June 8, 2014 -- A 6-day circuit in the Pyrenees, weaving through southern France and northern Spain
Day 1: 9.5 km / 1300m elevation gain / 11:00am - 7:00pm
Me, my daughter Jeanette, my 2 dutch sister-in-laws, Janet + Judith and Aroa who lives there. We met her in our hiking club. She'd come to Canada for half a year to learn better english. She was our very own personal guide and friend on this trek. Good thing because the information and maps were all written in Spanish. Our day packs were pretty heavy because we had to take ice-axes and crampons along.
There were shepherd's summer huts scattered throughout the mountains. They move up there July 1. We were just a bit early yet.
Nine people that we met on the trail told us not to attempt climbing the peak but it was the only one accessable on the map. I just had to try, at least till the snow line. So the others carried on down to the 'hut' but I went up and perched myself on a rocky ledge. Then this man came up and said he was going to try for the peak and invited me to join him. I said, "I'll see how it goes".
It was a hot 33C.
Well I did make it to the top, even when I could not get my crampons to fit. Keeke helped me on the final snowy slope. He was so kind. Later Aroa told me that he was a doctor.
2700m high
This was the first time I ever ate rabbit in a restaurant (or hut). I've done it plenty of times at home with our own bunnies but I guess you have to be in Europe to experience that. It was delicious!
Day 2: 17.5 km / 900m gain & 840m loss / 8:00am - 5:00pm
This day we entered the second valley. The wind was so strong that we had to lean into it to keep our balance.
We saw at least 20 deer.
It was the first day we used crampons. That's Keeke on the right. He hiked with us this day.
Bound not only by blood but by a spirit of adventure.
Jeanette took a dip in the lake. She hung her bathing suit on the outside of her pack to dry.
Above the clouds.
Day 3: 21.5 km / 900m gain & 500m loss
This hut was the highest (2008m) and the only one not yet open for the season. So we had to pack our own food along but didn't take enough so we were hungry. On top of that, we had to share 4 single mattresses with 5 women and the 4 snoring Spanish men slept on the other side of the room (only a few feet away from us) on 3 mattresses. It was cold at night so most of us did not sleep very good. Ironically, Janet, who couldn't sleep good at all, slept like a baby this night. I guess she missed Bert's snoring.
Every evening Aroa instructed us in doing our stretches.
These 4 Spanish men could sing beautifully. After this night we kept running into them on the trail and in the huts. Apparently they'd been doing this trek together every year for the last 40ish years!
Day 4: 16 km / 397m gain & 870m loss / 9:00 am - 5:30pm
This day we did our most dangerous section of traversing this steep snow slope. It was short so we didn't bother putting our crampsons and ice-axes on. Hind sight, we should've. The 4 men infront of us didn't take any snow gear with them.
At the pass.
Janet started getting sore feet on this 4rth day.
Day 5: 17.8 km / 1190m gain & 760m loss / 8:30am - 3:15pm
Our adrenaline was pumping when we approached the 2071m saddle. We put on our full gear and took our time. Those are the 4 men crossing without any gear.
Phew. Made it.
Descending into a valley with a different ecosystem.
There were pine trees growing here.
I had stuck with the men during the descent. They bought me a pint of beer at this next hut. I was starting to get worried but not too much (beer has a way of doing that), thinking, "What's taking the others so long?" Finally 1.5 hours later they showed up. They'd run into a couple bulls who were giving them the evil eye. So they ended up doing a huge detour to avoid them.
Day 6: 18 km / 980m gain & 900m loss / 8:00am - 4:30pm
This day we ended up getting lost a few times. We were the first hikers of the season to walk this trail. This section was not as well marked.
Marta picked us up at the end of the circuit and we celebrated where Aroa worked in the summers.
We drove along this canyon where Aroa worked as a guide.
Back at our starting point. Happy to be done.
We were very touched when our four Spanish friends formed this circle with us and sang the traditional farewell song as we turned round and round.
We were given these T-shirts at the end of the trek. La Senda de Camille means bear. Hense the bear paws.
Total stats: 6400m gain in 6 days! / 101 km
Day 7: Aroa with her heavy accent had promised us she'd take us canoeing after the trek. I thought, "Oh what a nice way to unwind after the challenging 6-day trek". But I soon found out when we pulled up to pickup the gear, that she didn't mean "canoeing", but "canyoning"!!!
Since I was too busy rappelling down 4 high cliffs with waterfalls, jumping 10 feet into a deep pool and shooting like an arrow down this rock chute into another deep pool, I could not take pics. Here I was in my mid 50s, learning how to do all these crazy things. No it was not relaxing, but it sure was fun!
These last 3 photos were taken by Aroa. Thanks Aroa for such a great trip!
Comments