Friday, October 13, 2017

Brown Bears and Mountain Farmers - Is Cohabitation Possible?

Mid September a video was sent to local media in the Ariège Pyrenees.
In the video a spokesperson for the group of about 30 heavily armed individuals, their faces hidden by balaclavas, threatens to start hunting the brown bears in the Pyrenees which are a protected species. 
 
 
Masked men, weapons, balaclavas
Still from video
 
This excellent programme C Politique Le Débat was broadcast on Arte
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WCIIh98sesk&feature=youtu.be
looks at both sides of the issue about whether brown bears and mountain farmers can cohabit in the Pyrenees.
 
 
TV studio, audience, C Le Débat,
 
 
1:46 mins. 8 minute introductory film. Sets out the pro and anti arguments for brown bear reintroduction in the Pyrenees and covers the summer attacks on livestock by brown bears and the video of the group threatening to start hunting the bears if the government does not start to listen to their concerns.
 
10:00 mins. Studio debate between  
Alan Reynes (Pro Bear) - the Director of the Association 'Pays de l'Ours' and François Toulis (Anti Bear) - President of the Ariège Chamber of Agriculture.  
 
25:00 mins. End

Working With Monty Halls Filming the Channel 4 Series 'Freedom Trails'


The 4th programme in the Channel 4 series Freedom Trails was broadcast on 7th October 2017. It was produced by Seadog Productions and followed Monty Halls trekking across the Pyrenees from France to Spain.
Monty Halls, presenter, writer, ex Royal Marine
Monty Halls ready to go to work.

Monty was walking in the footsteps of the brave men and women who crossed the mountains to escape Nazi occupied Europe and oppression during World War 2. We learnt about what it was like for them on the run and about the brave man and women who sheltered them, fed them, clothed them and guided them to safety.

Initial Seadog Productions team in June 2016 filming for the teaser trailer to send to television companies to get the commission to film the series. 

A small team from Seadog Productions, including Monty Halls, first came to the Pyrenees for several days in June 2016. I was a 'fixer' helping with finding locations and sorting out logistics. The footage shot led to a teaser film that was sent to the major TV channels. Channel 4 were the first to reply and later commissioned the series.

A larger team returned to film in the Saint Girons area in February 2017 (completing many interviews that were never used in the finished documentary) and again in June 2017 for the filming of the trek across the Pyrenees.


Behind every great presenter there is a great production company and behind every great production company there is a great support team. Day 1, June 2017

As well as the crew filming Monty, Pyrenees Mountain Adventure looked after logistics and guiding.

Before the arrival of Monty and the film crew, George Manley and myself spent 2 days checking on snow conditions on the approach to the border. We were checking that conditions were not dangerous. Mid June is early in the season in this part of the Pyrenees.

'Big' George Manley checking snow conditions on the approach to the border.



There was enough snow to make the shots look exciting but not enough to make it dangerous for Monty and the team.

www.pyreneesmountainadventure.com
Big smiles from me on day 2 of the route recce. Enough snow for some great footage but not enough to cause problems for Monty and the crew.

Me and George also checked on the food drop I had made with the help of Paul Debons at the Refuge d'Espugues a week earlier. He worked as a friend accepting no payment as did Gerard Cassagne who did 2 days of portering.


Actual filming began with fine weather and progressed well although George Manley was not on top form because he had a stomach bug. Two porters Lee Sharp and George Cassagne helped carry kit so as to not overload the crew who were already carrying large loads.


Gerard Cassagne one of the porters with the biggest rucksack you have ever seen!




It's off to work we go....


'Little' George the second cameraman.

In the evening of Day 1, (Big) George Manley retired early at the Refuge d'Espugues still not feeling well and (Little) George the second cameraman, had also begun to feel unwell.

'Little' George was ill during the night and the following morning the decision was made that he should descend with 'Big' George to the nearest road where he could get taxi transport to Saint Girons. 'Big' George would meet us all again the following day at the Refuge des Estagnous but the trek was over for the second cameraman.









DOP, cameraman, camera
Rich the Directer of Photography
Tom the Directer
























Filming progressed well on Day 2 with some awesome drone footage filmed by Rich the DOP (Directer of Photography) - that's main cameraman to you and me! Rich, Sonic the Sound Man and Tom the Directer worked well together with Monty but it did take a long time with lots of retakes to get the perfect footage. Katy the fixer kept smiling and kept everyone calm.


soundman, boom micropshone
Sonic the Sound Man
Katy the Fixer


Happily the way the trek had been planned, there was the time available to get all the footage the crew and Monty wanted. A great evening was spent at the Refuge des Estagnous where we were well looked after by Laurent and Stéphan who had planned to be shut between the 2 opening weekends of the season but opened especially for us. All the crew enjoyed proper mattresses and proper food after sleeping mats and dehydrated food packets the evening before.

Lake, frozen, ice, person
Top lake with George Manley on the recce.
Day 3 began early as this was the longest of the 3. Big George met up with us as we arrived at the Round Lake. An even earlier start for him meant he was able to meet up with the team before the ascent on the snow to the border. The top lake was partly frozen and looked great and most of the ascent to the border was on snow which made it look spectacular.

mountains, snow
The final approach to the border.

From the border, a long descent into Spain, a beer in a café that Monty bought me (like he promised he would) to celebrate the end of the trek (which was filmed but like so much of the footage, never used) and then on to the Refugi de Fornet where we arrived at 10pm! I had rung ahead with the sattelite 'phone because there is no mobile coverage and the food was waiting for us as we arrived. Like at the Refuge des Estagnous we ate well and were well looked after by René and Tatiana.Their pet Patou was the centre of attention - nearly upstaging Monty (but not quite.)

www.pyreneesmountainadventure.com
The end of the trek. A happy Monty, film crew and Pyrenees Mountain Adventure support team.
If you would like to walk the Freedom Trail/Chemin de la Liberté or want more information about it, please see the Pyrenees Mountain Adventure website
www.pyreneesmountainadventure.com
You will find a contact page or you can contact me at
pyreneesmountainadventure@hotmail.com

I look forward to hearing from you.

All the best,

Paul

Paul Williams
Pyrenees Mountain Adventure






Saturday, May 30, 2015

Escape! This Summer With Pyrenees Mountain Adventure



During August this year Escape! with Pyrenees Mountain Adventure. 
Pyrenees Mountain Adventure offers you the chance to follow in the footsteps of allied airmen escaping from Nazi occupied territory during World War 2 by trekking the Freedom Trail (le Chemin de la Liberté in French.) 
This is a tough trek in the beautiful, wild mountains of the Pyrenees.

There are 3 itineraries on offer to match the time you have available.
Price includes:
All guiding with qualified, British trek leader (International Mountain Leader - IML) with very good experience of leading groups on the trek.
Private transfer back to Hotel Eychenne, St Girons from the end of the trek in Spain.
Full board (hot evening meal, breakfast and packed lunch) in mountain refuge and/or gite (depending on the length of trek chosen.)
Hot showers and dormitory style accommodation. For 4 and 5 day trek - one night in shelter without warden. Minimal facilities. No food.
Price does not include accommodation before and after the trek.

2 Day Freedom Trail 250 euros per person.
18th and 19th July
8th and 9th August
22nd and 23rd August
12th and 13th September

4 Day Freedom Trail 390 euros per person
2nd August – 5th August
28 th – 31st August

5 Day Freedom Trail 500 euros per person.
15th – 19th August

The trek is strenuous (6 to 8 hours of trekking per day) over sometimes rough terrain. You will enjoy it more if you have had some previous experience of mountain walking.
Meeting point: 8.30 am Hotel Eychenne, St Girons. 
Dispersal point: 8 pm Hotel Eychenne, St Girons.
For more information or to suggest other dates that work for you, contact Paul 06 52 06 12 50 pyreneesmountainadventure@hotmail.com

Sunday, March 22, 2015

Looking Ahead - What Does This Summer Have in Store?

Spring has arrived and with the rising temperatures, the snow on the summits and high cols in the Pyrenees has begun to melt. With the first bookings of the year being taken for summer treks I find myself looking forward in anticipation. What does this summer have in store? If it is like any other summer in the Pyrenees with Pyrenees Mountain Adventure........









Wednesday, July 30, 2014

Pic Carlit Challenge July 2014

Steve recently completed the 4 day Pic Carlit Challenge with Pyrenees Mountain Adventure and had a great time summiting Pic Carlit on Day 4 (2921m/9583 feet).

Steve with the Twin Perics in the distance. Ascended both on Day 2.

In his own words:


What a fantastic week! 
Having walked mainly in England, I maybe underestimated the 'Challenge' part of the Pic Carlit Challenge. Four days walking and four nights wild camping (my choice). Wow! But it was worth each single drop of sweat and every aching muscle. 
Thanks Paul for your magnificent leadership. Your comprehensive knowledge of the area, not only in respect of the navigation but also the flora and fauna, was impressive. It was great that your itinerary was so flexible, even providing opportunities for some extra peak bagging. 
Your extraordinary patience, without being patronising, certainly inspired me to achieve more than I thought I was capable of.  It was really easy to get on with you. You were sociable but instinctively knew when I needed space to myself. It was an experience that will remain with me always. 
Good luck for future expeditions.

Steve


Summit of Grand Peric



Sunrise from campsite on morning of Day 3

Campsite the morning of Day 4


360 degree panorama from the summit of Pic Carlit


More information about completing the trek with Pyrenees Mountain Adventure can be found here:
http://www.pyreneesmountainadventure.com/#!pyrenees-summer-treks/c15px
  
Steve chose to complete the 4 day trek with wild camps (carrying all his food, stove and fuel, tent and sleeping bag) but the option exists to stay in mountain huts each night meaning a less heavy rucksack.

Pyrenees D of E Gold Expedition July 2014 with Simon Langton School, Canterbury.

Team Wizards

Team Fat Fingers
A group of 12 students from Simon Langton Boys School made the journey from Canterbury to the Eastern Pyrenees to complete their 4 day/3 night Gold D of E Expedition with Pyrenees Mountain Adventure.

The trip included a training day before and a rest and relaxation day (visiting the castle in Carcassonne) after the of the expedition. (2 - 8 July  2014)

In the the words of the assessor:

(*Insert name*) and (*his/her*) team successfully completed one of the most arduous Gold expeditions I have assessed. The expedition was centred around the Puig Peric, deep in the French Pyrenees mountains. The team averaged 10 hour mountain days, reaching a height of 2600m on their 3rd day. 
(*Insert name*) and (*his/her*) team demonstrated great personal determination, which was enhanced by a fantastic sense of teamwork and camaraderie. Despite very tough conditions, including torrential rain, thunder, lightning, snow patches, high temperatures and extremely difficult terrain at times, (*Insert name*) and (*his/her*) team remained in high spirits, keeping each other motivated through humour, encouragement and obvious great friendship. Small but important lessons were learnt in navigation and campsite selection, but all in all a brilliantly executed Gold expedition, which really embodied the ethos of the award. 
A huge note of thanks to the 1st class safety supervision team who made it possible.
Mo! ML
Fantastic scenery - Pic Carlit

Wildlife - Mouflon








Challenging Weather conditions on Day 4



Post expedition rest and relaxtion. Visting Carcassonne Castle

The staff Dream Team reunited again