Pic de Barlonguere

Back in France and rather than wait until the work is done before going into the mountains (which has up until now resulted in no mountains), this time I have launched straight into a trip. Pic de Barlonguere has been on my list of unclimbed mountains for too long. I was planning on ski touring the peak, but a reconnaissance trip is always a good idea.

I started early (8.30) from Pla la Lau which is a lowly 926m so I knew I was in for a big a day of 1900m or 6250ft of ascent. Despite a very steep start through the forest to gain the hanging valley of Peyrelade I made good time reaching the tree line in an hour. On the way 2 wild boar and 3 betes rouges (piglets) crossed my path just 10m away...alas I wasn't quick enough with the camera.

Once out of the trees a very strong head wind for the rest of the ascent made for hard going. I've never been in this valley before and it was interesting to cover new ground hidden in an area I know like the back of my hand.

It's a steep haul most of the way. The Etang du Tuc du Mil 200m below the summit was still frozen and full of snow despite the excellent summer. The last few hundred meters to the summit are quite exposed -
a steep narrow ledge of a path crosses the steep rock face high above the lake. 4hrs 15mins to the summit.

 Etang du Tuc du Mil

 Looking back along the path of ascent

Views from the summit were great with Pico Aneto, Pico Posets and Vignemale noticeable on the horizon. Valier also shows it true size as Barlonguere is virtually the same height.

Pico Aneto highest in the Pyrenees from the summit 

Vignemale easily visible despite being about 100km away

Valier, Petit valier and Peyre Blanc from near the summit

On the descent I watched Griffon Vultures and a pair of Bearded vultures overhead, saw marmots and an isard far away on a tiny peak.

A pair of bearded vultures or lammergeiers

An Isard...very far away

I had an idea to cross the Port de Barlonguere and return via the Etang Long and Etang Rond, but I was tired when I returned to the cabane Barlonguere for lunch, so decided to return the same way. An 8 hour trip, sore feet and a sore knee from the long steep descent, but happy.

Cabane Barlonguere

The upper valley just below Port de Barlonguere

Autumn colours come early in the mountains

yet more mushrooms

A nice haul of ceps

More shrooms

Another good haul of field mushrooms and boletus chrysenteron this evening, thanks to a tip off from Adrian.

Mushrooms

A short exploratory walk through Dyer's Wood near Torbryan on Saturday afternoon produced a haul of parasol mushrooms. After the torrential rain of last week we have some settled weather again...just in time for slating the roof at Cornworthy.

Back to France next week!

 

Battened and secure!

Phase 2 at Cornworthy is now well underway - the old porch has been mostly demolished and the new roof structure is in place.

Back to work

With phase 1 complete at Cornworthy, Phase 2 - joining the extension to the house started this week. The old porch which will provide much of the link has been partially demolished, new drainage installed and floors and walls should go up next week.

Thanks to Anna who was clearing out some old office furniture at work, we now have a small home office in Totnes, which will help no end to organise both our increased workloads here in the UK.

Picnic on Col de Portel

A Picnic on Col de Portel with Justin, Emily, the twins and a host of helpexers and guests. The view was simply amazing, as was the food cooked on the barbeque. Justin's many dogs augmented by his guests dogs ensured that we had the spot to ourselves!!

 Emily, Mila, Thea and Justin on Cap de Campets 1504m

 Valier above the clouds

 Susie learning to lindy-hop

Sunset and time for home

Collioure

After some frantic concrete mixing to finish the steps we headed off through Cathare country to the Mediterranean and the village of Collioure on the vermillion coast. A couple of days camping, swimming, sunbathing and site seeing.

Hedgehogs, a toad, a snake and a buzzard

After doing my back in trying to lift an old fence post out of the ground, the last few days have been gentle, whilst I try to let it get out of spasm.

A walk in the woods around Coumes produced a haul of hedgehog of the woods mushrooms and a toad.

Today we went for lunch with Alun and Breezy, who cooked us an amazing meal. Their place is really coming together now. Suzy and Ruby climbed up into their tree deck whilst I looked for mushrooms...and found a grass snake!

The buzzard I've been carving for the stair newel post is now more or less finished and fixed in place.

DIY and a mushroom walk to Coumerba

Susie and Jasper been building steps (to be continued)

Susie surveys my scything - I managed to break a blade : (

 

Our house from Coumerba

Coral fungus

Giant Boletus Satanas (poisonous)

Giant Cep Faux Royale (delicious)

Mushroom haul (cep, hedgehog of the woods, girolles, oyster, grisette) to add to our stew

Pergola and terrace taking shape

Hot

Jasper passed his GCSE's so cause for celebration and a meal in Massat. Weather remains great and we've been tending to the fields, vegetable garden and continuing with the terrace. A short bout of "gastro" (stomach upset) laid the kids low for a day or so, but all is well again.