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I hope you have a warm sleeping bag, and the makings of a hot drink...I'm in a mountain refuge at 2150m up the side of the Pic du Canigou (hoping to do a camino joining Canigou with Montserrat, two sacred mountains for Catalans). It snowed hard most of the afternoon, probably 10-15cm accumulated here, more higher up. Assume it will be similar on the Route de Napoléon and the Col de Somport.
I hope you have a warm sleeping bag, and the makings of a hot drink...
Any chance of posting some photos? Would be great to see what you're seeing.I'm in a mountain refuge at 2150m up the side of the Pic du Canigou (hoping to do a camino joining Canigou with Montserrat, two sacred mountains for Catalans). It snowed hard most of the afternoon, probably 10-15cm accumulated here, more higher up. Assume it will be similar on the Route de Napoléon and the Col de Somport.
Wow...Limited coverage up here, but I'll try
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Quite a contrast with sunset the day before at St Martín du Canigou
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First, thanks for the photos. Second, I envy your agility! Third: last year, after the Ingles, we wandered in and out of the Ribera Sacra (by car) and I was in awe of the inspiration and mechanics of raising some of the monasteries there. Your sunset photo heightens that awe. Not only why they were built, but how... I guess there are examples in every country, but this one you have shown is truly a thing of wonder. Take care up there.Limited coverage up here, but I'll try
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Quite a contrast with sunset the day before at St Martín du Canigou
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Ah, les neus del Canigó! Which refuge?I'm in a mountain refuge at 2150m up the side of the Pic du Canigou (hoping to do a camino joining Canigou with Montserrat, two sacred mountains for Catalans). It snowed hard most of the afternoon, probably 10-15cm accumulated here, more higher up. Assume it will be similar on the Route de Napoléon and the Col de Somport.
Hello AlanI'm in a mountain refuge at 2150m up the side of the Pic du Canigou (hoping to do a camino joining Canigou with Montserrat, two sacred mountains for Catalans). It snowed hard most of the afternoon, probably 10-15cm accumulated here, more higher up. Assume it will be similar on the Route de Napoléon and the Col de Somport.
Fabulous photos. Excited to be startingLimited coverage up here, but I'll try
View attachment 84337
Quite a contrast with sunset the day before at St Martín du Canigou
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Under normal early October circumstances, going via Canigou would not have been much of a problem, but this is not a normal year, and I'm quite glad a rare outbreak of common sense prevented me from making the attempt as I have no wish to be "a traveller by the faithful hound, half buried in the snow was found" especially as I have no banner in my hands of ice.
Stunning! I have just completed a mere 8 km from Saint Jean Pied de Port to Orisson, through intermittent heavy, cold rain broken by sunshine, but no snow here. Fabulous photos.
Stunning! I have just completed a mere 8 km from Saint Jean Pied de Port to Orisson, through intermittent heavy, cold rain broken by sunshine, but no snow here. Fabulous photos.
Beautiful photographs,What goes up must come down...
Two of the people (8 of us altogether) staying in the refuge des Cortalets at 2150m up had mild frostbite, having been caught in the previous day's blizzard. Going down seemed a bit of an admission of failure, but preferable to death from exposure. The other plus, not perhaps quite as big, was that the quickest route down took me past the glorious Romanesque abbey of St Michel de Cuxa, brother abbey of Montserrat. You know you're quite high up when you see eagles circling below you - the second time in my life: once previously on the Olvidado near Caminayo. The snow was still ankle deep at first light, but a couple of hours later, at about 1600m, it was mostly gone. In the gaps between the trees the views were fantastic in that crystal light - it was like having a relief map laid out in front of you. And at about 1600m I first made out the distinctive high 1000 year old tower of St Michel nearly 1000m below. The feet and knees may (and did) complain, but when you have no choice you go on. Back below 1000m and it was funny to be back in Mediterranean heat, with lizards scuttling about, pale blue crickets, hot scented cistus and wild lavender, all in one walk. St Michel was a delight: preromanesque arches, soaring tower, pale pink marble, romanesque virgin, austere crypt, views back up the cliff I'd spent the previous three days battling, totally deserted.
The first pic is of the town of Prades from high up, with St Michel in its own little square of paler green stage centre, and the second is of the tower and remains of the cloisters from near by (if you want to see the rest of the cloister you'll have to go to upper Manhattan).
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