Lazarow World-Hike-About

It's appropriate that the penultimate hike was a climactic one although the final mountain wasn’t ‘shabby’ either. Fortunately, we reached many pics (peaks) over the month, not forgetting a large number of alpine lakes, the former all good but some exceptional. It’s worth mentioning a few so we won’t forget the names although we’ll always remember the experiences. They include Pics- Casamanya, El Pessons, La Serrera, Cubil Petite, Besali, Tristaina and Pic Coma Pedrosa (Valley of stones). (text continues after first set of pictures...) At sunrise outside Refugi Coma Pedrosa, we prepare for a special day while the sun hits the spot. A little perspective: A view from close to the top, quite remarkable...actually, it was a 'wow'. A view of the peaks we had to pass to reach Coma Pedrosa, (taken from the trailhead). The refugi where we spent the night and Estany (lake) de les Truites viewed from somewhere on the front ridge. Smiling? First of five i...

Mount Woodson is a regular local and favorite hike. We have been fortunate to view superb cloud scenes on each occasion that we've hiked in Poway recently. It's hard to accept that clouds blanket the region and not a drop of rain falls from them. Weather in a word: "Cloudy". Although above mountain level, clear sky. Love it. Before appearance of the sun above horizon. 'Not all that glitters is gold'. Iron Mountain to the side, degrees of cloud density between the two. In the center of the picture, a tree on a smaller mountain just protruding above the clouds. This picture selected for the partial mist covering of trees in the fore ground. Woodson's 'cube' shines at sunrise. An ocean to the west, a sea of clouds below. A quote from last week: "There's much smoke but no fire." Hmm! Perhaps that's what she had in mind. Cheers, Jenni and Jeffrey

'Let's fill that bowl'. A view from Pic Tristaina, an almost out of world experience. We seldom see cloud covering of this nature in Andorra but frequently in France. Geographically, they are the same place. Our first peek from the peak into Franca, a confrontation more than a view. (Estany Fourcat, France) Returning from the peak with 'mucho' caution. At Port de l'Arbella, a few days before, Andorra to the left, Franca to the right...editor's choice. For perspective, the peak of Tristaina is behind us. And we thought we climbed substantially to reach the shoulder. One will run out of energy years before Andorra's pics (peaks) can be climbed. More likely, one may even die trying, rather morbid but realistic. We suppose living in an environment where there is very little level ground, the rating system can put off a keen climber. Any climb less than 2,000 feet is of course relatively flat according to the locals. Up to 3,000 feet...