4 Days Walking With Steve

The end of May saw me put together a 4 day walking trip for Steve from Stoke who flew into Carcassonne from Liverpool . The Orri de Planes which I normally use was not open yet and neither was the Refuge des Camporells so I had to find 2 chambres d'hotes. They were both friendly and looked after us well. I chose walks to suit Steve's fitness level with enough built in flexibility to allow them to be shortened or lengthened depending on how Steve felt on the day.

Day 1 was an excellent example of this. We walked up the Balmeta Valley passing the Balmeta lake and then on through the Llosa Valley and its frozen lakes and snow patches - it being still early in the season. With Steve feeling good  we took the summit option, topping out on the Puig de la Portella Gran. Close to the summit we found Purple Saxifrage (see Record Breaking High Altitude Plants blog entry.) On the descent I saw a Ptarmigan.

Puig de la Portella Gran

Day 2 was a recovery day and I chose to take Steve up to the border with Spain above Osseja. This can be done by car on a forestry track. There was a short walk along the border with plenty of time to relax and cloud watch.

Cloud Watching

Day 3 was spent exploring the Eyne Valley which is world famous for its flowers. Too early in the season to be at its best, there was a fine display of Narcissus and we saw 3 types of Gentianes (Trumpet, Spring and Pyrenean.) As well as a fine display of spring flowers, we saw isard and mouflon. We turned back before the col.

Narcissus

Day 4 was the ascent of Roc Blanc. This was Steve's favourite day. Great alpine scenery - pine forest and lake and 360° views from the summit. 

Looking Toward the Final Col Before the Summit of Roc Blanc

Steve on the Summit of Roc Blanc

The Descent to Lake Laurenti

We stayed at Cal Pai in Eyne and the Gite le Moulin in Rieutort

Had a great few days again with Paul. He produced and adapted an itinerary to suit my needs and abilities to a tee.  The places we stayed were full of character and charm with a really warm welcome. The days suitably challenging but not too much.  Great time - highly recommended - will definitely come again.  Thanks Paul.
Steve  28th May 2011

Bear End?

After 15 years of positively encouraging the survival of the brown bear in the Pyrenees, the French government appears to have taken a step backwards. In early June it announced that there would not be a new release in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques as planned. Pro bear campaigners felt that it was imperative that a female bear was reintroduced in Bearn in the Aspe or OssauIt valleys to replace Franska (herself a reintroduction from Slovenia) killed when she was hit by a car on a busy road in August 2007. Two male bears survive in the area but cannot breed. There are only about 20 brown bears left in the Pyrenees. They do not exist anywhere else in France. Franska introduced to the Pyrenees from Slovenia (April 2006), killed in a road accident (Aug. 2007.) Picture from http://www.buvettedesalpages.be/ In the past, Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet, the state secretary for ecology in the Sarkozy government, has made clear her determination 'to restore the population of bears in the Pyrenees in accordance with France's international obligations for biodiversity.' However, earlier this month, she refused to authorise the release of new bear from Slovenia, citing the problems that mountain farmers were facing due to persistant dry weather. Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet's  decision goes against that made by her predecessor in July 2010 and appears to be at odds with the Governmen'ts National Strategy For Biodiversity that she herself introduced in May 2011. The French National Strategy for Biodiversity Logo (May 2011) includes Bear Prints   WWF France announced that the Governments decision was 'disgusting and would have huge consequences for biodiversity.' It added that perhaps with a strong hunting and farming lobby in France, President Sarkozy has one eye on the 2012 Presidential Election. Mountain farmers were pleased with the decision. They argue that the reintroduction of Slovenian brown bears to boost the population in the Pyrenees and increase the long term viability of the animal, would add to the already considerable difficulties they face. Bears attack and kill their animals. Cartoon from http://www.buvettedesalpages.be/

Sunny Eastern Pyrenees

Pyrenees Mountain Adventure operates in the Catalan Pyrenees Regional Nature Park which is a great destination for walkers. There is  the stunning mountain scenery -  shimmering mountain lakes, flower strewn valleys, peaks with 360° views and a huge range of walks available to suit all abilities and interests.

There is also the climate - another huge plus for the area. Mont Louis, where the Regional Nature Park has its office, has one of the best sunshine records in France with 2,875 sunshine hours per year. This can be seen in the graphic below. Mont Louis (2875) is marked at the bottom extreme of the map.

By comparison here are the yearly sunshine hours for Great Britain: England 1,457 hours; Wales 1,359 hours; Scotland 1,160 hours. (All figures from the Met Office 1971 - 2000 averages)

Holiday with Pyrenees Mountain Adventure and discover the hidden gems of the beautiful, 

sun kissed Eastern Pyrenees near Mont Louis. The Pic Carlit Challenge (4 day hut to hut trek) starts from Mont Louis.

"There is no such thing as bad weather, only different kinds of good weather." John Ruskin

Record Breaking High Altitude Plant

A flowering plant has recently been discovered at 4,505m (14,776 feet) in Switzerland. No flowering plant has ever been found at a higher altitude in Europe, announced the University of Bale.

The flower, Purple Saxifrage (Saxifraga oppositifolia) was found 40m below the summit Dom in the Valais Canton. Scientists believe that seeds from the plant were transported to this altitude by birds.

Last week while ascending the Puig de la Portella Gran in the Pyrenees, I found the same plant near the summit at 2,765m (9,069 feet). It was growing in a steep gully from the arrete leading to the summit. There were several specimins of the plant but little else in flower at this altitude.

Purple Saxifrage (Saxifraga oppositifolia) Eastern Pyrennes 24/04/2011

Back in 2008 I found Purple Saxifrage in the Devil's Kitchen, Cwm Idwal, Snowdonia.

Purple Saxifrage (Saxifraga oppositifolia) Snowdonia April 2008

Breathing Before Bleeding Before Bones.........

There are many advantages of hiring an International Mountain Leader (IML) when walking abroad. They can choose a suitable area based on your interests and plan a route based on your fitness level. Knowing the area well, the IML will be able to shorten or lengthen the route based on how you feel during the day. You will not have to worry about route finding and map reading and can relax and enjoy the scenery. The IML will also look after you and keep you safe. If there is an accident, all IML's are first aid trained. They can give first aid on the spot and will have the language skills to organise a helicopter rescue if necessary.

Helicopter of the Peloton de Gendarmerie de Haute Montagne (PGHM)

First Aid certificates must be renewed every 3 years. I spent a  hot, sunny weekend  in London earlier this month renewing my First Aid certificate. The course was run by Muir - Walker Medics and based at the Holland Park Youth Hostel. It was a wilderness first aid course with an emphasis on outdoor emergencey care for remote locations -  ideal for walkers, climbers or paddlers.

The course was well run and good fun, with lots of relevant scenarios and 'hands on' practice of skills.Thanks to all those present who helped make it so enjoyable. I still have fond memories of having my neck and head immobolised and the emergencey stretcher evacuation race which happily did not lead to a real first aid incident!




Helicopter Photo: http://www.ladepeche.fr/article/2010/02/06/771261-Aston-Le-patissier-retrouve-mort-en-montagne.html 

Muir - Walker Medics Coop: Wilderness First Aid Courses

The Alternative Royal Wedding Weekend

How did you spend the Royal Wedding Weekend? Myself and some friends, many old work colleagues from my previous life as a secondary school teacher, spent the time in the Snowdonia mountains, far from the crowds and fuss in London, far even from a television set. Even if there had been a television, there was no electricity in the accommodation to power it. There wasn't even any running water! A special, memorable weekend in so many ways. Thanks to everyone there.

Unusually for North Wales, after a grey, windy start on day 1, the sun shone! My guiding business, Pyrenees Mountain Adventure,  operates in the Eastern Pyrenees near Mont Louis which has one of the best sunshine records in France. This weekend North Wales was trying to compete.

The group chose quieter areas and/or peaks and to a large extent missed the crowds who had also decided to spend the weekend in the mountains. For us, no Snowdon or Tryfan but some great walking and beautiful views. Y Garn and Moelwyn Mawr are two of the best peaks for the views from the summit.

Bristley Ridge with Tryfan and the Crowds Behind

Great Views From the Summit of Y Garn. L to R: Pen yr Ole Wen, Lyn Ogwen, Lyn Idwal, Tryfan, Glyder Fach.

Alternative Descent from Y Garn. Two Hidden Lakes with Tryfan,  Bristley Ridge and the Glyers in the Distance.

Nantley Ridge from the Summit of Moelwyn Mawr

Price Reductions

Pyrenees Mountain Adventure offers guided summer walking and winter snowshoeing holidays in the Catalan Pyrenees Regional Nature Park. The price for the 7 night Summer Walking holiday, which is based at en eco-friendly trailside lodge and has guided walks on 5 of the 6 full days, has been reduced to £600.

Follow the link for more information about the summer walking holiday run by Pyrenees Mountain Adventure.

Come and explore the sun kissed Eastern Pyrenees with me this summer.

Stunning Scenery

Fun and Friendship

A vigorous five-mile walk will do more good for an unhappy but otherwise healthy adult than all the medicine and psychology in the world.- Paul Dudley White