Cour vic (ski tour)

After a day of South winds which dumped red sand and dust across France, 5-10cm of snow was forecast above 1000m so I hastily rallied the troops (Andy and Paula) for a modest ski tour. The snow has been iron hard for the last week or so but a bit of fresh on top suggested good conditions. In the early morning it looked dismal but as we arrived at Faup the clouds cleared the sun came out and great day looked possible.

The temperature stayed cold and after a kilometre in ski boots carrying our skis we finally reached the snow and could start skinning up to the Col de Pause. A group of skiers and snowshoers were ahead of us, who we exchanged places with throughout the morning. Mixed conditions skinning up to the cabin ONF, lower down we had to cross a stream which wetted the skins and made them ball up, then higher up the fresh snow wasn t sticking to the iron hard snow below and a few kick turns on the steep slopes felt exposed. After the cabin all was perfect and we changed our objective from Tuc de Bignau to Cour Vic as progress was slower than I had hoped.

We ascended the ridge behind the cabin and made a direct line for Cour Vic.

After the ridge above the cabin, Col de Pause at the extreme left

Nearing the summit

We'd watched strong winds arriving at the summits and by the time we reached Cour Vic the spindrift was blowing around. After some quick photos and a bite we decided to descend whilst the snow was still cold and light.

View of Valier from the summit

Cour Vic in the distance - a short carry to the col above Couret des Etangs

Descending to the Etang d'Areau (frozen and snow covered).

Although the couloir from Cour Vic beckoned (the other skiers descended it), Andy lacks confidence and experience off piste so we decided to stay together and return more or less the way we had come. It was a magnificent ski down in great snow and Andy didn't fall once!

 

Pic de la Journalade

Good weather was forecast and with Andy and Paula keen to join us on another walk, we planned a trip to Pic de la Journalade via Pic d'Estibat from the Col de Port. I was keen to have look at the little couloir leading which we'd ascended in the summer a few years ago, which should make a nice grade 1 gully in winter. Pete joined us too with Sheri and Michiel to lake a total of 7 in our possé.

Pic de Moredo in Spain looms large across the Port de Salau 

Most the snow on the west side had melted but the east side was still snowy with some avalanches evident. Paula, Andy and I headed over to the couloir but the slopes leading to it were decidedly dodgy. Andy got to the couloir first but his reports weren't great. Paula and I returned to get off the dangerous slopes as quickly as possible. Andy decided the couloir was better than returning. 

We joined the rest our group on the summit after an exposed scramble, then I descended the ridge leading to the col to wait for Andy who soon appeared.

He climbed the second summit before joining us. Progress to the third summit looked to dangerous in the snow conditions and warm weather. 

As we headed back to Pic d'Estibat the clouds started to descend and the hitherto sunny day turned decidedly cold but we beat the cloud back to the cars!

 

Loom

Donkeys on Joubac

Heavy rain and warmer temps made the mountains an unsafe option for a walk with Andy, Paula, Sheri, Michiel, Kev and Becks, so a local walk around our commune of Aleu sufficed. After a cloudy start the mountains eventually emerged.

With more torrential rain and strong winds forecast, Susie and I have retreated indoors. Susie is knitting and I'm putting the latest warp on the loom. The conversion from counterbalance to countermarch is complete and after tying up the treadles (pedals) and adding a few weights everything is balanced.

Countermarch jacks for the 8 shafts

8 treadles tied up for the manifold twill weave

 

Reed sleyed with the new warp

Ski tour fitness training at Guzet

A break in the weather after rain at Quélébu, which was a light snowfall above 1000m allowed a quick tour around Guzet Neige ski station (closed for COVID). Andy, Paula and I set off from Col de la Trappe (1109m) and mostly following the unpisted ski runs, we skinned up to Le Picou (1720m). A lovely descent to the bottom station (1350m) on l'Arrech (apart from the bottom 100m which was cruddy). Then after a quick lunch another skin up to Prat Mataou (1512m) before a descent to Col de la Trappe in changeable snow. A sunny 11km trip in 4hrs.

Next weaving project

 Draft of the pattern repeat for the next weaving project - fabric for kitchen curtains. It uses an extended manifold twill tie-up invented by William Bateman about 100 years ago. The pattern is my own!!! We'll see how it pans out as there is little information about the weights of yarn Bateman used so I m improvising.

Squirrels

The first real opportunity to use the new telephoto lens (leica 100-400mm). Takes some getting used to, such a powerful telephoto but quite pleased with photos of the elusive red squirrel, they always stay far away unlike their much bolder grey cousins. The one in the last shot had been fighting with another pair and has a nasty injury on his nose...must have stuck it where it wasn't wanted!

 

More snow

Lots more snow the last few days and gite guests who didn't heed our advice that snow tyres, socks or chains were essential to get here. In the end we had to collect them and then at the end of their stay find chains for them. Fortunately John had an old pair that I managed to modify to fit their super large wide tyres. Guest seemed more worried that the chains might scratch his alloy wheels, than the safety of his family! 

Today it's sunny and the snow has stopped, though more forecast for next week.

Giant snow bear

A little wren finding some clear grass on a bank to hide in

 

Tuc de la Coume (again)

After yesterday's disaster on Joubac I was keen to get out again on the skis. A quick tour up and down Tuc de la Coume sufficed (2 hours up and down). With stable snow I made a solo trip, meeting 3 local skiers and a boarder on the summit. On the descent I accidentally mounted the camera on my helmet facing the wrong way!! Doh!

More snow

More snow yesterday, enough to tempt me to skin up Joubac and attempt to ski down, but there wasn't quite enough and instead I ended up snarled up in bracken stems just under the snow.

Today the sun has come out, a relief for the sheep and the wildlife. 

 

Tuc de la Coume

After the snow and continuing cold weather a chance to get out in it on skis and snowshoes. As Sheri and Michiel, Becks and Kev, don't have 4x4 we started from Navée above Ercé, rather than driving in from Cominac on the piste which always snowed up. A bit more ascent to make but we donned skis/snowshoes from the car.

Very cold until about midday, when the sun made an appearance and began to warm us. The summit was very chilly with a biting wind so we descended quickly for lunch in the sun a little above the trees.

The first 50m or so of descent wasn't fun to ski as the snow was compacted by the wind and a little crusty but after that is was glorious!

Our lunch spot

 Telephoto of our tracks close to the summit taken from just above Quélébu the following day.

Bouirex on skis

 

Another trip up Bouirex, this time on skis. A couple of laps up to the transmitter and down through the trees before skiing back to the main road (Seix - Col de le Core). Powdery on the first descent getting heavier by the second and very heavy low down. Although there's not so much snow, I only hit a rock under the snow once and that was crossing the piste which heads to the transmitter...a deep gouge in the base now repaired.

 Susie's first ski lesson...me pushing her up and down the deck on skis! Susie was in hysterics.