Distance 13 km Up 1165m Down 626m. Due to our extra half rest day where we managed 2 four course meals we were feeling pretty strong, though more in smell for me, as that brandy digestif worked some rather bad … Continued
Distance 16.3km Up: 394m Down 1415m Day abandonded at Col de Portet. We left the refuge this morning hoping that the morning storms had passed. Hail, thunder and lightning woke us. At breakfast there was a lot of planning of … Continued
Distance: 22.7km Up: 1309m Down: 728m Special Feature: walking through a living geography lesson. Challenge: Rock scrambling aka “puzzle walking”. You know we said that if there was one day that you might do, the one where Midi d’Ossau looms … Continued
Distance 12.1km Up 832m Down 312m An easy day after an initial steep climb. The interesting leg was coming into Bareges, though Viella and Sers were also both picture perfect. The last 4km into Bareges included an art trail where … Continued
22km Up: 1248m Down: 1441m Temperature 35°C average Yesterday’s rest day made today a little tricky. Too many libations made for a day of sweat and thunder. The climb zigzagged which helped a little but overall it was too hot … Continued
We lost track of how many days we have been walking. That’s cathartic isn’t it? According to the calendar it must be day 16. We have calculated that we have summited Everest and a half. Up and down. The oxygen … Continued
15.1km. Height gain: 340m Height Loss: 1090m Special challenge: Icy wind up the Khyber Pass at Pas de l’Osque. A day of contrasts. We set out from the Refuge early enough to see, albeit briefly, the range we had climbed … Continued
We woke to the news that Les Blues had lost the Euro Final. At the exact time when Portugal scored their decisive winner, the bar below our room and full of French tourists, exhaled a collective “merde”. A pity. Our … Continued
Sunday, 10 July Distance: 16.7km (plus a diversion of about 2km) Height gain: 424m Height loss: 1376m Special challenge: MUD The day began as spectacularly as yesterday ended, with a giant ocean of clouds filling the crevices between mountains. Soon, … Continued
