The weather gods indicated that a suitable window was available to get away with a tent. Actually it was an app on the phone and nothing to do with any god. We set off from Cirque du Gerac (Guzet) with two days rations with a view to head into Spain.

We left the barn in thick cloud and drizzle and went to get a coffee at Guzet. Nice coffee at the Refuge by the way. We left the van about 11am and headed round towards Cabane Turgilla. By the time we got to the first lake we were in blue skies with a sea of cloud below us. Never having seen a fog bow before this year we go our second one.

The clouds swirled around and followed us up the valley to Col de Crousette and up the ridge to Pic de Turguilla. Descended into Spain to find an isolated camp spot by the lakes about 300m below the peak. Estang de Guilo. Strangely we didn’t see anyone all day.

Perfect camp spot with a refreshing dip. Bed by 7.30pm.

A glorious morning. Breakfast and strike the tent. Descended to meet the HRP route and up to Port de L’Artigua. At the Col we turned left and scrambled up the first peak. The intention was to follow the French Spanish border north to take in Pointe des Trois Comtes. This was beyond our comfort level with large rucksacks and no ropes so we skirted the ridge along to Port de Lladore and on to Estanyet de Guilo for lunch and a dip.

From there we traversed some rock slabs to gain a non-existent path up to Col D’Aulus. On the French side there was a cairn then an immense, steep and gnarly boulder field. After the first horrendous 300m descent we picked up various cairns and then red markers taking us to the Orris de Turon D’Ars and the octagonal Cabane.

Nobody was there so we decided to make use of the facilities and slept inside. It would appear that the shepherds use it as accommodation periodically as well as hikers but we had the place to ourselves.

Not the day we had planned but plenty of good quality scrambling all the same.

Day 3 started with a steep climb up to Col de la Croix des Lauzes on wet grass and rocks. More scrambling north along the ridge to the foot of Pic du Lauzes where we dumped the sacks and climbed to the peak. Retracing our steps we then traversed the ridge towards Col du Seron before dropping off to the right to join the past to Etang D’Aube for lunch. Breezy took another dip before we headed back to the van.

A great 3 days hiking and scrambling explore. Not the route we had planned but still quite demanding and loads of fun.