Looking back at the way we had just climbed up. We soon learnt this route was closed because it was a summer only route. We should have come up the winter route.... The best news was that the shelter was open. We had the cold beers, orangina (bloody awesome), hot food and a bed. Truly fantastic. The shelter was manned by a French couple and only had six other hikers in it.
Julian and the Breche over his shoulder, we were going to climb it the next day. To climb up to that opening took me about an hour and a half up that slope.
We made it to the shelter. This cloud was chasing us up the mountain and I was worried that I'd get caught in it, which would have been a shocker, and made it really difficult to get to the shelter.
The top of the range, the Pyrenees thoughtfully stayed covered in snow for us.
We climbed around a corner and saw this. This is the Breche de Roland, the doorway into Spain and were aiming to get through the next day. We had another hour or so to get to the shelter. The snow was still a couple of feet thick.
And again, looking back at the Breche. It was pretty different on the Spanish side than the French side.
Looking back down at the shelter on the French side, we made it after some time.
And looking into the Spanish side from the Breche.
Looking across the mountain tops of France.
Standing in the Breche, and looking across the top of the Pyrenees into France.
The clouds closed in around the shelter, I was glad I didn't get caught in this and we'd made it to the shelter with plenty of time. I was knackered by the time I made it there.
Looking up to the Breche, this is what we had in store for the next day. You can see tracks coming down the snow, they were tracks of skiiers who took the easy method of descent.
Julian and the Breche over his shoulder, we were going to climb it the next day. To climb up to that opening took me about an hour and a half up that slope.
We made it to the shelter. This cloud was chasing us up the mountain and I was worried that I'd get caught in it, which would have been a shocker, and made it really difficult to get to the shelter.
The top of the range, the Pyrenees thoughtfully stayed covered in snow for us.
We climbed around a corner and saw this. This is the Breche de Roland, the doorway into Spain and were aiming to get through the next day. We had another hour or so to get to the shelter. The snow was still a couple of feet thick.
Looking back towards the Cirque.
We take a break, eat some of our precious supplies and take in the view.
The crampons, at this stage we realised how lucky we were to bring them along. This shot is looking back at the other side of the Cirque. Behind us is the direction of the Breche, and a well deserved rest, eventually.
