Winter Bivouac in the Jura

Meet at 11am at Vallorbe train station, in Switzerland, to meet Captain Rémi and the rest of the group.
Introductions happen between two straps to adjust, a crooked beanie and the excitement of heading off for a winter bivouac in the Jura.

You then all board together to the starting point of the hike. Once there, Rémi gives you a concise and clear briefing: presentation of the equipment, distribution of provisions between the backpacks and the pulkas, little tips to avoid carrying all the cheese in the same bag… All in a spirit of mutual support and organization that is the hallmark of our local guides.

Then off you go on snowshoes. You progress through the heart of the great snowy combes and the typical forest of the Jura massif, between spruces, clearings and gentle rolling hills. The pace is leisurely: we take time to feel the winter atmosphere, to listen to the silence and to enjoy this feeling of "far from everything" without having crossed the planet. A snack break punctuates the route: bread, cheese, steaming thermos… and already good jokes that bond the group.

With the advice of Captain Rémi, you spot and then choose the location of the bivouac. Then comes the moment to set up camp and discover the techniques useful for an effective winter bivouac: how to manage heat, protect yourself from the wind, pitch tents in the snow so they really hold up all night. Little by little, the combe transforms into a cozy campsite, a version of an "ephemeral Jura village".

At the end of the day, everyone lends a hand to prepare a real Jura fondue, accompanied by an aperitif around the wood stove. It crackles, smells of cheese, and there's real laughter.

After the meal, a short night walk in the moonlight allows you to enjoy the atmosphere of the snowy forest before heading to your sleeping bag. Throughout this first day of snowshoe hiking in the Jura, attentive guidance and group dynamics highlight authenticity, safety and the simple pleasure of being together outdoors.

After a real night of bivouacking in the heart of Jura – the kind where you wonder if you're dreaming or if the owl is really judging you – we kick off the day with a good shared breakfast. Toast, hot drinks, smiles still a little sleep-creased: the perfect combo to get back on the road.

Then comes the moment to pack up camp all together. Everyone lends a hand: we tidy, we sort, we check that no stray tissue or bit of rope is left behind. Objective: leave the place as clean as we found it, because here we practice hiking in Jura the "leave no trace and smile while doing it" way.

Next, we head off for a lovely hike through the heights of the Jura massif. The trail winds between clearings and forest, and as we climb, the views open up onto the distant Alps. It's the kind of panorama that makes you want to slow your pace, just to have a good excuse to stay a little longer.

At noon, picnic break in simple and tasty mode. We pull out sandwiches, local cheese, and everything that makes your belly happy after working your legs a bit.

Along the way, we take time to observe animal tracks, signs of wildlife around the trail. With a bit of luck, we come across the soft prints of the lynx, the more assertive paw prints of the wolf, or the discreet little tracks of the wood grouse. It's a chance to tell a couple of naturalist stories, to laugh, to ask all the questions that come to mind… In short, a day of hiking in Jura where you walk, you learn, you laugh, and you really enjoy being outdoors.