At the top and looking back.

Yes!! I made it before the clouds closed in around me.Looking back down at the shelter on the French side, we made it after some time.

The shelter on the French side of the Breche.

The was the level of the snow outside the shelter, taken through the window.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.

Nearly at the shelter, and the end of the first day.

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.

Towards the shelter and nearing the Breche.

On our way over rock and snow towards the shelter, my shadow over Julian's pack.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.

Upwardly mobile, beyond the cliff and towards the Breche.

We continue towards the top and the shelter. We had been told the shelter wasn't open but we could camp in a room that would be open under the shelter.This is the view from the top of the cliff path, incredible views when we go to the top, but then we realised we had to hike through the snow. Luckily we had our crampons.


About to climb. We had to go up a cliff path after discovering the route markers didn't really give us an option but to go up.

The Cirque, the ascent and the snow.

This is where we began the cliff ascent, leaving behind us green and heading towards snow, and crampon country.

Finally, we reach the top, well, as far as we can go without more equipment.

We're at the top for lunch, behind me is the valley we're going down and across to climb back up the other side to find Lake Shirley Bassey.Surrounded by snow and ice for lunch.
My giant hand grasping at mountain flowers.

Julian's swollen, fat hand, because of the altitude, and gout.

We're still climbing, and seeing more and more snow and ice

Holidaying in France - Walworth hits Lourdes.

Julian and his classy glasses.The cathedral in Lourdes
The grotto in Lourdes
Julian, his glasses, the cathedral, slightly Disney feel to the place.
Me and the cathedral above the grotto.