I woke up at 5 with moonlight shining through the window, which was a good sign. I went outside and took a picture and although it was cold it wasn’t crazy cold. Bettina woke up around 6:30, we ate our breakfast and got packed up. The night before I talked to a woman from the area who pointed out a middle route where we could go half way up the next high section, then down into the next valley as an alternative.
We decided to start up that way and if the snow or cold was too much of a problem we could return the way we came, or if we made it past the half way before having it turn back we could go out that way, and if we were able to make it all the way we could keep the original plan. Bettina has only hiked in snow one other time and it didn’t go well so there were a lot of reservations.
The snow that fell at the refugio had melted, but not long after climbing the wall we hit it again. There was sun shining on and off on the mountains across from us, since we were headed east it was lucky because once we got over the sun will have melted much of the snow on the other side and it will be less slippery. We made it past the half way point easily. Past that it started to get slippery, but not so much that we pulled out the microspikes. We made it over the pass!
Like I expected the other side had melted more, there was a hut over the pass and down a little, we actually tried to stay there was nothing free. The view was fantastic.
We stopped at the hut and grabbed a coffee and hot chocolate, but we had to sit outside because they were cleaning, but it was so warm in the sun that we didn’t mind. We brushed snow off a picnic table and sat down and enjoyed the hot drink and the view.
Eventually we had to get moving again. The way down the other side was mostly easy, but went down fast. As we got lower we took layers off and probably just 30 minutes into our descent we were in shorts and short sleeve shirts, which seemed strange after being so recently in snow.
Down into the green valley we went.
We passed many waterfalls full from the melting snow. Down to the valley floor where we followed a river across with snow peaked caps around us. Bettina remarked that it reminded her of New Zealand, and it really could have been.
From there the trail followed the valley but rather high above as the floor dropped. Eventually lead to the refuge Holle, Just outside of Gavarnie.
Wow Pete..amazing adventures..fabulous pics..get chilled looking at it..
your warm weather Aunt