Mont Valier(10) depuis Col de Pause

Valier in the distance from our start point

A call from Ben late Wednesday night and a hastily put together plan to climb Valier the following day. Haven't climbed/skied with Ben for 10 years as he's been in Andalucia, so great to catch up. a bad night's sleep with my neck arthritis wasn't the best preparation and although in the end we were pretty quick, it didn't feel it and I felt like I was struggling for pace in comparison with previous ascents.

Although Ben lived in the Ariege for many years, he had never been up, so it was extra special that we had perfect weather and mountain to ourselves for the entire day.

On the Spanish side of the Cuns d'Aula

On the section leading up to the col de Peyre Blanc, there were still the remnants of the recent snow on the ledges but we were in short sleeves for virtually the whole day. Ben was first to the summit by a few minutes but we were both under 4 hours.

Looking down the couloir Peyre Blanc

A longish lunch before the return by the same route. The short uphills were tiring but we back at the car and just as little rain started in little over 3 hours. 22km 1300m ascent and 7hrs 10 moving time...10 mins quicker than last time!

summit panorama

climbing up from col de Peyre Blanc to the scrambling section

First dusting of snow

 

The recent rains brought a first dusting of snow on Monday night.

    Perhaps at last I have found a tractor at a good price?

Half marathon

After months of training, Susie just ran the Bristol half marathon in 2hrs 25mins and raised about £400 for the charity MIND - well done darling!

The great european tractor swindle

So after wasting over a month of my time the french division of Argo tractors who own Landini, Valpadana and McCormick, eventually got back to me and kicked their concessionaires up the arse. Another two weeks passed before the only concession who is allowed to sell me a tractor eventually confirmed that there weren't any tractors to sell me! Argo didn't have any stock. The tractor is due for revision in 2022 so they aren't going to acquire any more either...nor will they tell me what the price was when they did. Other farmers here tell me tractor prices in France are 30% more than in Italy, Spain, Poland or Denmark for example, which is why more and more people import. When an organisation is trying to keep the prices that they charge a closely guarded secret, you can be damned sure you're getting ripped off! Despite the so called free market in the EU, claiming back VAT for import/export transactions remains extremely difficult and most sellers are unaware of the VAT rules governing sales of new equipment for export...there's a risk of paying the VAT twice and not being able to reclaim it all. This area of uncertainty coupled with price secrecy, gives the distributors the ability to rip off the consumer. 

My current tractor was a bargain but remains a 'grey import', unregistered in France. Even for a small new tractor, a grey import can save 4000 euros and as I rarely drive on the public highway there is little incentive not to make my next tractor a grey import also.

Paul Faux (aka Paul de Tachi)

It is with great sadness that we heard that Paul - great friend, mushroom hunter and character - died this morning. He was 98 years old. He'll be greatly missed.

You can read about his extraordinary life (in English and French) here

Turon d'Ars

For Sheri's birthday we planned an journey into the upper reaches of the valley above the cascade d'Ars....A journey up the Ars!!! It's a long walk from Aulus so we dumped a car there and headed in a second car to Gerac from we started the walk.

A couple of hours saw us past the Cabane and Tuguilla and on top of Pic de la Croix des Lauzes (2349m).

Helicopter airlifting a shepherds shelter from just below Pic des Trois Comtes

A steep descent amongst boulders eventually took us to the bottom of the valley d'Ars and the cabane called Turon d'Ars. A well appointed new cabane with mattresses, blankets and a wood stove has replaced the old round stone shelter the Orris du Turon d'Ars.

The brown turf roof of the Cabane du Turon d'Ars (centre bottom)

After lunch and bubbles at the Turon, an excellent path leas to the highest and largest lake in the valley where Susie and Breezy swam and the rest of us waded in to cool off.

From here a scrappy path in in creasing heat eventually lead via three more lakes to the top of the cascade d'Ars and the long but easy plod to Aulus.

Cascade d'Ars

Susie Al and Breezy had a beer in Aulus, whilst Sheri and I went in her car to collect mine from Gerac. A long but enjoyable day. 

 

Trois Seigneurs descent par la voie originale

Sheri and Michiel are back from the Netherlands and before Michiel departs to rejoin his boat, we decided to get a walk in with them and Alun and Breezy. Trois Seigneurs seemed to fit the bill! We left a car at the end of the path on the Vicdessos side of the Port de Lers to save the trudge up the road at the end of the day then set off in the clockwise direction starting with the ridges.

Scrambling over all the granite tops, a liitle over 2 hours saw us lunching on the summit, briefly soaked by a short lived squally shower. For the descent we decided to take the now mostly ignored original VN which ascends directly from the Etang d' Arbu. It's a nice path which finds it's way to the lake through the steep cliffs without much problem.

Famous five?

A quick dip in the lake before the descent back to the car.

The first of our homegrown pumpkins was a refreshing snack back at the col.