Marsh tits on the sunflowers

jump

Partial eclipse

drop

A bite on the arse from a great tit

Still an alternation of storms and hot sun here, I ve had some discomfort as a wisdom tooth has decided to join my other molars. First the ache and bruising as it ripped it's way through my gum and now the jostling of tmy other teeth to make room for the new neighbour.

Triage

about a third of the triaged white wool

With a lot of wool for Susie to wash card and spin we thought about trying to have some of it done mechanically "out of house".  There is a mill about an hours drive away in Niaux. We sent out first batch of wool there to be washed about 7 years ago but were not happy with the results as it came back felted. I think ouessant wool being very fine, felts easily if not treated carefully. We washed our white fleeces soon after shearing but then found out that Niaux will only spin batches of at least 50kg into yarn - equivalnt to about 120 ouessant fleeces! We have 12 white and 12 brown/black. We eventually found a number of smaller mills in other parts of France but because of the equipment used, won't accept washed fleece.

Niaux have no minimum for carding, so we decided to give it a go on the remaining white fleeces. First we needed to do a third triage to eliminate any remaining vegetable matter, coarse or felted fllece. The fleces are already triaged at shearing and before washing. Three enormous sacks of white fleece weigh just 7.5kg. The triage took us about 7 hours and eliminated about 1kg. 

Now we have to wait for the results. Meantime there are the brown fleeces to do.

Susie is keen to try putting coats on the sheep to keep the fleeces clean and unfelted...we may try a couple.

Cagateille circuit

Another break in the weather and another escape to hills, this time with Al and Breezy. The Cirque de Cagateille circuit (Etang Hillette - Etang Alet) is an old favourite. 1200m height gain and opportunities for a dip en route. We expected it to be busy but we only saw a handful of people all day. We were above the clouds once above the tree line (in the valley it was overcast all day).

A small group of Ibex

the descent with cables before Etang Hillete

Elevenses at the huge erratic boulder above Etang Hillette

Etang Alet

After the swim and a relaxed lunch

starting the descent with Pointe de Rabassere in the distance

 

Mine de Mail de Bulard from Luentein

After a couple of cloudy days better weather tempted us into the mountains again, this time to visit the mines below Mail de Bulard, nicknamed the maneater.

An exceptionally rich seam of silver bearing zinc and lead was discovered at the top of Mail de Bulard in 1868.

Nine workers were employed to build the barracks with dormortories and canteen, with the necessary materials being transported by donkey from the valley. A forge was also built on site. A further twenty-two workers constructed the 600 m of access way across the face to reach the coveted seam in the middle of the wall. A single wire acted as a handrail and each year, more than 150 miners worked the mine. Mining began in 1901. The shifts were 10 hours long with two days off a fortnight and mining was only possible from April until October.

Miraculously, only 3 people fell from the mountain including the blacksmith, but those wounded in the galleries, accidents from blasting, etc were not recorded. The extraction was done on six levels between 2500m and 2700m and the ore, first evacuated by the "Decauville" system (rails and trolleys) ended up being transported by cables and skips to Bocard d'Eylie far below at 900m. Between 1901 and 1919 more than 60,000 tons of mountain were removed. to work in the mine de Bulard, the most famous in all the Pyrenees was the best paid but also the most dangerous. Lead poisoning killed many. In August 1919, the man-eater was closed.

We started from above Luentein and after traversing through old beech forest a long series of zigzags got us above the tree line.

Looking down on the zigzags

We continued to climb more gradually and on making the Cap d'Espallau we finally emerged from the clouds.

Valier and satellites behind La Montagnette and Pic de Cornave

The climb to come with Mail de Bulard dominating the green crete de Mont Ner

A path at a comfortable gradient made pleasant work of the Crete de Mont Ner and eventually we joined the route of the cableway from the mine to Eylie, with abandoned and toppled pylons. More zig zags before traversing left into the cirque that contains some persistent snow and the mine.

Eylie far below with Pic de l'Har ane Pic de la Calabasse in the distance

The cirque with the mine

The face that was mined still festooned with cables

One of the higher mine openings at the far side of the face

After crossing the scree and reaching the old barracks we had our lunch behind the canteen. A couple of cavers had set up camp opposite and we watched them set off across the face and disappear into one of the first mines.

Starry saxifrage

The descent was hot and susie and I both got burned in the sun and wind. A grand day 1120m ascent and 15km.

telephoto shot of two walkers descending the narrow north ridge from the summit

 

Tour de Pic Nerrasol

It seemed like the rain and storms would never stop, but then suddenly the heat arrived!

A trip was planned to somewhere outside of the Couserans for a change and with an early start we headed for L'Hospitalet pres d'Andorra. As the name suggests very close to Andorra and about 90 mins from us. A beautifully hot day and all new scenery. We were glad for the early start as by the afternoon the heat was energy sapping.

Once we'd escaped the traffic noise from the road to Andorra we followed a hanging valley passing several dammed lakes which after the months of rain and despite the droughts of recent years seemed almost full. Orchids carpetted the hillsides.

We stopped for an early first lunch at Estanh de Pedorrés, where baby trout nibbled at our toes in the cool water. From here we turned southwest to make the col at Porteilla du Sisca (2440m).

Rocky bluffs below Pic de Nerrasol

Etang du Siscar overlooked by Pic d'Escobes 2746m

From the Porteilla a new view opened into the Siscar valley with Etang du Siscar below - our second lunch spot.

Pic de Regalecio dominates the Porteilla 

The Etang de Siscar has an old dam either partially completed or later demolished as it only stretches halfway.  A gentle descent through a reedy wetland eventually leads to another dammed lake before a steep descent to eventually complete the loop. 15km and about 1000m of ascent

The emblematic Pyrenean Lily

 

Tea towels all done!

 

Sommet de Bizourtouse 2001m

Poor weather (wet, cloudy or stormy) has predominated this summer so we haven't got out into the hills much at all. Sheri has a broken toe which is starting to heal, so today we looked for a shortish walk (10km and 700m height gain) in a location we hadn't been to. Port de Saleix is col that features on many of our regular hikes, but we've never ventured beyond it to the east where there is some interesting karst scenery.

Looking East from the Port de Saleix

Descending from the Port de Saleix

From the col we descended beneath some large limstone towers before rising into a hidden cirque to the east ot Girantes.

Limestone towers defending the cirque

A rising path eventually reaches a col with views to the Port de Lhers and Etange d'Arbu and on a day without low cloud Pic des Trois Seigneurs. From here a steep muddy path climbs to the rather flat and featureless top of Sommet de Bizourtouse. On a clearer day there would be good views towards Pic Rouge de Bassies.

The col with Pic des Trois Seigneurs in the cloud

East side of Girantes - the ridge on the right would make an interesting way to the summit 

Vulture

Chough