World Book Day Today

Carved book landscape by Guy Laramee. More great book art at http://www.guylaramee.com/

Andorra: Top 10 Mountain Facts

New and exclusive to Pyrenees Mountain Adventure this summer - the Andorra 5 Peaks Challenge. The highest 5 peaks in Andorra in 5 days. Looking for a challenge in 2014? You just found it!
Contact me for more information at pyreneesmountainadventure@hotmail.com or find more information at www.pyreneesmountainadventure.com

Andorra is the smallest country in Europe (468 square km/181 square miles) and situated between France and Spain in the Eastern Pyrenees. There is no airport or railway and no coastline.

There were 69,758 inhabitants in 2012 with a population density of 167 inhabitants per square kilometer. The geological center is near Encamp. Andorra was neutral during World War 2 with many crossing the border from France to escape Nazi persecution.

1. There are 72 peaks over 2 000 meters/ 6 561 feet            
2. The average height is 1 996 meters/ 6 549 feet
3. The highest point is the mountain Coma Pedrosa 2 942 m/ 9 652 feet and the lowest point is Riu Runer 840 metres/ 2 756 feet where the main road out of Andorra crosses into Spain.

Pic Coma Pedrosa

4. The country has the highest capital city in Europe - Andorra la Viella (1 023 metres / 3 356 feet)
5. The border with Spain and France is 120km/ 74 miles.
6. 75% of the border is over 1 829 metres/6 000 feet. Only 1.5km/1 mile is below  914 metres /3 000 feet. The border with France is not physically marked on the ground with border markers, unlike the border between France and Spain.
6. There are 72 lakes. The largest is the Estanys de Juclar 23 hectares/56.8 acres in the north east.

Juclar Lakes

7. There are 2 Nature Parks which equal 5% of the land area.
(Sorteny 1 080 hectares/ 2 669 acres and Coma Pedrosa 1 543 hectares/ 3 813 acres)
8. There is one Unesco World Heritage Site which equals 10% of the area.
(Madriu valley 4 247 hectares/ 10 494 acres.)

The Madriu Valley

9. The highest 5 peaks are Pic Coma Pedrosa, Roca Entravessada, Pic de l'Estanyo, Pic de la Serrera and Pic de la Medacorba.
10.Pic de la Medecorba is a tri point - the borders of  France, Spain and Andorra meet at the summit.

Edward Stourton Walking the Chemin de la Liberté/Freedom Trail

Click on the photo to open the article.

Edward Stourton made a BBC4 radio programme about the Chemin de la Liberté which included his experience of walking from France into Spain along the escape route. The material was later incorporated into his book Cruel Crossing (2013). At the end of the BBC article you will find a link to the Radio 4 programme. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-15690262

Want to follow in Edward Stourton's footsteps and make the crossing from France into Spain on one of the hardest World War 2 escape routes? Contact me at pyreneesmountainadventure@hotmail.com

You Cannot Stay on the Summit Forever.....

Simon Beck Snow Art

Interview with Simon Beck showing how he creates his large scale snow art 'pictures' while snowshoeing.(Click on picture. Interview opens in another window)

Simon Beck Snow Art Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/snowart8848

Bears - Myths and Realities

The exhibition at the Natural History Museum in Toulouse 'Bears - Myths and Realities' was interesting, enjoyable and at the same time thought provoking.

The 8 species of bear around the world were introduced using stuffed bears and then the exhibition went on to concentrate on the brown bear in the Pyrenees and the relation between bears and humankind from the stone age to the present. At one time revered and 'king' of the animals, the brown bear was demonised from the middle ages and hunted to near extinction. The population of brown bears in the Pyrenees was thought to be unsustainable so bears were introduced from Slovenia. Bear cubs are being born but the bear population remains too small at around 25.

Skeleton of  the Pyrenean brown bear Papillon.

I was surprised by the size of the brown bear skeletons.The skeleton of Papillon who lived to the age of 28, which is very old for a bear in the wild, was smaller than I had expected although the claws were enormous.

Scan of a young, healthy brown bear

Scan of brown bear Papillon's skull  who died aged 28.

The scan of a healthy brown bear skull was contrasted with the skull of the old male brown bear (Papillon). The difference in the state of the teeth was very clear.

This quote suggesting that how we have treated the brown bear, and continue to treat it is, reflects badly on ourselves summed up the pro bear bias. The anti bear arguments from hill farmers with animals to rear, one side of a continuing heated debate, were not touched on .

The exhibition Bears - Myths and Realities is at the Natural History Museum in Toulouse until 30th June 2014.

Happy New Year

The Pyrenees Mountain Adventure team wishes you a year full of  magic mountain moments.

Have a look at the new 'mobile device friendly' website for the new holidays that Pyrenees Mountain Adventure is running in 2014.