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........

Something Old, Something New and Something Unexpected

The French have an expression 'Que la montagne est belle!' - aren't the mountains beautiful and a recent weekend wild camping demonstrated that perfectly. Some of the beauty was old, in the sense that I already knew about it, some of the beauty was new in that I discovered it during the weekend and some was unexpected........

The 'old beauty' was the Orlu Nature Reserve above the Orlu Valley in the Ariege. I had completed the walk up to the Naguille resevoir and dam before on one of my earliest visits to the Pyrenees back in the early 1990's. Then I was on holiday but now nearly 20 years later I work in the area showing clients the beauty the region has to offer with the the holidays that Pyrenees Mountain Adventure runs.

It was also the scenery that was as spectacular as ever.

The view from Col d'en Beys

It was how peaceful and uncrowded the area remained.

It was the still impressive display of wild flowers - Trumpet Gentian, Pyrenean Squill, Pyrenean Buttercup, Pyrenean Pheasant-Eye, Daffodil, and Marsh Marigold

Moss Campion Silene acaulis

It was the wildlife encounters - a Jay in the beach forest at the start of the walk, a kestrel flying in the valley level with me while at the Col d'en Beys, a ptarmigan not having completely lost its white winter plumage being disturbed from its hiding place among the juniper bushes, an eagle that came to investigate who I was and what I was doing at a col on day 2, a group of isard demonstrating their agility and power while climbing steep ground as I sat and watched in the fading light and a cheeky marmot.

Marmot

 The 'new beauty' and there is always new beauty to discover, was the Pinet Valley. Little known and rarely visited and better for it - I had it to myself.

At the head of the valley were Pic de Pinet and Pic d'Ouxis and between them a ridge that provided some entertaining scrambling. The clouds began to roll in as I started the ascent of Pic d'Ouxis (2510m) after lunch at the col and by the time I had completed the ridge and descended from Pic de Pinet (2420m), the first drops of rain began to fall.

The 'unexpected beauty' was being able to help two walkers who approached me at my wild camp site near the Peyrisses lakes (2227m) as I ate my evening meal. They wanted to know where the refuge was. The mist that had ghosted in had reduced visibility greatly. There was no refuge here. The Refuge d'en Beys was in the next valley! They had a map but were novices on their first mountain adventure and didn't really know how to use it. I ended up taking them to the correct col and part way down the correct descent path leaving them to continue on their own after the last snow patch had been crossed.

It seemed the correct thing to do and they were generous with their thanks. If I had been in their position I would have wanted someone to do exactly the same for me. It was waiting back at the col to check they made the valley below that I was rewarded with the encounter with the kestrel and the herd of isard. If I had not offered to help, my own weekend mountain adventure would have been much less rich in so many ways.........

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

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