Pla d'Artigue

 After a couple of years of hard work the Pla d'Artigue is looking very pasture-like, we've even got the first wild flowers returning (betany and crocii). When we started it was neck high in brambles, ferns and thickets of blackthorn and sloe. 

Patrick and Nanou own a couple of parcels of land behind where I took this photo from. Nanou passed over it with Christian's new broyeur and we've spent the last week strimming, burning and fencing it.

The new extension to the Pla d'Artigue

The sheep's first visit to the Pla when we were still in the early stages of clearing it 

- note the wall of brambles behind them!

Laines de Quélébu

As Susie is getting to grips with the wool to fibre to garment production and I hope to use some of our homespun wool in a weaving project this winter, I thought it was time we had a name (and logo) for our enterprise. So here it is!

The new tractor is picked up from Italy today and should be delivered Wednesday, so it was time to try and sell the old one. I bought it in 2008 for 3000 euros from Italy (where tractors are generally cheaper than France) so with the new paint job and last years engine rebuild I put it up for 4500 euros. As it has no documents it can't be driven legally on the road and the few people I asked thought the price was too high. Once the add was up the phone didn't stop ringing and in 12 hours it had been viewed, paid for and collected! I should have asked more, but I've made a profit and covered a healthy proportion of the cost of the new one. I just hope it turns up on time.

Cirque de Cagateille, Etangs Hillette et Alet

The stable and clear autumn weather invites us to stretch our legs in the mountains - Our original plan was to climb Pic de la Fourne but the shortening days also mean it's darker in the mornings and waking up early doesn't always happen! In the event we were away a little after nine and at the parking place above Ustou by ten past ten. The steep climb out of the cirque through the pine forest passed quickly and we emerged above the tree line into bright sunshine.

About an hour forty after leaving the car we were beside the Etang Hillette and tucking into our first lunch. We were both feeling strong so decided to head over to the Etang Alet and complete the classic circuit.

There were little pockets of frozen water on the path despite the sunshine, but the sky was blue and the air crystal clear.

Gerac, Pic de Freychet and Pic Seron

Ice melting off the granite slabs

At the Etang Alet we stopped for a second lunch and we saw the only person all day - a man and his dog.

Etang Alet

Pic de la Montabone and cirrus clouds

 The steep descent was uneventful and we completed the circuit withh 1100m of ascent in about 6 hours (4 hours fifty of walking).

Cap de Ruhos depuis les mines d'Anglade

Slightly caught out by the cold start on this walk, which was in the shade all day - fortunately I had brought my gloves, but Susie and Sandrine hadn't (I offered them mine but they refused). It's a steep but short walk with the gradient hardly changing at any point during the day.

After a couple of hours we were on the col and in the sun for the first time, but now the wind started!

We pressed on to the gendarme on the ridge, but I lost the path just below it trending right too soon. It was a bit snowy and steep and Susie decided at the gendarme that she would stay there and wait for us to return the summit.

The first part of the ridge to the gendarme

Summit from the gendarme

It was a shame because we instantly recovered the path and although it remained steep the going was easy. On the summit it was blowing strong and very cold - all layers were donned!

ice clouds blowing through the Port de Materat

Vignemale with its glacier about 100 miles away (telephoto)

Sandrine and I didn't linger long on the summit and quickly descended to lunch with Susie in the sun and shelter.

lunch spot

Faces in the cliffs

 A steep descent but over all a fairly short day with 1405m of ascent.

Autumn crocii

 

Pic Rouge de Bassies depuis Coumebiere

We were a bit disappointed when we arrived to start our walk at Coumebiere, it was cold and we were engulfed in cloud. The forecast had been for good weather and the day before had been fantastic, but we had been unable to go out because of the arrival of gite guests.

We were a bit late (10.15) but we set off into the mirk at a good pace. When reached the crest of the ridge after the abandoned silver mines we emerged into the sun and above the clouds.

Emerging from monochrome into technicolour!

We continued to climb to the next col where views East to the Etang de Bassies and South along the ridge to our objective were revealed. Pic Rouge was still holding some snow despite being just under 2700m and was shining in the sunlight.

The ridge leading to the Peak is fore-shortened and for an hour or more it never seems to get any closer. We stopped for a first lunch at 12.15 on big flat rock in the sun.

We pressed on passing a group of 3, until at last our snowy goal was in front of us. The rocks at the bottom of the peak were teaming with marmots who were unusually not at all timid. Until the group of three, who had a dog, arrived, then up went the alarm calls and they disappeared underground.

Despite the glorious sun the last few hundred meters were snowy and in places there was verglas on the rocks.

Fantastical views and a second lunch before the return by the same path.

On the way up we had spotted a very new cabin a little way off the path, so on the way back we dropped in to have a look. I think it's destined to be for the berger (shepherd) - but it's great to see something a little more modern in design in our mountains.

Back home we had a hot bath, a couple of beers then steak, chips and a bottle of wine. It was a perfect day!