Pyrenees

Following our trip around Mont Blanc, we packed up the car and headed south to the French border and the Pyrenees. I was due to do my IML (International Mountain Leader) assessment, but we had about a week before to do some travelling around and hike up some of the more interesting summits including Pic Carlit, Puigmal and Cambre D'Aze. 

Wonderful scenery, especially the area around Pic Carlit and the lakes at Bouillouses.


Then a fairly intensive and nerve racking four days under the microsope being assessed and thankfully passing.

The view up towards Pic Carlit from the lakes at Bouillouses

The view from the summit of Pic Carlit with the lakes below.

Looking back up towards Carlit and the foreground shows how beautifully clear the water is.

Walking up from the Segre Gorge and the hot springs.  Pic Carlit is the triangular summit in the background.

A bit chilly on top of the Cambre D'Aze, but great view.

An early morning shot with cloud still hanging in the valley

On the way up Puigmal on the Spanish border.

Relaxing just below the summit.  Very popular with the local Catalan community.

Chilling outside the tent.  And its a tea cup Yen has, not a can of Carlsberg special brew.

A view across the gorge to one of the more adventurous and exciting paths along the gorges de la carança.

Andy one of our assessors, does a passable impression of the bolt.

On the summit of Pic De Mortiers.  Loosely translated as the summit of death, but it was much friendlier than that.