Pic de Puntussan

Susie is in the UK visiting Jasper and Ruby, friends and sisters, so I decided to get in a big mountain day. This week,15 years ago, I climbed Pic de Puntussan and Pic des Trois Comptes, so I decide to repeat the ascent but by a more sensible route (avoiding Pic de Lesse and returning by the same route). 

I set out at 8.00 and made swift progress reaching Garbettou in 30 mins, where I saw something large moving amongst the rocks, I approached furtively but in fact it was a lone a male isard.

Garbettou - the peak in the far distance on the left is Pic des Trois Comptes, Pic de Puntussan is beyond this hidden from view.

I reached the Etang Garbet in 1 hour 15 mins which was deserted and was at the Etang Bleu in about 2 hours.

Etang de Garbet

Etang Bleu

The long slog through the granite wilderness took another hour and I made the summit of Pic de Puntussan in about 3 hours 45. The climb to the summit was more difficult than I remembered. I climbed the corner on the left of the obvious ramp to regain the ridge then threaded my way through the jumble of huge granites blocks. Not difficult but serious when alone and so far from anywhere! Amazing views in all directions with no civilisation in site, save the emergency transmitter on Pic Près de Puntussan. I decided not to descend the same the way instead taking the north ridge then contouing back under the peak to reach the col between Pic des trois Comptes and Pic de Puntussan.

Pic de Puntussan

Pic de Puntussan, the ascent is via the right leaning ramp then the ridge

Looking towards Pic de Lesse

Looking towards Pic Rouge de Bassies

Looking towards Pic Pres de Puntussan and Montcalm and Pica d'Estats in the distance with snow

Looking towards Certescan and Mont Rouch

Looking back to Pic des Trois Comptes

The long descent was tough on the knees, granite is rather unforgiving, but 16km and 1500m of ascent in 8 hours including stops for lunch etc. 

Garbettou again

Still green at 900m

 

Curtains

Fabric off the loom and on the windows! 12m in all, perhaps it could have had a denser set - the fabric is a bit drapey, but generally I'm happy.

Autumn plenty

It's a gorgeous autumn with the temperatures in the mid twenties, clear skies and plenty of foraging.

After the dry hot summer we've had a cep bonanza and we've been eating and drying as many as we can. It's also an excellent apple and chestnut year. Susie has been making chestnut and cep paté, nut loafs, chilli sauce and jelly and I've been pickling jars of shallots.  

A little sampler of home preserves

Etangs de Bassies depuis Coumebiere avec Bouquetins (Ibex)

A walk with Sheri, Andy and Paula over to the Etangs de Bassies from Coumebiere. We have looked down on the lakes so many times on other walks but have never visited them. The weather is still hot so made an early start and the reward was stumbling upon a herd of Ibex above the Port de Saliex. They were un-phased by our presence, but eventually wandered off with two males sizing each other up (see the video above).

The Etangs are part of a nature reserve which is protecting peat bogs/wetland areas and also some forest areas on the north side of Pic du Far. Walkways prevent peoples feet disturbing the peat bog. Unusually, we didn't see any wildlife in the reserve, except for a lone Red Kite scavenging around the refuge.

We dropped into the refuge for a cold drink before climbing straight up to the Col de las Fouzès through the heather and bilberry.

The cirques of Etang Bleu, Etang Garbet and Garbettiou

We returned via the Etang de Labant and the abandoned silver mines.

Weaving at last

 

Tempo treadle

Threading the heddles is made much easier with "Tempo treadle" a little gadget from Lofty Fibres which helps with both threading and preventing errors when weaving by showing you the correct treadling (which pedal to press next and which colour shuttle to throw) and giving a warning alarm if you've made a mistake.

Tuc de Coucou

My ankle injury turned out to be a torn ligament but after a couple of weeks of Phtsiotherapy and lots of home excerises things are much improved, so with a bit of taping it was time to get back in the hills.

Another trip to the Vallée d'Orle but this time less height gain - just a 1000m and 12.5km. Its straight up to Tuc de Coucou which lies between the vallée d'Orle and the Riberot on a never ending set of zigzags, first through the woods then out onto the open mountain. Great views and just one other party on the summit. On hte way down we took the Tour de Biros which here follows the old tramline for transporting the ore from the mines below Mail de Bulard (the first part being achieved via a téléphérique). A series of tunnels adds to the interest and at the end there are still a few rotting carriages and the old cradles and buckets from the télépherique.

Pic des Cingles (left) and Mail de bulard (right) dominate the Vallée d'Orle

Approaching Cabane de Besset after emerging above the tree line

Looking across to Pic de Courbayan, Serre Haute, Pic de l'Har and Pic de Calabasse in the far distance.

Familiar peaks of home with MontValier on the far right

Pic de Coucou with Mail de Bulard behind

Autumn colours

 

Autumn

Snow back on the mountains...at least for a few days.

 ...and more mushrooms. Susie is making a tasty mushroom and chestnut ravioli.

Sectional warp

 At last I m making a start on the fabric for the curtains. My first sectional warp and then my first weave on the new Louet Spring II loom.