GR-10 Photo-journey: Pt 3
In this section we go from Cabane de Sauneres to a random wild camp.
Week 5:

Hiking by one of many ski resorts

These blue thistles were everywhere and I love them

Sun pockets over green

Lac d’Oo has a tremendous waterfall on the opposite side of the lake. I made the boys hike farther than usual so we could stay in the Refuge Lac d’Oo only to find the lake completely obscured by clouds. In the morning, this is the greatest extent of the clearing.

I frickin’ love them!

Down from Lac d’Oo. We later met a guy who was bitten by a viper (in his sleep!) in this area and had to end his hike.

A dramatic notch

I expected the House at Pooh Corner to appear imminently.

Threatening skies…

but no heavy rain.

The climb out of Borisp


An azure lake

Foot soak in camp

An ideal camp site with creek for washing and sleeping white noise

The sun rising

Sam fills up directly from a mountainside spring

Agricultural land near Gavarnie

Gavarnie from our campsite

Sunset in the best campsite of the whole hike

Colorful succulents

The road through the hay field at camp with the Cirque de Gavarnie in the background

The boys snuggled up for bed
Week 6:

Those blue thistles

A day hike to our favorite Cirque de Gavarnie

The boys under the large waterfall in the Cirque de Gavarnie

Just the Cirque

On the way to Vignemale

I jumped in too. It was cold.

Irises on the way to Vignemale

Navigating a bit of snow. Note how I no longer have to hold Em’s hand over the snow field?

The waterfalls below Petit Vignemale

Refuge Bayssellance

Clover

Getting set up for the night

Reading before dinner

This was the highest night but only slightly cold

Taking in the views

Refuge Bayssellance at dusk with Petit Vignemale in the background

The pass over Vignemale is high enough that azaleas still bloomed late into the summer.

Vignemale and the attendant glacier. I believe it is the last glacier in the Pyrenees.

We’ve been to this spot on a previous trip and liked it so much we came back!

The thermal baths in Cauterets where hot spring water is pumped directly into pools. They told us our shorts-style swimsuit were “unsanitary” and only speedo style suits are permitted. Then they made us buy these.

It was hot, so hot, then Joe stole my spot in the shade.

Amazing cliff faces here

The sun peaking over the ridge line

Em and Joe on the way up

Lay down here and enjoy the sunshine on your face.

Tundra cotton in an unusually cliffy place

Buzz, buzz

Regular thistles at the Hourquette d’Arre

Big limestone cliffs presage hard to find water

Joe gets ready to jump in