Sue and Martin in Mallorca 2019

Sue and Martin in Mallorca 2019
On the Archduke's Path in Mallorca

Thursday 21 January 2021

The Walker's Haute Route (13)


Click on any image for a slideshow

Sunday 3 September - Cabane du Mont Fort to Cabane de Prafleuri 

Up at 7 am - a long day ahead. Breakfast of coffee, bread and jam, then a decision as to the route. We are just about last away from the cabin at 8:20 (OTH Club left before 7 am). 

Looking back from the Col Termin path

We (I) finally choose the longer but more scenic route over Col Termin - the alternative over Col de la Chaux looks steep and less interesting, if shorter. We don't see anyone on the latter route, but many people are ahead on the Sentier des Chamois. It's a superb belvedere walk and we make fairly quick progress around the side of the mountain, soon losing views of the Mont Fort Hut and its attendant ski hardware in favour of extensive and less spoilt vistas across to Grand Combin and the huge Glacier de Corbassiere.

The view back to Le Chable

Shortly before Col Termin (10.10) the people ahead stopped. And so did we when we saw ibex grazing above and below the path. These are not shy creatures, and many photos were taken.


Col Termin

Grand Combin from Col Termin

Rough going...

It was a lovely route on towards Col de Louvie. On the way we stopped for a brew on a grassy knoll overlooking Lac de Louvie, with what looked like an idyllic refuge / cabin at its outflow 11:10 to 11:40. The hut looks new and is not on my old 1970s map. 

As we laze with mugs of tea (those who have stoves anyway) - there is increasing sunshine as blue sky sweeps across from the west. 

Brew stop


The path to Col de Louvie

It was overcast but warm, with the damp places overrun with yellow mountain saxifrage, and the ubiquitous field gentians adding clumps of purple.

Field Gentian

Lac de Louvie

Spring Gentian

On Col de Louvie

We reach Col de Louvie at 12:35. It's cool, with snow, up here at 2921 metres. Dave arrives first, then Hilde. After a twenty minute wait until 12:55 for everyone to assemble, we decide to descend to just above the remains of the Grand Desert glacier for lunch in a sheltered spot with a fine view. 13:10 to 13:55.

Gaynor strides out

Lunch by Grand Desert glacier


On my last visit in 1984 we walked cross the glacier, but now it has receded and we viewed those ahead crossing below the snout and walking on up to a massive marker rock (a big rock painted red and white).



Ascending to Col de Prafleuri


Spot the hut

I led the way across here, over rough ground below the glacier. The fine weather meant no navigational difficulties, but if it had been low cloud I would have been needed here - others found it quite hard to follow the obvious markers which led (via a deep depression) eventually to Col de Prafleuri (2965 metres) 15:35 to 15:50.

Col de Prafleuri

The team is moving very slowly now and takes some time to reach this col and then descend to the new Cabane de Prafleuri (the old one is left empty and forlorn behind a massive boulder) by 16:50. 

We are greeted by the OTH club, who have only been there for 30 minutes - they took an hour longer than us today. We enjoyed beers in the sun outside.


Approaching Cabane de Prafleuri

This was the only night I decided to skip showering (cold water) and t-shirt washing (not very sweaty), so it was a relaxing time before a good meal of soup - carrot salad, pork with olives and rice, and fruit salad. We were all together on a long bench for 9 people. 

I slept well in the dortoir after Scrabble with Gaynor and a loud sing song from the OTHs and their like-minded (very boozy) Swiss French friends. 

9:30 pm bedtime seemed early, but it was dark. Hilde went at 8:30 - knackered - others rustled until 10 pm, then again from 6 am.


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