Breezy and I had already decided to go hiking when we got an email from Lee with an idea. This involved meeting at the mine above Salau at 9am the following day and following Lee. Not strictly fair, in that we did know where we were going. Montareing was on Lee’s short list of peaks he had not ascended so far and he had a cheeky little route to get to it which we had not done before. We climbed to Cabane Saube then took a little track off to the west to cross the ridge into the woods and up to a ruin of Cabane Fontaret. From there an indistinct path unmarked by cairns, signs, paint or even a path in places ascended accross the valley and up through some rock bands to a Col (we followed Lee who had used said path before). From there we climbed up to Pic de Montareing via a newly built shepherd’s cabane.

Lunch, then just over an hour to traverse the scrambly ridge over to Cap de Rhuos accompanied by lots of Alpine Accentors. The descent was via Col de Crusous and the steep path (well marked with paint, cairns, and a deep rut in the ground) back to the van at the mine.

After a few days of rain the weather broke and allowed an opportunity to get out in the hills. An early start at 8am to get to Guzet and the parking at Gerac with a picnic and after the usual mugs of coffee. It’s not our usual route to head down the ladders to the lakes so we missed it first off.
Once that issue was solved we followed the trail to Pointe Hilette and then just carried on up the arete to see how far we could get. Progress was slow as there was quite a bit of scrambling and difficult route finding in places with the odd breshe to cross. The latter part up to Rabassere was the easiest where we saw some other people for the first time since leaving the car park (strange that?).
From the peak we took the easiest way down to a Col above Etang Reglise where we picked up some cairns heading down to the lake. Nice option, we thought. All went smoothly until the cairns disappeared (in other words, we lost them) and the descent became slightly more precarious. Down climbing a waterfall at one point lead to a loose boulder field down to the Etang where we picked up the trail back to the car park. Another grand day out in the hills.

For a much needed change of scene we headed to Auzat (to the East) where we parked at Cascade de l’Artigue after a coffee in town. Donned the hiking boots and large packs with food and camping kit and set off up the hill towards Refuge Pinet. The ascent was via Etang Sourd where we ate lunch by the shepherd’s cabane. At the refuge we met up with the guardian who suggested that we use the winter room rather than camp. She had a couple of helpers and all three were scuttling about getting the place ready to open the next day. As we ate our supper storm clouds were brewing so we opted for the winter room which we shared with a Mario from Briancon.

Our intention was to climb Pica d’Estats then Montcalm and take a different descent but the advice from the guardian was not to risk it with the snow conditions. There were some snow covered slabs and ropes and harnesses were required. She did say that we could leave our camping stuff at the refuge the next day and pick it up on the way down.

Leaving the hut at 8am, 80% of the ascent was on snow with great weather and amazing views. We shared Pica d’Estats with Mario spotting different peaks in the distance, then headed across to Montcalm which was less impressive. A quicker descent and reached the refuge just as a storm hit with thunder, lightning and torrential rain. Nice walk down after the storm and lunch back to the van.
Camped in Vic Dessous for a couple of night to get in a Via Ferrata at Goulier and some rock climbing. Even managed a meal out together (felt like a date).

Breezy got the maps out again and selected a fantastic route which we had never taken from Col de la Pause. From the car park we took the 4×4 up to the first shepherd’s cabin and then a path off to the right towards a col and then down to Cabane D’Aula. Beautiful flowers on the way and a steep descent to the cabane. Then joined the GR10 to ascend back up to a col, at which point Breezy had spied a wee ridge with couple of small peaks which looked very doable.

Lunch spot was at the first small peak Pic de La Banque over looking Mt Valier and our route below. After a leisurely lunch we followed the ridge back to the first col of the morning and then a trundle back to Billy.

An amazing walk, made special with the abundance of amazing alpine flowers and having the place to ourselves.

An invite to walk in the mountains with other people. What an exciting opportunity. Lee and Suze picked us up from Seix and we headed up to Col de la Core to meet the others. Another couple we knew and some newbies, even more exciting. From there we trundled up to Etang D’Eychelles for an early lunch. Then continued up the valley to Cabane D’Eychelles when we took off the path to the col behind it negotiating a few patches of snow. Following the ridge towards Vallier with stunning views we gained 3 peaks before descending from Col de la Crouzette via more snow to retrace our steps from the cabane. Amazing weather and great company with 1000m of ascent.

With the recent rainfall and the more relaxed travel limitations we decided to venture out of the valley for a hike up Cascade D’Ars. Having parked in Aulus we took the GR10 towards the cascade rather than taking the 4×4 track from the hairpin. It is a much more interesting route up the gorge and joins the 4×4 before the bridge. The Cascade itself was very impressive and definitely worthy of a few photos.

We climbed the trail up to the top of the cascade where we ate lunch before taking the loop back down through the forest. As we had no bread to make sandwiches I made two empanadas the night before with red pepper, onion, courgette, chorizzo and wild mushrooms (dried morrels, horn of plenty and ceps). Oh and half a boiled egg in each. At first I thought that I had made them a little on the large side but these Spanish equivalent of Cornish pasties were delicious and devoured accordingly. Thank you Mr Stein for the inspiration.