Le Puy route.

[Lizzy51]

Has anyone walked the Le Puy route recently please? Have any improvements been made in the last 6-8 years to the path down to Monistrol or ease of opening gates on the Aubrac Plateau, for a very short person? I should love to hear from anyone who has done it recently.
Thank you.
Lizzy51

 

[ranthr]

Remember that path well, my first time on a dry path in August-11. Bad enough then, so the next time, May-13, very wet and muddy, I took the road from Saint-Privat dÁllier to Monistrol. Quiet road with the river down below, only met a few cars.
Pleasant walk.

 

[naplesdon]

Remember that path well, my first time on a dry path in August-11. Bad enough then, so the next time, May-13, very wet and muddy, I took the road from Saint-Privat dÁllier to Monistrol. Quiet road with the river down below, only met a few cars.
Pleasant walk.

I did the same thing last June but mainly because there was marathon taking place and the trails was very crowded with runners and cyclist. The road was very acceptable and wide enough not to be a danger.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

I walked the Le Puy route the month of June in 2018. Almost never took roads and so glad I never saw any marathon activities. I did however "bottleneck" a number of times with a few groups of 8-10 French friends hiking together, but they seemed to mostly disappear after Figeac.

 

[Lizzy51]

Thank you very much. This is all helpful. Please does anyone have recollection of tha Aubrac Plateau and its gates! Thank you.

 

[Kanga]

Yes. I don't remember any problem with the gates on the Aubrac. We wandered a bit off-course walking across paddocks (no clear track) but found our way back OK.

 

[AlwynWellington]

does anyone have recollection of tha Aubrac Plateau and its gates! Thank you.

To me it is fascinating that we all, more or less, walk the same walk and have so vastly different recollections.

I found the whole journey a delight. On the Massif Central I do not recall any gates. I would look for a different descent from Rochegude and from Saint-Chely-d'Aubrac. But definitely no gates.

What did pique my interest were the many poles standing about 2 metres above ground. As I recall they were white with one coloured band near the top and a second about 200 mm below.

In my imagination I took these band as warnings:
1) if the snow cover is near this band then seek shelter;
2) if the snow is near the top band then say your prayers.

I am sure there is another meaning.

@Lizzy51 , enjoy and kia kaha (take care, be strong, get going)

 

[Lizzy51]

Thank you very much.

 

[SYates]

Thank you very much. This is all helpful. Please does anyone have recollection of tha Aubrac Plateau and its gates! Thank you.

Last time I was on the Aubrac was in 2014, so that might not be recent enough for you, but I am not tall myself and I had no problems opening and closing the gates. Apart of that one time I had to climb the fence as a bull and his adolescent son were 'guarding' the gate ;-) BC SY

 

[Camino Chrissy]

I only recall a couple of gates which were flimsy wires with a stick on the end. We gals were lucky and two men behind us graciously opened one of them for us as the main issue was dealing with mud on that spot. I would never choose to not walk this delightful route because of the gates...just saying.

 

[Lizzy51]

Thank you very much. Not so keen on the bull!!

 

[SYates]

Thank you very much. Not so keen on the bull!!

I chickened out, the other pilgrims said later that he was quite friendly and no danger at all ;-)
BC SY

 

[Lizzy51]

Thank you. I love this. Feeling better now!!

 

[Lizzy51]

I only recall a couple of gates which were flimsy wires with a stick on the end. We gals were lucky and two men behind us graciously opened one of them for us as the main issue was dealing with mud on that spot. I would never choose to not walk this delightful route because of the gates...just saying.

Thank you. Just concerned that I may not be able to open them as am only 4ft 10 in and last time I was with my tall son and I remember the opening mechanism being very high..