After a hard few days in the UK our walking trip to Spain seemed an even better idea to clear the heads before next guests arrive.

We had been trying to get to the Aiguilles Tortes National Park a few years ago in spring time but snow stopped our plans.

We headed off from the barn on the picturesque route over 3 cols of windy roads into Spain, very mizzly weather so no views.

Anyhow our walk in for the first day was only a couple of hours up to the Refugi Restanca so we were not too worried about the weather. As luck would have it the walk in was great, mushrooms galore so Al and I had a lot of fun wandering up to the hut looking at all the vast variety about, fantastic. Arrived to the hut in eerie weather.

The hut was perched by the lake and the mist came and went that evening but we sat inside happily playing cards. Highlight of the hut was the great friendly guardian, low point was the disgusting soup!

We chatted with the guardian and decided if weather was good we would do the Lac Rius loop and have another night at the same hut as this area was meant to be wild and not frequently visited. Woke to fabulous weather so plan A was on the cards. We saw nobody at all until after lunch at 2pm so a real bonus. Beautiful lakes, stunning granite peaks and perfect length 6.5hours so back in time to sit in the sun and brace ourselves for the same disgusting soup!!! but the pasta and roast pork in prunes was delicious. Met 3 very nice Dutch guys for dinner which was fun and who were also heading our way the next day.
Next day we were heading over to Refugi Ventosa and we decided to have a “Stevie Explore” on the way taking in Pic Montardo, incredible we had the summit to ourselves for an hour on our own and could see Mt Rouch which is the big peak next to the barn and pieced together the sky line. Clouds initially in the valley looked cool and by the time we left it was totally clear and we could see very clearly our days walk from the day before.
We headed “off piste” for the descent and found a nice little place by the lake for lunch before heading down to the refuge situated in a gorgeous location with yet more FAB views. Sat in the sun before checking in and the hut was really cosy, went up to the dorm which was one room with 70 beds!!!! mind you it was the best nights sleep Al and I both had on the trip thanks to wax ear plugs!!!! Luckily the place was not full as 70 people in one room would have felt like prison! Lovely food and 1/2 litre of wine sent us to sleep well.

Big day ahead of us for day 3, luckily Al made a good decision not to take in an extra summit as i always tend to be slightly over ambitious! We headed over a Col not popular so route finding kept us on our toes and then over into Cirque Colomers which has around 30 lakes so by the end of the day Al was over lakes!!! Just stunning and again the place to ourselves which just makes it. Colomers Hut was our least favourite but we did have fish for supper which was a lovely change from stodge, brekky was on the other hand dreadful! Luckily we were walking out that day so not too much of an issue as we had tapas lunch to look forward to.

A steady 1.5 hour climb up to the Col before descending back to Billy around lunchtime.
tapas lunch was a perfect finale to the trip away.
A truly amazing place to visit and we just touched on the west side so east side still yet to explore and lots of climbing too.

We then stocked up on Spanish petrol and food as so much cheaper than France before heading back to St Girons for a load of washing and a DIY shop.

Back to the barn via wood stacking at Peter’s for around 9pm. Prawn salad for supper and bed!

We bought a small hiking tent 2 years ago with the aim of heading off into the hills exploring and being self sufficient as such. We had been busy looking at maps to do a 3 day loop from the barn into Spain and back again and had come up with a plan. Forecast looked great for the first 2 days and overcast for the 3rd day so we thought lets just go.

Heavily ladened with tent, stove, sleeping kit, Westlers ration packs etc etc we headed off from the old mine area just above Salau and up to Coldu Crusous and up again to Cap Rhuos. We have done this walk before but with a heavy pack it was much harder going especially in the scorchio heat. Great views at the top into Spain and the lakes where we were heading.

Terrain at first for the descent was fine but then the path vanished, route finding became more tricky and the ground became super steep so it took us quite a while to get down to the main path below by which time we were well and truly ready for lunch. The Spanish Lake Estany del Port was busy with families doing a gentle walk up from the car park and swimming in the lake.

We found a great campsite spot just below the lakes right next to a water source area which made life easy. We got there about 4pm so quite a long day after starting at 830am but fun.

Had a lovely night wild camping, eating Westler Ration Packs and supping te. Nobody about and lovely views and a good nights sleep. A nice swimming hole 2 seconds from the tent so I could have a dip in the river and Al even got his feet wet!!!

Woke up to the alarm as we knew we had a big day ahead…..but had no idea just how BIG a day it was going to be. Porridge and tea and packed up and away by 8am and off we set. My feet had recovered so we were full steam ahead! What a stunning walk up to Mt Rouch refugio at 2300m, following a very picturesque river all the way up with stunning waterfalls. Had a snack break at the first lake just below the refuge before climbing up and up to all the different lakes, magical. Lunch at the top lake before climbing up to a Col. We  dipped down to a small lake where we had lunch and tried to work out where we were adn realised we still had another monster climb to go. hey ho best foot forward and actually the climb up was fine it was the descent which was a total killer. 1200m boulder hopping, scree slopes and steep terrain. I was fading rapidly and by the time we got to a river I plunged into it in the hope it would re charge me for the final descent. Some small route finding issue added an extra 30 mins to they day. We were very happy to get to the tiny road and see a sign saying refugio 1.7km when on the map it looked like 4km which was doubtful I would have made it! Anyway off we trundled and got to the Refugio Del Fornet at 745pm and can honestly say was very happy to be there. 15 mins later the heavens opened, thunder and lightning how lucky we did not get caught in that!

What a superb refugio warm welcome, took one look at me and gave us our own room which was a real bonus and then a suprb meal, mushroom soup, goat, sausage and patatas bravas casserole and apple strudle. A large glass of wine and asleep by 930pm!

Forecast did not look great for the final day but the gods were on our side. 6am hail and then thunder and rain by 930am when we left sunshine and glorious. Wonderful brekky of cheeses, hams, salamis, croissants and rolls plus lots of coffee for Al and we were off again. We were told about 2.5 horus up to Port de Salau from the refugio so when we made it in 1.5 hours we were chuffed. A warm climb up but stunning and very different from the French side. Got to the col in sunshine and 5 mins later the clouds came in. Not a problem as we know the route back to the barn quite well but after 30 mins we came out of the cloud and steadily climbed back to the barn.

Lots of fun except the last 3 hours of day 2!
Rest of the pm was sorting out kit, a dip in the river, hot shower for Al under the tree after he very kindly said he would cycle to the mine to get Billy. It is quite a long climb up after 3 hard days!

Had Keith and Lyn’s Christmas pressie for an early supper which can best be described as a pork shank. Already pre cooked so we raosted it for 30 mins in white wine and wild mushrooms and it was truly scrummy with herby rosemary roasties and veggies from the garden. An early night.

An early start as we had a walk planned for today…

Main criteria was no more than 700m vertical, start high, good views and some water to flop in.

I managed to look at the maps and come up with a plan near Massat just over an hours drive away. Stunning drive over via beautiful cols to our start point of Port de lers at 1517m.

We had a steep climb up for 40 mins to reach the ridge line and then it was gorgeous ridge walk with some very easy scrambling up to the summit. Amazing views and luckily some wind too. It was 40 odd degrees.

We had a lovely picnic at the top, and pieced together the sky line to our barn and beyond which was fun. We are gradually beginning to get to know this part of the world.

We had a steepish descent with some scrambling best not done in wet weather! To the lake. Thought about a dip here but carried on down.

By the time we reached a small river about 30 mins from Billy, I was in it. It was so hot it was crazy and no wind. Straight under, even Al got his feet wet too!!

We then had 30 mins give or take on a small path back to the col.

A really fun loop which I know we will be doing again before too long.

Early start…it was dark at 7am a bit of a shock to the system. We thought an early start was a good idea as we knew we had a longish day ahead of us.

Breakfast, sandwich making, rucksack packing and we were all out the door with kit, recycling, rubbish and water containers by 815am not bad going!!!!

Our plan was to park a van up at Col de La Pause and then hike up to Port D’Aula before attempting the ridge walk over to Port de Salau and down to the barn.

We started off in glorious sunshine all the way up to the col. We then headed off on the ridge gradually making our way towards the barn. Half way along the clouds came in and out but we got lucky with our picnic spot…out of the wind and the sun out.

Really good hike, not technical, some loose bits but all good fun. One we have been wanting to do for a while and great to share with Sauze and Patrick. Not sure what went in the butties but Patrick ran most of the way down after eating his lunch!!!

We then collected Sauze and Patrick’s van and stopped off at the auberge for a drink on the way back. Very social with a few folk about. Back for showers, a quick flung together pork curry, veggie curry and dahl a bit more wine and then sleep!!!! Pleasantly tired. FAB day.

Early start, up at 645am and away and walking bu 645am. I slept OK but Al not so well, he was a bit cold. We decided to get going and have breakfast on the frontier.

The ground was bone dry so the hike up was very easy. Still fairly steep and some boulder hopping on the way but all pretty easy and under 2 hours we had reached the border and had fantastic views of the Pyrenees and into Spain. How lucky to sit and have breakfast at 845am with blue skies, not a cloud in sight and no wind.

We had decided not to do the summit this time as we knew we had a long day ahead and were unsure of how tricky the terrain ahead along the ridge would be so we veered off towards Cap de Ruhos which we could see in the distance, it looked a long way away and there was so sharp, rugged looking peaks on the way.

What a superb ridge walk/scramble. We headed down to Col de Mail, over to Pic des Rouges, looked over the Cirque D’Anglade and on to Pic de Montareing. This was all reasonable terrain, rock was good and not too loose and we made good progress. The final ridge bit on to Pic de Montagnoule looked more intimidating but once we got going no need for the rope to come out of the bag and conditions could not have been better for us.

Lunch much needed at the summit with not a soul in sight perfecto. Maps out looking at the views and piecing together the mountains always fun. Tomato, cucumber and tortilla wraps were devoured as we were starving.

The descent we had forgotten what steep descents are like, 2.45 hours down and knees and feet had had enough! but it was worth it.

Thank goodness that Vinnie was at the mine waiting for us rather than adding another hours walk on back to the barn. Instead we popped in to see Anouk and say we were back safe and sound, had a few rehydarting drinks and then back up to the barn.

Hot showers….NEEDED big time,  unpack, cook food and bed. We had guinea fowl but sadly had no energy to do anythign special with it except roast it with veggies from the garden and spuds.

Great couple of days, would do again but would prefer a zip wire for the descent!!!!

Another glorious day so we decided to do a little work before brekky and the sun hit us.

I set too with the strimmer on the bracken which we are gradually getting the better of. Al had the more unpleasant job of de composting the toilet!

Breakfast in the sun on the bottom terrace for a change before we started planning the terrace layout behind the new wall. Alison and Peter popped in for a coffee and a chat and before we knew it, it was lunchtime.

We had planned an early lunch as heading up the hill afterwards. So a good salad and pates and cheeses to get us fuelled up ready for the ascent to the cabane just below Mt Rouch.

The usual STEEP climb  up for 2.5 hours. Avalanche debris blocked the path at one stage which made the deviation rather treacherous.  There is not much flat in the 2.5hours but we just took our time especially as we had heavy packs with ropes, harnesses and wood for the stove.

We arrived just behind 4 other people BOO, last time we were here we had the place to ourselves and we just presumed that would be the case. Anyway it did not matter in the end. 8 people so no need for a fire and consequnetly lugged the firewood up there for no reason….anyway somebody else will thank us for it on a cold night!

We had made a rice, sausage and veggie meal all cooked and as there was no gas this time we just had it cold but with the chillits etc it was scrummy. We sat outside playing cards, having supper etc until 730pm in shorts and T shirts as it was a gorgeous evening, no wind and hot hot hot perfecto.

In the end 3 of the Frenchies decided on sleeping outside which meant we could have slept on the bed but number 4 Frenchman did not seem too hospitable so we slept on mattresses on the floor, not the most comfortable nights sleep.

We have wanted to do the Pujada for ages. Last year it rained so we decided that DIY was a safer option. Essentially the Pujada is the day when the Catalan people come up to the Port de Salau from their side and the Ariegoise come up from their side. They all say hello, exchange a few presents, share some wine and cheese, play music and dance, then trundle back down into their respective countries.

When we woke up the cloud was down though the forecast was good. Kettle went on for my coffee and the oven went on for the cobs and Breezy to bake a cake. We made a packed lunch, had breakfast and headed off at about 9am up the valley.

When we go up to the col there must have been a couple of hundred people. We were just in time for the welcome speeches at 1130 after which we settled into our picnic and watched as everyone started sharing the wine and cheese etc etc.

Got back to the barn about 330pm and set about preparation for walling tomorrow plus checking out the veggie situation in the garden.

Having collected beans, mangetout and red currants we took a bottle and headed down to the river for a glass of fizz in the last of the sun.

Think that omelette and salad is on the cards for this evening as neither of us is very hungry.