We returned to the Southern Vercors  for this extended Pentecost holiday weekend to make up what we missed last December. Oh boy it was different! Despite the somewhat chilly and strong wind, the weather was perfect, warm and sunny, and neither of us was sick. We stayed at an Airbnb apartment in Die (one of the best and most functional we have ever stayed at) and did two very scenic hikes near Châtillon-en-Diois: one to Les Sucettes de Borne, peculiar rock formations near the tiny village of Borne, and Le Cirque d’Archiane, a natural amphitheater-like cliff  near the picturesque village of Archiane.

Our first hike to Les Sucettes de Borne was very easy, even though Polar Flow claims we climbed over 500 meters in 10 kilometers, which I don’t really believe since the gradient was quite gentle. The photographing was a bit tricky, since I often had to wait for the sun to come out from behind the clouds, and then act quickly; the sunlight brought out the 3D nature of these rocks so much better. In shade they looked like featureless vertical blocks. You probably cannot spot it but in the picture on top of this page, there are two climbers almost on the top of the most prominent column. They were preparing their descent.

The second hike below Le Cirque d’Archiane was more tedious despite more moderate vertical gain, just 400 meters in six kilometers. Most of the trail was rather smooth with moderate gradient, but in both ascent and descent there were some tricky and steep sections. Fortunately, when going up, the rocks formed kind of stairs that were easy to climb, but the descent on loose stones was just hard, and it took forever.

I really like the scenery of the Central Drôme department; rugged cliffs, dry and fresh smelling conifer forests with easily walkable hiking trails, and Mediterranean style houses. The landscape certainly does not look anything like the rest of the French Alps. We will be back!