Ascent: 900 metres
Time taken: 5.0 hrs
Weather: hot and sunny, breezy high up so much more pleasant to walk in than of late.
Today was supposed to be a complete rest day - my first since setting off. We were going to pop over to France for a gondola ride to a narrow gauge railway.
But Harry was the only taker for Clare's Peña Foratata walk from Formigal. It wouldn't 'run' with just one guest. So Sue and I came to the rescue.
It was conveniently short and gave excellent views as far back as my route into Sallent a week ago.
Lamergaiers were seen today, as well as a selection of other vultures, probably mainly Griffon and Egyptian, notably whilst Sue and Harry were at the top of the mountain, which required a scramble.
Clare and I waited a little lower, at a high col. Clare's not allowed to venture to such a scrambly place with guests for insurance reasons, but the guests are allowed into such life threatening places as long as it's of their own volition.
There were masses of flowers. The time passed quickly. As it did when we stopped for lunch in an idyllic meadow a little further down the mountain. Alpine Swifts were active here, and we could see a herd of twenty or more chamois cooling themselves on a distant snow patch.
Back in Formigal it was ice creams and cokes all round before returning to base. A short foray to Gorgol outdoor shop in Sallent resolved my sunglasses, camping gas and 'how to change an altimeter battery' problem, after which Sue went for a swim and I enjoyed another large beer. After a bit of preliminary packing...
Then we spent a lovely evening at Hotel Sabocos with friends new and old.
Transmissions may now be less reliable, as I head back into the wilds of the Pyrenees tomorrow.
Today's pictures:
Formigal and Embalse de Lanuza from the start of the walk
Peña Foratata (2295 metres) from the ascent
The view north from the slopes of Peña Foratata
Next Day - Day 20
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2 comments:
Hmmm..... a swim or a large beer .... a tough decision for you Martin, eh?!
Yes Jenny, you guessed it, but I did also have the massive task of reassembling The Brick...
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