Cauterets to Luz-St-Sauveur
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
Update Lescun to Cauteret
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
Day 11 Arette-la Pierre-st-martin to Lescun
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
Days 9 & 10: logibar to ste-engrace to arette-la pierre-st-martin
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
Day 8: col bagargiak to logibar
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
Day 6 & 7: st-jean-pied-de-port to col bagargiak
Yesterday was easy (walking-wise) but bleak. Grim. Wet. A “stay on the paths, don’t linger” kind of day. Testament to this was a very large bird of prey swooping out of the mist in an attempt to decapitate me. We … Continued
Day 5. 7th July. St Etienne de baigorry to St Jean Pied de Port.
The greatest thing right now is not being followed by horse flies. We have just breathed in two pizzas, a green salad and 2.25 beers. It was hot today, and the temperature is still about 28 °c and it is … Continued
Day 4: bidarray-st etienne de baigorry
It’s difficult to remember how the day started – it seems so long ago; the day was that epic. The cicero guide warned that it would be ‘the first really hard day’, and it wasn’t joking. For me (R), it … Continued
Day 3 ainhoa-bidarray
[Renee] The greatest thing we’ve packed? Tiger balm. Our calves and knees are screaming at the change in levels of activity and the introduction of altitude. Distance: 20.3km Height gain: 766m Height loss: 736m Most exciting bit? Descent into a … Continued
Day 2. Olhette to Ainhoa
Easier than expected after the Coqs choir and yesterday’s muscle punishment. Still, we each have to remind ourselves that it’s only walking and those little niggly pains are just that; niggly. A lovely climb this morning but very hot. We … Continued