Pashmina

After the sampling, a thousand very fine merino warp threads went on the loom and a day's weaving in linen/silk/lambswool slub single thread and the weave was over. Finishing required 55 degrees hot water to shrink the fabric to two thirds of its original width, then blocking.

The fabric has two separate almost gauze like layers joined at the squares of double density single cloth. The same single cloth at hem gives a gentle flare at the ends. It's very soft, light and drapey.

 

Wild boar

We've had a lot of wildboar damage this year and I even saw a red deer stag above the Quélébu a few weeks ago. I shot a wildboar on Joubac last weekend but in general we haven't had much luck this year finding them. Today I was on a walk with Susie and I stumbled across a group of three stags (just managing to snap a photo of one of them before they bolted). Then twenty minutes later when we were descending from the summit 15 wildboars paraded in front of us!

Loom makeover

With a new 12 shaft loom due to arrive in late June, I ve had the old loom for sale for the last few weeks with no interest at all. It was pretty old, dusty and tired looking so I thought I d give it a make over. The side frames and capstans I stained, everything else I planed or sanded to get rid of the old brown stain and get back to the beech wood. It all looks rather fabulous so I think I might keep it! Ultimately if we get more space, I could use it for teaching.

 

Looms

Tie up started for latest weave. Half way through the heddles. Video below is of the Louet megado 16 shaft mechanical Dobby loom....loom envy!

480 threads!

Ski tour from the front door

More snow yesterday, so another trip out, this time on skis for me and raquettes for Susie and Sandrine.

Pic de Girantes (ski)

Pic de Girantes and back on skis in under 3 mins from Lee Sharp on Vimeo.

With temperatures rising and Sunday already booked up with other things, Monday seemed the perfect oppotunity to grab another ski tour. Several new acquaintances had expressed an interest in forming a posse, so after a few phone calls on Sunday evening a rendezvous was set for early Monday morning. Bas and Matt met me at Castet d'Aleu and we headed upto the Etang de Lers (1250m) where snow stopped further onwards travel.

The nordic skiing pistes helped us to save a little time climbing up towards the Port de Lers, but we were soon heading up through the trees heading for our objective Pic de Girantes (2088m). It's an interesting slightly indirect route which climbs to a col at 1810m before taking in an unnamed peak 1976m, crossing another col and then reaching the summit. We had a good skin track to follow from a large group which must have made the ascent on Sunday.

After a quick lunch we descended in good snow conditions. Below m the snow got very heavy and the final descent back to the car was in very sticky snow which coupled with the shallow gradient made even skating difficult.

12km, 800m/2500ft of ascent and a total of 2hr 40min for the trip.

Tuc de la Coume (ski)

Tuc de la Coume mini adventure from Lee Sharp on Vimeo.

The forecast was for a sunny day but this morning the mist was cold and dense...it took some motivating to get Susie ready to get out but in the end we threw some kit in the car and headed for Cominac. The route to the Col de Vielle Morte was deep in snow and we had to stop a few miles before it as even the pinin couldn't make headway. After a long march along the piste forestiere we eventually reached the col and started the climb upto Tuc de la Coume. 

When we reached the open hillside (about 1.45 pm) Susie waited (she was in snowshoes) and I headed up towards the summit on skies. The sun was hot and the snow was transforming very quickly. About 50m below the summit I decided it was time to descend before the fresh snow turned to porridge. A lovely ski down on tired legs.

I skied down through the trees and fields, whilst Susie followed the path of our ascent...I descended too far then had to skin back up and in the confusion Susie and I missed each other at the rendezvous. Susie got back to the car before me and was alarmed that I wasn't there already - meantime I had waited at the rendezvous point, then reascended looking for Susie, before noticing her snowshoe prints descending. Eventually we met up at the car...all's well that ends well.

Mont Valier (8)

With only a couple of days of the amazing weather left I decided to head up Mont Valier from the Col de Pause. I left at 7.40 just as the first rays of sunshine were hitting the mountain.

I reached the Port d'Aula in 1hr 20. The vague path after Col de la Tinderelle has been wiped away by avalanches and the tricky section before Petit Valier was more difficult than I remembered (think I descended to much to the right). There was still frost on the ground through this section as it wasn't in the direct sunshine, but nevertheless I never needed more than shorts and tee-shirt all day - even on the summit!

Cuns d'Aula just before the Port d'Aula

Telephoto shot of the Aiguilles de Trevessani far in the distance

The col at 2600m which leads to the tricky section before Petit Valier

Looking down the Couloir de Peyre blanc

As I neared the summit I noticed there was already someone there, laying out a parapente. Film below is his take-off!

I reached the summit in just 3hrs 45 (my second quickest time). I had the summit to myself for 25 minutes then 3 other climbers arrived, the only people I saw all day. After an hour lunching in the sun I started my descent.

With tired legs I was extra careful on the tricky section and eventually took longer on the descent than on the ascent (4hrs 10).

The way down through Spain leading to the Port d'Aula

Isard

Both weddings in 2 minutes!

Click on the image below to watch....thanks Dommy for making this for us.

Movie ci dessous - cliquer de démarrer

Tuc de la Coume (ski)

A beautiful bright sunny day and with my man flu almost gone I couldn't resist a first outing on the skis. Tuc de la Coume is nearby and with the snow down to 300m it was sure to be in condition. In fact there was 15-30cm of lovely cold powder on top of the old snow and it was a glorious ski.

Unfortunately I picked up the wrong rechargeable batteries for the ski-cam (the uncharged ones) so every time I tried to film the batteries cut-out...doh!

Why does you-tube mess up all the careful synchronisation of music and video images?

Tuc de la Messe (ski)

With 20cm of fresh snow in the mountains mid-week and despite yesterdays' hot weather, a ski-tour to Tuc de la Messe was on the cards. I made a dawn start to try and get as much of the 'up' done before the snow turned to mush. The approach from Col de la Core up into the Valley Eychelle looked fine except for crossing the outruns of a couple of avalanches from yesterday. Somewhere I lost the GR10 markers in the woods and probably 40 minutes was wasted trying to find the way, battling with branches and steep and deep crusty snow which collapsed under every step. Once out of the trees the skis went on and all went well. A little before the Etang d'Eychelle I met with Alban (who said that he might go) who had arrived from Col d'Eliet. The 1200m of ascent was pleasant and weather beautiful (though very hot). From the Col de Crouzette we struck left for the summit and its long horizontal ridge. The last 100m or so was on foot, as the summit has little snow left on it because of the high winds this winter. Fantastic views as always.
The less said about the descent the better. High up the snow was crusty, lower down it was porridge. Difficult to ski. A faceplant early in the descent got things off to a bad start from which they deteriorated. I got three decent turns in all day. When the snow is like this I wonder if I can ski at all! Alban did OK with nicely executed plough turns. Fortunately it was possible for me to straight line much of the time.

thanks for the photos Alban. Film below.

Avec 20 cm de neige fraîche dans les montagnes en milieu de semaine et malgré le temps chaud hier, un ski de randonnée au Tuc de la Messe était "sur les cartes". J'ai pris un départ l'aube pour tenter d'obtenir le plus de hauteur fait avant que la neige en bouillie. L'approche du Col de la Core vers la vallée de Eychelle se passait bien sauf pour le franchissement des coulees de quelques avalanches d'hier. Quelque part, j'ai perdu le balisage GR10 dans les bois et probablement de 40 minutes a été gaspillé à essayer de trouver le chemin, aux prises avec des branches et la neige raides, profonde et croustillante qui s'est effondré sous chaque pas. Une fois hors des arbres tout s'est bien passé et un peu avant l'Etang d'Eychelle j'ai rencontré Alban (qui a dit qu'il pourrait aller) qui sont arrivés depuis le Col d'Eliet. Les 1200m de montée était agréable et le beau temps (bien que très chaude). Du col de Crouzette nous avons tourné à gauche pour le sommet et ca crête longue et horizontale. Les 100 derniers mètres ou alors à pied, comme le sommet est dégarnie à cause des vents élevés cet hiver. Fantastic vues comme toujours. Moins on en dit à propos de la descente le mieux. En haut de la neige croûtée, plus bas, il a été pourrie. Difficile à ski. Un "faceplant" au début de la descente - un mauvais départ à partir duquel ils se sont détériorées. J'ai eu trois belles virages dans toute la journée. Quand la neige est comme cela, je me demande si je peut faire du ski à tous! Alban a fait d'accord avec les virages "charrue" tres bien exécuté. Heureusement il a été possible pour moi de descendre tout droite la plupart du temps.

Tuc de Bignau and Cour Vic (ski)

With snow down to 1000m last night a ski tour was planned for today. Our rendezvous was postponed an hour or so when neither Ben's alarm clock nor Valery (the third person in our party) hammering on his door managed to wake him.

The trip was the same one I did at the end of last season. We skied from the car a few hundred meters from the Col de Pause and made a steady pace through slightly sticky snow. Higher up things improved and although the mountains were in and out of the clouds all day, and there were snow flurries now and again, the weather was great when we needed it to be. A day of big skies. From the col (2336m) a little East of Tuc de Bignau, we had a great scramble to the summit (2395m), then a descent in very changeable but skiable snow (hard ice, soft deep snow, wind slab) to below Cour Vic. We booted it upto the summit (2119m) carrying our skis, then had a great ski down the little E couloir in soft spring snow. A great day out, movie below.

Tuc de Bignau (right) from Pic de Cour Vic.

Avec la neige vers 1000m la nuit dernière (5-10cm à 2000m) une sortie de skirando était prévue pour aujourd'hui. Nos rendez-vous a été tardif d'une heure quand le réveil de Ben ni Valery (la troisième personne dans notre parti) qui frapper sur sa porte a réussi à le réveiller.

Le voyage a été le même que celui que j'ai fait à la fin de la saison dernière. Nous avons skié de la voiture à quelques centaines de mètres de la Col de Pause et fait un rythme soutenu malgre un neige collante. Plus haut, des choses meilleures et, quoiqu'il les montagnes ont été dans et hors des nuages toute la journée, et il y avait des averses de neige ici et là, le temps était grande quand nous avons besoin qu'elle soit. Une journée de "big skies". Du col (2336m) un peu à l'est du Tuc de Bignau, nous avons eu une escalade facile au sommet (2395m), puis une descente dans la neige très changeantes mais skiable (de la glace dure, la neige profonde, et un peu de plaques à vent) jusqu'au 1998m au-dessous le Pic de Cour Vic . Nous avons monté jusqu'au sommet (2119m) avec nos skis sur nos sacs, puis a eu un grand ski dans le couloir Est sur la neige transfo.

Une belle journée, film ci-dessous.

bignauv3.wmv from Danse Ariege on Vimeo.

Pic de Montgarié (ski)

I had planned to do a ski tour this weekend up Pic de Montabone but the avalanche risque was too high on North facing slopes so Ben and I opted to head up from the Riberot valley towards the peaks around Tuc de la Messe. We climbed steeply out of the forest onto the mountainside through deep wet snow and although we had intended to stay in the Cabane de Taus, the weather was decidedly hot and the snow decidedly slushy and peeling off the slopes, so we stopped the night at Cabane d'Aouen instead. Amazing views to Pic de Barlonguere, Mail de Bulard, Pic des Tremuls and Mont Valier.

Once the sun was low in the sky the temperatures plummeted to about -10 degrees. The cabane has just two mattresses but unusually no chimney - fortunately we had carried up a 'mountain' of down clothing and food, so we ate and slept well.

Next morning everything was frozen hard and to begin with we resorted to carrying the skis and wearing crampons as the steep slopes were too hard to ski-up even with ski-crampons. As the gradient eased and the sun came out we could ski again. It was clear that the snow was going to be horrible to ski down on, as it had a thick crust (about 5cm thick) but was deep and soft underneath. At every turn your skis broke through the crust into the fluff underneath and got trapped. On reaching Cap de Lauses we decided to climb Pic de Montgarié as it would be a quick ascent, thus we could be down before the hot sun began to melt the snow and make skiing conditions worse. A direct ascent from the Col de Roc Plat put us on the summit ridge and thence the summit.

J'avais prévu de faire une randonnée à ski ce week-end jusqu'à Pic de Montabone mais le risque d'avalanche était trop élevée sur les versants exposés au nord, donc Ben et moi avons opté pour la tête de la vallée Ribérot vers les sommets autour de Tuc de la Messe. Nous sommes montés hors de la forêt à flanc de montagne dans la neige humide en profondeur et bien nous avions l'intention de rester dans le Cabane de Taus, le temps était chaud et la neige fondante et décoller des pentes, nous nous sommes arrêtés dans la nuit à la Cabane d'Aouen. Très belles vues au Pic de Barlonguère, Mail de Bulard, Pic des Tremuls et le Mont Valier. Lorsque le soleil était bas dans le ciel, les températures ont chuté jusqu'à environ -10 degrées. La cabane avais deux matelas, mais exceptionnellement pas de cheminée - heureusement nous portions une "montagne" de duvet des vêtements et nourriture, alors nous avons mangé et bien dormi. Le lendemain matin, tout était gelé et pour commencer nous avons eu recours à les crampons que sur les pentes escarpées ont été trop dur de chaussée, même avec le ski-crampons. Comme le gradient assouplies et le soleil est monté nous pourrions de chaussée encore. Il était clair que la neige allait être pénible à skier en descente, comme il avait une croûte épaisse (environ 5cm d'épaisseur) mais il a été profond et doux en dessous. A chaque virage vos skis cassé la croûte en entre dans les poudres dessous et a été piégé. En arrivant à Cap-de-Lauses nous avons décidé de monter Pic de Montgarié que ce serait une ascension rapide, et nous pourrions descendre avant le soleil a commencé à faire fondre la neige et de rendre les conditions de ski comme "porridge". Une ascension directe de la Plate Col Roc de nous mettre sur la crête du sommet et de là au sommet.

A frustrating ski down in often difficult conditions with several falls when the crust broke underneath the skis. Video below.

Une descente frustrante dans la neige qu' etait poudreuse dans endroits mais changera vite à neige crouté et pénible. Movie ci dessous - cliquer de démarrer.

Montgarié1 from Lee Sharp on Vimeo.

Tuc de la Coume (ski)

Although the dusting of snow forecast overnight above 1500m didn't materialise and this morning it was considerably warmer than we had hoped, we nevertheless got a nice ski tour done today.

La neige legère attendant nuit dernier n'arrive pas et ce matin il fait plus chaud que nous avons espèré, neanmoins nous avons fait un belle ski de rando.

Another trip to Pic des Lanes and Tuc de la Coume. The weather was glorious and the views fantastic.

Un deuxième sorti à Pic des Lanes et tuc de la Coume. Beau temps et les belles vues.

The descent was fun on snow which was crusty but very skiable until about 1350m where it turned into wet, heavy, deep, yuk.

Une belle descente sur neige un peu cartonné mais agréable de skier jusqu'au 1350m, en dessous là, la neige molle.

Film below.

Pic de St Barthelemy (ski)

Snow fell overnight here and in the morning Ben and I headed over towards Ax-les-Thermes to make a ski ascent of Pic de St Barthelemy. We started high above Luzenac at 1280m and were able ski straight from the car. At first it was still snowing, but soon we climbed through the clouds and emerged into the sunshine. It took a little over 3 hours to make the 1200m (4000ft) of ascent via the South ridge. The ridge had been battered by the wind and it looked like the ski down was going to be horrible, but just before the summit we got views down the South West face which was in beautiful condition.

De la neige, la nuit dernière et le matin Ben et moi sommes allé à Ax-les-Thermes de faire l'ascension de Pic de Barthelemy. Nous avons parti bien au dessus Luzenac à 1280m skis aux pieds. D'abord il neigais, mais tôt nous avons monté au dessus les nuages et sont arrivé au soliel. Il prends trois heures de faire le 1200m de dénivilée du arête Sud. L'arête a été venté at nous pensions que la descente sera "difficile", mais juste avant le sommet nous avons vu la face Sud-Ouest bien fourné avec la neige poudreuse.

The views from the summit were immense as was the ski down...glorious.

Les belles vues du sommet et une descente super chouette!

A film of the trip below. (If you have problems with playback stopping and starting, press pause and allow the film to load fully before pressing play again).

Film ci-dessous.

Tuc de la Coume (ski)

Yesterday a day's skiing at Guzet with hard icy conditions. I spent the afternoon skiing with Sandrine and trying to improve Saskia's skiing.

Hier j'ai pris une journée à Guzet sur la neige compacte et gélée. L'après-midi j'ai fait du ski avec Sandrine et ses filles.

In the evening Ben came over and we spent most the night mounting Dynafit bindings he'd been given, on my old touring skis. We borrowed Ian's avalanche beacon and set off in the morning for his first ski-tour. We nipped up Pic des Lanes in about 1hr30mins and had a great ski down on slightly icy, wind blown snow but with just enough loose snow on the top to make it enjoyable to ski. Movie below, not much of a story to this one, just having fun (click on the image to view).

Le soir, Ben est arrivé et nous avons pris le plus part de la nuit montant les fixations dynafit sur mes vieux skis de rando pour lui. Nous avons emprunté l'ARVA de Ian et nous sommes parti le matin à faire le première tour pour Ben. Nous avons fait l'ascension de Pic des Lanes (1hr30) et avons fait une bonne descente sur la neige un peu gélée, un peu cartonnée mais avec une fine pelicule de neige qui avons fait l'ensemble agréable à skier. Film ci-dessous, pas d'histoire, seulement nous avoir amusement! Cliquer sur l'image de lancer

Pic des Lanes from Lee Sharp on Vimeo.

More skiing

Yesterday I needed to catch up on farm work and re-stocking the house with wood (plus rest my tired legs). Today Ian and I headed for Guzet again. The weather was fine yesterday and Guzet had had it's remaining powder tracked-out (skiing Freychet today was horrible). However, we know where the secret powder stashes are and even though it had compacted quite a bit we still has some good skiing. This time I charged the batteries in the video camera and tested my new home made chest harness (movie below, click on the image to view and select "view HQ video" top right for the best image).

Hier, j'ai du faire les travaux dans la ferme et ramener des bois de chauffage. Aujourd'hui Ian et moi sommes parti à Guzet encore. Hier il fait beau et toute la neige poudreuse qui rest a été tracer (Le Freychet etait penible de skier). Mais, nous savons où la neige poudreuse est cacher! Un peu plus tasser que dernier fois mais bon encore. Cette fois j'ai porté le video. Cliquer sur l'image ci-dessous de lancer.

From offpiste

Then we had a go at pioneering a route descending through the trees from Tuc des Cristaux somewhere right of the route the locals call "fougarolle". We got horribly lost and were soon skiing through really dense steep beech forest - interesting. Finally we skied down the Ravine des Foursons and popped out on the road just above Aulus les Bains! We skied down the road to the town and Hervé who works in the tourist office very kindly gave us a lift back up to the Col de la Trappe where we could get a button lift back to the ski station for more skiing.

Puis nous essayions de trouvé un route hors piste entre les arbres en dessous Tuc de Cristaux à droite de "fougarolle". Nous avons devenu perdu, et après un longue descent dans les hêtres très dense et puis la Ravine des Foursons nous sommes arrivé sur la route juste au dessus Aulus les Bains! Hérve de la Bureau de Tourisme gentilement nous depose au Col de la Trappe afin attrapper le remonter mechanique - merci beaucoup.

Pic de Seron (5)

Yesterday a walk in the mountains. Sandrine, Ben, Ian and I set off for Pic de Seron. We started out on the long walk in from Prat Mataou (Guzet). It was very cold and misty and with 10-15 cm of fresh powder it took nearly 2 hours to reach Gerac.

Hier, une promenade aux montagnes. Sandrine, Ben, Ian et Moi avons attaqué le Pic de Seron. Nous avons commencé dans l'approche longue de Prat Mataou (guzet). Il fait froid et brouillard et avec 10-15cm de fraiche ca prends 2 heures à atteindre Gerac.

From there we made directly for the col between Pic de Gerac and Pic de Seron, to then follow the NNE ridge to the summit.

De la nous sommes monté en direct du col entre Pic de Gerac et Pic de Seron, afin suivre la crête NNE au sommet.
We soon changed to crampons and the going was often awkward with the fresh blanket of snow hiding the rocky terrain beneath. At last the clouds cleared to reveal the fantastic views at a little after noon. We'd started late and with time running out, we left our sacks at 2100m to push for the col and the summit.

Nous avons porté des crampons et la route etait peu commode avec la neige sur les roches verglacés. Enfin les eclaircies sont arrivé avec les belles vues. Nous sommes parti tardif donc nous avons laissé vos sacs à 2100m afin monter plus vite au col et le sommet.

At 2200m we were at last in the sun and able to feel some warmth. We pressed on to the col then climbed up past the first gendarme for views to the frozen Etang d'Aube far below our position at about 2400m, but we knew we had run out of time to make the summit and get back before dark.

À 2200m nous étions au soliel, enfin la chaleur! Tôt le col, puis après la premiere gendarme, la vue vers Etang d'Aube loin en dessous nous à 2400m. Malheuresment nous avons manqué le temps d'atteindre le sommet et retour avant la nuit.
A grand day out nevertheless and back in time for a lovely evening of desserts with Anne-France, Magnus and Danni at La Trappe.

Néanmoins une belle journée, et j'ai rentré pour une soirée des desserts avec Anne-France, Magnus et Danni à La Trappe.

A short movie below. Click the image below to watch. For best results on the video player that opens, press the "google video" button (bottom right of playback screen) and select "original size" then above and to the right of the screen , select "view HQ video".

Une court movie ci-dessous. Cliquer dans l'image de lancer. Pour le mielleur image choisir "view HQ video" au dessus et à droite de l'ecran.

From My Videos

Today it's snowing hard at Quelebu - yay!!

Aujourd'hui il neige à Quélébu!

Pic des Aymesses and Pic de Cour Vic

Yesterday I finally finished the last few jobs on the staircase and Rupert and I loaded it into his van for transportation back to the UK.

Hier l'escalier etait terminer enfin et Rupert et moi avons chargé son camion afin l'importer a Angleterre.

Today we went for a day in the mountains on snowshoes with Emily. We managed to drive all the way up to the Col de Pause (though I slid the car in a deep snow filled gulley and we had to dig it out).

Aujourd'hui nous prenions une journée aux montagnes en raquettes avec Emily. nous avons reussi de conduire jusqu'au Col de Pause (mais j'ai glissé ma voiture dans un goute à côté du chemin).
From the Col we climbed up to Pic de Cour Vic (2119m) in rain and wind for amazing views of Mont Valier.

Du Col nous sommes monté au Pic de Cour Vic (2119m) dans la pluie et vent afin gagner les belles vues de Mont Valier.
We dug a little snow ledge out of the wind for an early lunch, then the sun came out and the weather improved for the rest of the day.

J'ai creusé une canapé de neige et nous avons cassé croute. Le soliel commence et il fait beau désormais.

We made a circuitous walk by picking up Pic des Aymesses (2036m) from the Col de Courbe on the way back. A lovely day in the mountains.

Nous avons fais une boucle avec l'ascension de Pic des Aymesses (2036m) depuis Col de Courbe.

So far it's been a very poor winter for snow, unless things turn around in the next few weeks it could be worse than 2005! There's enough snow to ski above 1800m (just) but it's worked by the wind and difficult skiing.

Jusqu' à présent c'etait un hiver pauvre pour la neige. Si il y n'a pas de la neige avant deux semaines ce sera plus terrible que 2005!

A short film from Emily's photos of the day. Click the image below to watch. For best results on the video player that opens, press the "google video" button (bottom right of playback screen) and select "original size" then above and to the right of the screen , select "view HQ video".

Un court movie ci-dessous. cliquer sur l'image à voir.

From My Videos