Pyrenees Summer Meet 2024
To The Enchanted Mountains.
A personal account from Alan Tees.
Photo: Gully on Gran Encantat
Thursday 22nd August We drove to Waterford to stay with pals -mountaineer Jack Bergin and his partner Carol. It was painless, except for getting through Waterford City. Jack was not in great form over the death of his friend, climbing pioneer Stephen Gallwey.
Friday 23rd August We had a day to kill, while Jack and Carol attended the funeral so we visited Hook Lighthouse, Tintern Abbey and had a nice lunch at Kilmore Quay, but we were far too early for the boat at Rosslare and did not get on till after midnight. We met up with PJ, Anthony, Valli and Nigel.
Saturday/Sunday 24th/25th August . Now at sea, we had a meal in the restaurant on Sunday. Though first there at Rosslare, we were the last off at Bilbao. We caught up with the others at Arenas for coffee and a swim. Then we drove to Jaca to overnight in a Campervan carpark.
Monday 26th August. On to Torla, a nice site. The others were active, but we spend most of the afternoon in a bar waiting for the tourist office and shops to open.
Tuesday 27th August. There was a long queue to get the bus into Ordesa/Pradera. A great (and full on) day : along a ledge, very high up, and down by a Via Ferrata (sans kit). Valli and Margaret Tees did a similar traverse, but lower down. Beers followed then a bus down.
Wednesday 28th August. The others left. We had a lazy day.
Thursday 29th August. We left at 7.00am for Espot in the Pyrenees. Ainsa, Campo, Leidha. We arrived Espot early afternoon. Margaret Quinn, Derek and Martin were already there.
Friday 30th August . The original plan to do the Amitges changed as Margaret Q was not well from a nasty reaction to antibiotics. Instead myself and Margaret T did Pic De Ratera 2862m. It was a long enough day, ended with a meal out. The others were well pleased at getting the Gran Encantat 2749m.
Saturday 31st August. A rest day. We shopped in Sort, down the valley. ‘A’ team did Agul D’ Amitges. Not impressed, as they geared up to the nines for a hill walk! ** Note for Ball Bearing Award.
Sunday 1 st September. Walked a GR 11 to Estais with Derek and 2 Margarets . We met Valli on the bike. We had tasty lunch in Espot.
Monday 2nd September. We took the Jeep to San Maurici lake, and Margaret Q and I did the Gran Encantat. It was 41 years since the last time. We met climber Felix from Alicante and shared the descent. I was well pleased, and so was MQ. Margaret T and Derek walked up the Monastero Valley and we met back at the Rifugio Malafre for beers, coffee and cake.
Tuesday 3rd September. A wet morning. It cleared up in the afternoon but the forecast was not good. Time to leave?
Wednesday 4th September We left. Made it back to sunny Culdaff 10th September via rainy stop-offs through France.