Hike in the Pyrénées

We left at 8:30 on Sunday morning from a drizzly Lescar and arrived an hour and a half later at 1700m in the sunny Pyrénées, which is unusual. Usually it's the other way around - rain in the mountains, sun in the valley. We were lucky to have sunny conditions the whole time we were in the mountains.

All bundled up and ready to go!

Our hiking path as seen from the road. Check out those switchbacks!

We hiked for about 3 hours in the Pyrénée National Park, and climbed 350m in the first hour of our hike. It was a bit challenging but we had beautiful views the whole way up. Our destination, the Pombie Refuge, sits at the foot of the Pic du Midi d'Ossau, a volcanic caldera from the formation of the mountain chain. It is also the emblem of Pau and is visible from the city's Pyrénée Boulevard. The first part of our hike had us passing herds of cows and sheep that pasture in the mountains during the summer.

Cows and sheep in the pasture

Looking back at what we had climbed so far - about halfway up.

Our car is waaaaay down there!

Looking at the hawk circling overhead. Photo also gives good impression of the steep climb

At the highest point! Looking at the Pic du Midi d'Ossau

We made it!

Lake at the base of the peak

The Refuge. Lots of other hikers there that day.

Aimy was snug in her backpack and comfortable enough to sleep most of the way up and half of the way down. We had lunch and fed her at the refuge, and though she seemed to be a bit cold when we were directly in the wind, she was happy for the rest of the trip - we could hear lots of babbling when she was awake. The backpack has been fantastic and I can't wait for us to use it again.

Yummy backpack

Lunch at the refuge!

And since we were right by the Spanish border, we made a quick hop into Spain just to say that we did! All in all, it was a nice trip.


More to come about the Tour de France!