Tag: Hiking

Orri and Icebergs

Saxifrage

An orri is an ancient shelter built for shepherds from dry stones with a rock roof, then covered in vegetation. An iceberg is not.

Booked in to the Refuge Fourcat for two nights we walked in past the dams from the French side. The 1300m ascent took us past a number of orri in various states of disrepair. We did find one with a foam matress inside but generally the shepherds have opted for more comfortable accommodation these days and so maintaining previous versions is a low priority. The refuge is in a magnificent corrie on the Andorra / France border. As all the other hikers were in for a single night we wre deemed worthy of a private room, brilliant.

With some advice from the gaurdian we set a plan to scramble the ridge of the corrie taking in the peaks and some of the fromtier the next day. Some of the scrambling was just on the limit of comfort without a rope but then we did opt for adventure over easier ground. The flora was beautiful with saxifrage, sedums and gentiene all in flower. Our route took in Pic de Malcaras, Pid de L’Etamg Fourcat and Pic de Tristagne and then descending back the the refuge via Port de L’Albeille.

For the get out back to the van we opted to take in Pic de L,Aspre via the ridge from Etangs de Petsiguer, again on the limit of comfort without a rope. We did opt for the route down via the path and even that was not an “easy option”. The GR10 and its variants meant that we did not retrace our steps from the ascent.

A great 3 days away on a refuge with a beautiful setting and a charming gaurdian.

Categories: Summer 2018, The Project Tags: Tags:

Vultures Next Meal

Wild flower

There seemed to be a lot of vulture activity around the Port de Salau the other day. Then we realised there were a crowd (I don’t know the collective noun for vultures – chorus maybe) of them on the grass and others just kept joining them.  All of a sudden they all took to the air, then one by one landed in exactly the same spot.  On closer inspection, with binoculars, there seemed to be a solitary sheep very near by.  Later back at the barn we had a look at the pictures from the day and realised that with the sheep was a tiny lamb.

Dr Anne was staying for a few days and was with us that day at Port de Salau. The next day we ventured further afiled to the Pic des Trois Seigneur. A fabulous loop with a wild swimming option and amazing orchids on the way back down.

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Cascade d’Ars

Etang Guzet

Yesterday was another scorcher and although the garden is getting more frazzled each day, it is perfect walking and exploring weather.

We set off from Alus les Bains and took the GR10 for the first time to get to Cascade d’Ars. Considering the lack of rain it was a torrent due to the snow melt up high in the Pyrenees.  Very few other folk about and a beautiful loop round to Etang Guzet where Breezy took a swim before heading back to the car and to pick up Billy from the garage after a ten day rest and rebuild.

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Pic Montgarie from Col de la Core

Bearded vulture

It was a scorching hot day and Lee and Suze picked us up from the bridge in Seix and took us up to Col de le Core. The initial plan was a walk and catchup with a dip in a lake. The GR10 took us up to Etang d’Ayes which is a great swimming spot in a beautiful lake, but we continued up towards Pic Montgarie via Etang Bellonguere (a somewhat muddy pond full of tadpoles). Snow still lingered in sheltered spots on the route up before the scramble to the top which gave magnificent views of Valier. We were fortunate enough to get some close up views of a bearded vulture soaring above and below us.

The descent took us over Col de Roc Plat and down to Cabane d’Eychelle and a refreshing dip in the Etang below and a hot descent back to the car.

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Pic des Trois Seigneurs Variation

The start point was Port de Lers at 1517m equipped with a packed lunch, map, compass, camera and binoculars.  We ascended from the carpark north as per normal to gain the ridge to the Pic des Trois Seigneurs.

The weather was fabulous with not a cloud in the sky.  We passed a couple of people near the summit but other than that saw nobody on the way up.  There were a few people on the summit who were heading down via the lakes but we were heading north again down the ridge towards an ancient hamlet of Goulets.  A fascinating collection of granges and circular buildings with domed roofs similar to Bories.  The roof structures were amazing completely made from slabs of rock in ever shrinking circles and covered in sedums.

From there we traversed back to the carpark via Col de Rose.  Not great marking and quite a lot of shin scratching bushes but well worth it.

 

Categories: Summer 2017, The Project Tags: Tags:

Chemin De La Libertee Walk

A much needed escape to the hills. Weather was not quite as good as we expected but we set off nonetheless.

Started from just below Col de La Core and headed off on the Chemin De la Libertee path towards Cabane de Suberou.  Initially through the woods where we found a few mushies, after a few drops of rain, the sun came out giving us great views. After the Cabane we climbed steeply up towards Col de Craberous at 2382m. It was a hot steep climb passing an old WW2 plane accident where there is still portions of plane lying about and a memorial to those that lost their lives.

We dipped a few metres down from the windy col for lunch in the sun before continuing on along the ridge rather than following the footpath back down the valley.  No path on the ridge but reasonable going for the first part anyhow.  Cloud then billowed in which made map reading interesting and the descent became steeper and harder on the knees thank goodness for poles.

We changed plans slightly and decided to head down to Cabane de Cazabede rather than follow the entire ridge back to Col de La Core.  Made for an easier last hour back to the van.

A long day getting back to Billy at 6pm somewhat thirsty.

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Ordesa National Park hiking trip

We have been meaning to get to the Ordesa for years. Either thwarted by weather or huts being closed or booked out. Determination does reap rewards and this year we made it, just before the holidays when it is super busy.

Decided to make a number of day hikes in different vallies to get an overall feeling of the place rather than hiking up high all the time, so took the little tent and the van and went on a mini road trip.

  • Valle de Pineta – started with a walk up the valley with the aim of doing a loop. One of the bridges was out unfortunately to get over a cascade and so ended up doubling back. Beautiful introduction and found some wild irises. Had a beer at the shack in the carpark and headed down the valley to Bielsa for the evening.
  • Valle de Anisclo – In the morning we drove over to Nerin. A Beautiful narrow twisty mountain road with some passing places. A great start to the day through old hamlets and farming communities. From Nerin we trekked through Sercue on the GR11 and down into the Anisclo Canyon. It’s a narrow steep sided canyon with fierce waterfalls and incredible scenery. You really feel like you are hiking up the side of the river as it tumbles down the steep terrain. At Riperata, where we had lunch we headed left up the Pardina Gorge and out of the top over a col into a meadow full of iris flowers. From there we trekked through arid scrub back down to the village of Nerin and off to find a campsite at Torla.
  • Ordesa Canyon – So much more commercial and touristy than Anisclo, but still mega impressive, just in a very different way. A smaller and more green version of the Grand Canyon. Once off the bus from Torla to the park entrance our route took us up a steep climb to Mirador y Refugio Calcilerrugo where you get an elevated 180 degree view up and down the canyon. A balcon walk halfway up the canyon called Faja Felay took us up to Puenta de Soaso. From there we followed the tourist trail in the heat of the day where you get stuck behind bimbly bumblies. The tourist route is easy to follow as it is covered in tourists as it meanders down the wide valley joining the river occasionally where there are some stunning waterfalls.ck to the same campsite and a meal out in Torla.
  • Valle de Bujaruelo – We had had 3 long days and fancied an easier one before heading back towards the border to for our last night camping in Spain. Up stream from Torla there is another valley as well as Ordesa which is nowhere near as dramatic but, again, beautiful. Our short loop got extended as we wanted to explore more and more. A completely different character again with pastures and a river which seemed in much less of a hurry to get anywhere though still had some drops with blue water pools at the bottom. Also swimming up this valley appears to be permitted. We took the GR 11 up the Valle del Ara to the Refugio del Vado d’Ordiso and then came back on the other side of the river for the last half.
Categories: Summer 2017, The Project, Travels Tags: Tags:

Cirque D’Anglade

We seem to have been at the barn for too long without getting away.  Sometimes just a wander down the road is good for the soul. We have plans to get over to Ordessa but unfortunately Billy (the VW) has developed a calliper issue on the driver’s rear wheel. Apparently the part is original and has ceased to do whatever it is meant to do and instead is gripping the brake disc. Not drastically but enough to make it smell if we go very far.  This means that a Spain trip is on hold.

We did however manage to get out and go for a wander up to Cirque D’Anglade above the old mine at Salau. The forcast was for rain to come in after lunch so we took a thermos of tea nad headed up the half hour walk from the mine. No wildlife to be seen but there was still a large patch of snow in the Cirque and some beautiful orchids.

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Spain Trip-Aiguilles Tortes National Park

Izard

We made it to Spain on the 3rd attempt and have had a ball!!! Sunshine, loads of isards to see, nobody about and stunning scenery with my hubby what could be a nicer way to spend 4 days.
We left the barn on a gorgeous morning but the snow was at 2000m and temperatures had dropped dramatically. Slightly concerned since most of the huts we had planned to stay in were about 2000m!

Had a good drive over with lovely views, took slightly longer than planned but did not really matter as we only had a 3 ish hours walk in that day.

We began from Espot which is a small village just on the outskirts of the park and very quaint. Lots of Spaniards out enjoying the mountains with it being the week end. We headed off to our first refugio Josep Maria Blanc (JMB) a stunning walk up through the forest, following the river and cascades up to a lake where we had lunch behind a wall as it was blowing a hoolie. Out of the wind it was hot but in the wind a tad chilly. From there we continued up to the lovely JMB hut situated on one of the many lakes in the park. Good atmosphere at the hut but only half full so that is always nice.

The next day was an explore day to get to the Colomina refugio. The main path takes just 3 hours ish but we decided to climb Pic de Peguera. A lovely remote path on the way up seeing nobody which was great except some Isard. From the col the ground got more technical and there was definitely a challenging manoeuvre at the top….I was scared!!!! anyway we finally got up there safe and sound but the rock was icy and slippy so we changed from our original plan of the ridge walk to Saburo as it looked quite gnarly and also quite icy! And decided to do a lovely loop taking in quite a few peaks the opposite way with no snow about. It was stunning. Saw one Spaniard on the way and that was it. A pleasant descent via lakes which were so so low on water they looked very eerie being so empty. Colomina hut perched at nearly 2400m had lovely views and again only a small number of us there. None of the huts seem to have white wine so this hut had cava so we decided to treat ourselves to a bottle of bubbles up the hill, very nice it was too!!

Next day was another explore day off the beaten track and some clouds were rolling about so we were being spot on with navigation as we did not want to get lost in the somewhat pathless terrain we were covering that day. Again loads of Isard to see on our way up, and lots of route finding, scrambling and fun to get up to the Col. Looked at the peaks to climb and thought rope maybe would be good so we decided to descend to the Lakes below for a late lunch in the sun.

Boulder hopping tastic on the way down but a picture postcard lunch spot with most of the hard descent done. From there a steady climb down to the last refugio Mallafre basic but great views of les Encantatas the twin peaks the park is very well know for. It was chilly and they actually lit the fire which was great.

Final day was just a few hours walk out through stunning forests and meadows back to Espot.
FUN FUN FUN.

It is a really gorgeous park and well worth a visit. It is our second visit there and we hope to do another 3-4 day trip again next summer.

Categories: Summer 2016, The Project, Travels Tags: Tags:

Mt Valier Adventure

Izard

This explore has been on our list for a while and we finally got to do it in fabulous weather with an abundance of wildlife and absolutely nobody around, what more could we have asked for. Lee as always was a fund of information on the area which helped giving us a plan of attack.

So we set off from Col de la Pause which we know well and up to Port D’Aula. An easy stroll up to the Spanish border although quite windy the sun was out so ideal walking conditions.

At the col the map came out. We followed a vague path mainly on the Spanish side for 2 hours. En route we saw lots of Issard, (the Pyrenees equivalent of the Chamois) so that was a real bonus. Plenty of Marmots too but tricky blighters to photograph so Al says!!!
We then headed up to a col Peyre Blanc for lunch….looking down on the refuge, Mt Valier and Petit Mt Valier waiting to be climbed after re fuelling.

A slightly tricky down climbing section, made us both concentrate! And then from the final col it was only a 20 minute walk up to the Mt Valier. The thunder was roaring around us but only a few spots of rain before it passed and cleared again. Only ones on the summit fantastic and good views too. From there it is about 1.5 hour descent to the hut with our dodgy knees going slowly!

A fun night at the refuge with a couple of Dutch guys, and 8 French guys. Think we got special treatment as I was the only female there that night, dorm with just one other single guy so no ear plugs needed and a good nights kip after some excellent garlic soup, chicken in a wild mushroom sauce and crème caramel.

We got a detailed forecast from the guardians with the advice to get going early as a HUGE storm was expected mid afternoon. So we took their advice and headed off by 730am the next day. Up via Etang Rond and Longue both stunning in colours and amazing reflections. A good path took us up to Col de Clauiere (which is one of the paths used for the Chemin de Liberty) so some history info on the way too. As we got to the col, clouds were whisking up and around us made it all look pretty amazing. Luckily the clouds came and went and we managed not to be in them at any stage which was a relief as that would have made ther route finding a tad trickier.

Issard tastic we must have seen at least 70 odd in about 1.5 hours, one huge herd of 30 plus was amazing to watch. We felt so lucky to see so many at such close sight. We sat 30 mins from Port D’aula sipping tea and watching the wildlife around us for half an hour before getting back to the col and then descending to the refuge for our picnic lunch and then on to Billy. The weather held out so we were dry and got back to the barn for hot showers before the storm began and now the water buts are full again!!!!
Fabulous 2 day explore, we would definitely do this hike again, doable in a day but much more enjoyable in 2!

Categories: Summer 2016, The Project, Travels Tags: Tags: