ever seen here!

I stop again at the Belmont observatory¹ and again at the Lac Noir taking to few shots each time. I am soon back in the Alsace country side with a few typical cottages and cows. I also go past lovely “auberge” where people are happy to stop. I’ve got only 5km to go now so I can stop just before a wood in the sun. I enjoy my tuna and Cauliflower salad and a peace of Beaufort a real good cheese from the Alps.
I slowly walk back to the car ending this great tour.