Category: Hiking

The evening before we found a place where they does not forecast a rain. The place is called Riglos – it is a village in Spain 200km drive far from Luz across three mountain passes. We found in the web the descriptions of a couple of trips near Riglos and other villages near it.

While driving in France it rains all the time. When we enter Spain across the Pourtalet pass the picture changes – the rain, clouds and cold does not follow us across the border.

Riglos is a tiny village at the front of huge reddish rock columns. The view is just stunning. We start to walk from the village center and proceed uphill between the giant columns. The path bows around the columns – we can look at them and take shots from different sides. The track length – 5.5km, height difference – 400m.

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Next we drive to the other side of the valley to the Aguero town. It has similar giant columns beside it. We tale a view of the church in the village center, stroll the streets and then drive a bit out of the village to see another church – a 12 century one.

Then we drive back. After a hot and sunny day to a rainy and green France.

Download file: gmt-11-malos-los-riglos.gpx

The weather forecast tells – rain, partly cloudy. We secure us with raincoats and everything. The track starts near the ski station Hautacam. The last kilometers to the parking car we drive in a fog on a bumpy road through puddles. We have alternatives here – to select (on a last stage of the track) one of the three summits. Shortly after we have started to walk it starts to rain and this continues all the way. The last stage before the summit is a steep, wet and muddy path. The magnificent nature and a pair of beautiful lakes uplifts us though.

The sights on the summit are perfect – on us I mean because there are no other ones. We find out the name of the summit (Pic de Leviste – 2463m high)  only when back home 🙂 After taking some shots we slither back down.

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The last two challenges for today – how to get out of the wet raincoats and boots and to get in a car without get drenched completely. And how to find a place in our apartment for all those wet things.

We have walked 14km, height difference – 900m. To get back to senses we open up the second wine barrel 🙂

Download file: gmt-10-pic-de-leviste.gpx

No summits for today – we have decided to look at lakes Ardiden. We drive the mountain road through villages Sazos un Grust, then turn on the road suitable for jeeps mainly. Imants drives carefully and takes us safely to the parking place.

We start to walk a mountain path through a rocky pasture. The weather is cloudy-foggy. We get guide volunteer in a shape of black doggie. It gives us the directions and manages at the same time to herd cows and sheep we move along (not sure this is a paid job 🙂 ).

Step by step we have ascended to a number of lakes Lac Grand d’Ardiden inclusive. It’s misty and cold. We find a shelter and have a lunch – our doggie guide inclusive.

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We descend the same path – the fog transforms in clouds gradually and then clear away. Our volunteer guide switches to the next customer group to proceed with his duties 🙂

On a way back to Luz we take a stop near Pont Napoleon and descend in the chasm below it. The bridge is even more impressive from there.

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Later on in Luz we take a stroll in the town center enjoying the warm and sunny weather and the 11st century Templars church. Then across the bridge we walk to the neighboring village Esquieze-Sere to look at the castle ruins up on a hillock. Short before the castle we cross the Zero meridian – then enjoy the views of Luz (in Western hemisphere) from the castle’s terrace (in Eastern hemisphere) 😉

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Download file: gmt-09-ardiden.gpx

Our destination for today is the 2872m high Pic du Midi. It’s cloudy but the weather forecast for Pic du Midi says – sunny. The track starts at the Tourmalet pass (2115m). The temperature is one degree above zero, but the weather forecast tells the true – the sun shines brightly above our heads.

At 8:30am we start our way by winding road and llama herd. The road moves in and out of the mountain shadow. It’s cold in the shadow. Still the views are great – to the mountains and to the white observatory building above our heads inclusive.

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The last section of the track is a steep path on a stone covered slope. We follow it up to the terrace of the observatory. It’s cold and windy. Having enjoyed the gorgeous views we find a shelter from the wind to have a rest.

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When descending we notice that the clouds cover the summit in a quarter of hour. When we are down in the Tourmalet pass it is covered by a cloud as well.

We proceed to a Campan village to see dolls – they are a human height and located everywhere. Some in the courtyard, some sits or stands on a balcony. We see there fireguards, a soldier with a canon, a wedding etc.

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Having enjoyed the dolls we proceed to Col d’Aspin and then back to Luz. We find out that our apartment is located in Western Hemisphere
only half kilometer from the zero meridian while the local castle just a pair of km away is on the Eastern Hemisphere. Cool 🙂

Download file: gmt-08-pic-du-midi.gpx

After the close examination of the weather forecast we decide to climb the 3144m high Taillon. It’s cloudy but we hope that higher in mountains it will be sunny.

We drive to Gavernie and then to 2208m high Col du Tentes. The bright sun shines over the pass still the mountains around (Taillon inclusive) are wrapped into clouds.

The track starts on an old unused road full of rocks and stones. The road ends by the pass on the Spanish border. There we turn to the track that takes us up in to the mountain to the Sarradets refuge. Next we follow the path over the glacier to the Breche de Roland (see here about our previous hike to Breche de Roland).

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We take a short rest in the gap and then follow the track by the Spanish side of the rock wall to the Taillon. The cold wind pushes a cloud across the path while we climb up the mountain ridge to the summit. And then we are up on the summit. The clouds are below us and we enjoy a gorgeous view around. Pic du Midi de Ossau with the observatory on top inclusive.

We find a shelter against the wind to have some rest and a snack. The latter activity attracts a number of alpine crows and some tomtit-like birdies. We treat them with bits of apple and take some shots.

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Descending the same way.

Download file: gmt-07-taillon.gpx