55.01 France: A glimpse of Pic du Midi from afar and then near and finally, on top.

Our bodies are being tested in the Pyrenees of France, (I'm talking of physical endurance on the slopes,) while my mind is running on low. What with fuel prices so high, I'm conserving mental energy, hence a break from blogs. I had to upload this so I can enjoy it at least once a day while resting. 

From many miles in the distance, near Luz Ardiden, we spot the peak of Pic du Midi. With the naked eye, we could only see the spiral.
3 days later, we approach Pic du Midi. What a fascinating region, what a structural accomplishment, what a loss of words we have because of where we find ourselves. Actually, lost ourselves in such amazing, rugged beauty and testing trails/challenges.

The following day, we approached from a different direction. It was a more formal hiking trail but strenuous. Did we say tough? The elevation gain was 3,300 feet. While we were not intending to reach the peak, a lake instead some 2,000 feet lower, it was too tempting. The downside was, although all 'up', being the fifth hike of 5 consecutive days. The five pictures below illustrate our progress for the ascent to the peak, ignoring the gain to reach the lake earlier. 

We reached Lac d'Onset after an hour-and-quarter.

Jenni pushes ahead as she makes for Pic du Midi. Our position in above photo was at lake surface.

A view of the lake from the peak.  

Finally, we reach the tower which is visible from many parts of the Pyrenees.  

After a tough challenge, it's deserving to be on 'top of the world'.

A tiny view of the French Pyrenees.


While in France, and often anywhere else too, we think of Yves Bouchet, a Frenchman we met in New Zealand 5 years ago. What a special man, what a gentleman, and a tough mountain man, too. 'Yves, you live in a beautiful country, our friend...at least, the regions we've visited.'  

Cheers, 

Jenni and Jeffrey

Who said it to whom? "Do you come here often?"