5 bonnes raisons de randonner sous la pluie

Rain has a bad reputation. It cancels plans, soaks shoes, makes hair swell… So we check the weather forecast a week before we leave. Then three days before. Then the day before. If the rain icon appears, we start to stress. If it persists, we consider cancelling.

Where does this obsession come from? Partly from social networks. On Instagram, a successful nature weekend means sunglasses, blue skies and golden light. No hoods up, no drops on the lens. As a result, we unconsciously associate “good weather” with “good experience”. But real life isn’t like a story.

There’s also a cultural heritage. In our latitudes, bad weather means staying indoors. In the Nordic countries, it’s the opposite: we go out because it’s cold or rainy. The Swedes even have an expression: “There’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes.” And they really apply it.

At the Bon Air Club, we prefer to say “Who listens too much to the weather, stays in the bistro” – probably a Breton saying – while taking inspiration from our northern cousins. For us, a successful weekend is one where you’re out and about, period. Rain or shine, whatever the season. Don’t worry, we’ve worked hard to convince you!

Going out in the rain, snow or fog means discovering a different kind of forest. A forest that smells of wet earth, humus and mushrooms once the rain has passed. This very special smell has a name: the petrichor – word counts triple at the next bivouac. The streams swell and make a hellish noise. Colors explode: the green of mosses becomes fluorescent, the orange of dead leaves saturates, and rocks take on a silvery sheen. In winter, when frost covers the branches, the forest becomes a fairytale setting. No need to go to Lapland: the Alpes Mancelles in winter is already magical.

Photographers know: the best light comes between showers, when the sun peeks through the clouds. Those fifteen minutes are worth every blue-sky day. The sun’s rays piercing wet foliage, reflections in puddles, the play of light and shadow through mist, rainbows: all moments impossible to admire in fine weather. Nature isn’t only experienced between 20 and 30 degrees, and it’s often out of season that it shows its most beautiful face.

Cycling on a December morning, when the air stings your cheeks and your breath starts to bead, has a special flavor. The body wakes up differently, sensations are sharper. It’s not just an impression: cold stimulates, it’s proven. The Scandinavians – there they are again – have understood this for a long time. In Norway, Sweden and Denmark, babies are sometimes put outside for a nap, even at -5 degrees. The result? Better sleep and a stronger immune system. Exposure to cold activates blood circulation, strengthens the cardiovascular system and improves recovery. That’s why athletes soak in ice baths after exercise! The good news is that a short stroll in cold weather is all it takes to activate these mechanisms.

Cold also improves the mind. The crisp air wakes you up, banishes fatigue. And you can’t stay stuck in your thoughts when the wind is blowing and your fingers are starting to tingle, clinging to the handles of your mountain bike. Going out in “bad” weather is an immediate reminder of the present moment. The icing on the cake: the smell of rain activates the limbic system, the area of the brain linked to emotions and memory, and triggers a dose of dopamine more effective than a like on your latest Instagram photo. Happiness, we tell you!

The rain and wind mean that you’ll have to adapt, and there’s no question of you getting into trouble. Maybe you won’t actually cover the 25 kilometers advertised. But that’s where it gets interesting. Because by accepting to do less, you could actually do better, by taking the time to look at nature differently. Observe the animals that come out more easily on overcast days. Deer on the edge, fresh tracks in the mud, wet ground stirred up by a wild boar. It can be the perfect time to try your hand at wildlife photography, when no one else is around to scare the beasts away. You’ll also have plenty of time to pick mushrooms: going mushroom-picking after an autumn shower is a sure-fire way to bring home a full basket.

You’ll be doing things you’d never do in good weather, like having a snowball fight – of course. Jump in puddles like a five-year-old. Watch the mist rise from the river in the early morning. Watching the clouds change with the wind. Listen to the sound of rain on different surfaces: on leaves, on the roof of the cabin, on the water of the stream. You’ll discover that sounds carry differently depending on the weather. Moments made possible only because the weather has changed your plans.

There’s a simple rule: you remember the outings where something special happened. Not necessarily a feat, just a moment out of the ordinary. Something that wasn’t in the original program, an encounter, a route error… And “bad” weather creates more of these moments.

We’ll make you a bet: ten years from now, you’ll still remember the trail where you struggled uphill, squinting in the rain, laughed as you slid downhill, drank a big mug of hot tea on the way home, your clothes steaming by the radiator. You’ll never forget that mountain bike outing that felt a bit like a surf session, with water seeping into your socks and other nooks and crannies that we’ll keep secret. Challenges build character, but above all they build memories. The fifteenth ride in optimal conditions? Already forgotten, melted into the mass of other sunny days. We say it loud and clear: long live the nuances and asperities of a “variable weather” outing!

Running in wet weather, then pushing open the cabin door and feeling the warmth envelop you all at once: that’s a contrast worth all the afternoons spent sunbathing on a deckchair. It’s a sensory shock, an immediate reward. And let’s face it, it’s one hell of an incentive to go out in “bad” weather. Some pleasures are much more intense in these moments: a crackling fire, a hot chocolate clasped in your icy hands, a good meal shared… And why not a sauna? At Bon Air Club, we promise you all that.

But what if it really is pouring down rain, the storm is roaring and you just don’t feel like going out? A grey morning can also be the green light for a guilt-free lie-in. Finish your coffee quietly, listening to the rain drumming on the roof. Read three chapters in a row, play cards, chat, watch the drops fall, do nothing, enjoy. Snug in the warmth of a Bon Air Club cabin, it’s already an escape!

The Bon Air Club is open all year round. Not just in July. Booking a Thursday for the following Saturday? All the easier in November or February. Deserted roads, trails just for you, no one in front or behind, and off-season rates… The sauna is warm, the fire is lit in the fireplace, the snack is ready. Bring your waterproof shoes and K-way: we’ll take care of the rest.

We’re convinced: true luxury today is no longer about guaranteed sunshine and the perfect Instagram photo to go with it. It’s about accepting the unexpected and spontaneity, letting go and letting yourself be surprised. And that’s where it starts: stop stressing about your app and simply accept that perfect weather doesn’t exist. Or it does, 365 days a year: just change your glasses.