It was organized by Jacques (aka Ushuaik) on OVS. We met right by the Malbosc tram station which has free parking right there as well. It's a great place to meet for both those with and without cars. Once we were all gathered, off to the trailhead...
We got there and started our climb up. It wasn't hard and after a couple of kilometers we found a cave to explore. It's a nice cave--deep enough to have really high ceilings, and it continuously slopes down. We penetrated about 80 meters or so. The last bit is a bit tricky because you have to watch out for a hole in the ground into which you wouldn't want to fall. There are stalactites and stalagmites, and all sorts of drapery on the walls. One stalactite was brown and hung about 2 meters down from the ceiling--looking rather like the cave was in the middle of a bowel movement--a feeling not lost on anybody given the amount of mirth and laughter the stalactite inspired. When were deep in the cave, we all sat down and shut off the lights. It was pitch black. You couldn't see a sheet of white paper in front of your face. Every hushed down. The only sound was water dripping--then somebody's stomach. Good for another laugh.
We sat in the dark for over a minute just enjoying the sensory deprivation. Then we all got up and headed out to the warm outdoors. We repacked our stuff and went off to the next destination--the peak.
It didn't take long to get to the peak. We stopped in a little sheltered area and set down our gear. Then we went over to the exposed part of the peak. It felt like entering a hurricane. It was so windy on that high peak. Way way off in the distance there was the Mediterranean Sea, but unless you knew it was the sea, you wouldn't necessarily recognize it as such. I made sure my hat didn't fly off--a definite risk up there. Wow it was windy. But as there was not a cloud in the sky and we were all sweaty, it was sooooo refreshing! Just absolutely refreshing.
After a while playing in the wind we ate our lunches. Elena had a sandwich she made with sliced cheese, red pepper. I had my sandwich with sliced chicken, mustard, red pepper cheese spread, lettuce, and tomato. Then we ate some apple pastries. Finally when all had finished their meals, we sat down and the Swiss guy broke out Swiss chocolate, someone had cookies, and a couple of people had coffee and tea for everyone to share. Delightful!
Then I found out that we were actually on a loop. It made sense because it was supposed to be a 20km hike and it only felt like we did 5 km. So we went on. And on. And on. Until we finally made it to Estagnol--a small abandoned hamlet. We explored the ruins and stopped and ate a little more.
Then it was back to the cars. It was already ab out 4:30 when we got to the cars and we were all a little tired from the hike in the sun. So off to find a spot for a nice cold beer. We tried to go a place in St Saturnin de Lucian, but it was closed. So we went a bar called the Zanzibar in St Jean de Fos. I had a very refreshing "demi" which is a 25 cl house beer. It was only 2,30 euros. Five of us had demis, 2 had monacos which is apparently beer with 7Up and grenadine. Two others had something green.
After that we returned home. Whew! What a wonderful trip. Any nature lovers coming to southern France couldn't do much better than staying near St Guilhem le Desert and partaking of the hiking opportunities around there.
Also see Jacques' pictures on Picassa.
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