A Video plus 27.25 The peaks along the French border below Pic Tristaina: A day off! ... 27.26 Lake Estanyó and reaching the peak above and behind it.

This duo of hikes concludes our visits to Spain, France and Andorra. It was a remarkable six weeks of superb hiking and climbing opportunities with of course, exposure to different cultures and people who continue to provide interesting, and at times, fascinating perspectives. Whenever we despair because of the tragedies occurring about us, we transport our minds to these periods and places and recapture the beauty of the land as well as the many kind and good souls with whom we share the planet. Life is always full of challenges and some rather unpleasant. Off trail we had some car issues that were unsetting but in the scheme of things, or with proper perspective, they amounted to 'pinpricks'.

Once again, to those who follow our blog, thank you. To others who write to us with words of wisdom and kindness, thank you indeed and to those who admonish us occasionally, we thank you too because we need the guidance very much.

Finally, we added in a video which shows a sprinkling of randomly chosen photographs of the period.



No shortage of lakes and ski slopes in Andorra. This hike was on a rest day...says something about the editor's cruel streak.




Perhaps, it's not surprising to catch Jenni climbing, these days. The lake below is about half-way up and can be
seen clearly in the photograph above.




Looking toward Pic Tristaina (and equally intimidated), the incredible and sobering hike of the previous day. The ascent takes place from the front rather than the spine, hence, intimidating.




We term this the 'tension' that exists between right and left wing path builders.




This is what we term a male bird's-eye view.




This is the female bird's eye view from a peak. Obviously, always more impressive than the male.




A great vantage point to view one of many of Andorra's ski slopes.




Gone walk-about.




A couple of shots at Lake Estanyó in Parc Natural de la Vall de Sorteny.



The bag lady reaches a peak behind and above Lake Estanyó after some 2,600 feet of ascension.




A woman (flower child) of the 60's...era not age...hmm, an error...well, both. The last photo from a trail in Andorra, this trip.




We'll see you in Greece!



Cheers,


Jenni and Jeffrey



Slideshow of our visit to Spain, Andorra and France.


Click on the box, bottom right, to acquire a full screen and then the 'arrow'.

Click on the box, bottom right, to acquire a full screen and then the 'arrow'.

Touched by the morning on Iron Mountain, Poway.

As beautiful and miraculous as we find a sunrise, it in itself is not the whole story, not even part. In fact, light is only an aspect of the ‘show’. It’s the prominence of the background, the cloud formations and their altitude, the presence of mist and fog, a marine layer and the way the clouds fill the valleys, allowing mountain peaks to protrude. It’s the angles, shadows, reflections and other factors that combine with the afore going to delight the senses and provide a feast for the soul. We think early Friday morning allowed us to view some of the best scenes we have enjoyed. In fact, because of the cloud formations we often see in Poway, we deduce that sun -rises and –settings, are quite unique over the region.




Facing northwest from Iron Mountain peak.




Facing a little south of east.









Most trailheads are without light as hiking is not a night pastime, generally. At Iron Mountain, this is not the case regarding light. However, once away from the carpark for a sunrise hike, one is alone in the dark but for a flashlight. At times, it’s a little eerie as who knows what is lurking about, man or beast or a protruding rock to trip one. Often, the spider webs, fresh from an evening of spinning, provide a trap although only annoying, not dangerous. Depending upon the lateness of the hour, the light begins to appear, slowly at first and then creating an ambience which words cannot describe...but pictures certainly can.








As the sun rises, the coloring changes...becomes lighter.













Mountain creates a shadow on the upper clouds.









On trail about half-way up.





Protruding peaks above Poway.




"I don't know why we had to visit Spain and Andorra when all the action is in our backyard," I exclaimed to the editor. By then I realized I was not going to receive an answer worthy of my intelligent comment.

"And why is that?" She answered off-handedly, indulging me my skewed way of looking at things.

"For one thing," I began to reply, "The sun, the clouds and the interaction between them created some of the most magnificent sights I have ever seen. We could not see better anywhere else in the world."

"Did you not say something similar to that when you were in Andorra only the other day?" She retorted.

I knew and so did she that she had me on the ropes...again. The only way to recover from a situation such as this was to fight 'dirty'. Not being a gentleman, I resorted to such tactics. "Well," I began, "At 4:30am this morning, you did not join me for the hike and so I think you are eating the grapes that are sour," I said in my Herculean (Poirot) manner.

"Be that as it may," she retorted, "The fact that I chose to rest following our Hercules exploits in Andorra, if I may say, perhaps immodestly, does not change the beauty both over here and there. Your problem, my dear, is that your mind is so small that once you fill it with the latest visuals, the older sets are wiped from your brain or as they say nowadays...'are deleted'. I suppose I asked for that and deserved it. Nevertheless, nature once again provided a unique experience for me and all those who decided to sweat a little rather than sleep in.

'Anyway, how does the juxtaposition of clouds and sunrise, you may ask, relate to San Diego and Andorra.'
You certainly may ask.

Every now and then but most often for us fortunately, we see extraordinary sights in a natural world that has no limitations in the extent of its dynamic beauty. This was another such occasion. Twenty-nine days ago, coincidentally, we hiked before sunrise in Andorra at the time of a full moon so logically, we could expect another of these phenomena on this day which we enjoyed again.








Leaving the carpark at 5:25am.




Familiar mountains and scenery took on a new meaning that morning.




There was much fog or mist which created a little something extra before the sun burned it away.




Cheers,


Jenni and Jeffrey

27.22 L'Angonella lakes high up in the mountains. 27.23 Pic Milminut and another off beat peak. 27.24 A hike to Refugi Coma Pedrosa.

Jenni crosses her bridges when she comes to them. Huh!





As we commence the climb, the sun and haze present another opportunity.





Reaching the top lake after 3,400 feet elevation gain.




The views were again terrific although the pictures did not capture anything unusual. Poor weather threatened and at one time it looked as though we would be drenched in a downpour. In the end, the clouds dissipated meekly and we were in fact soaked but from our perspiration, after a 3,400 feet climb. Later, after our return to the apartment, it did rain but by that stage we were showered, shaved and watered. Sometimes, our timing is rather good.

In a rather embarrassing incident, my camera battery failed although I had charged it the previous night. There was a reason for this issue...aren't there always? Therefore, on the hike to Milminut, we only had one camera and the inferior one at that. It proved a little of a disappointment because at one stage I was swinging from the branches like an ape which the editor thought to be quite appropriate but fortunately for me, I was in possession of the camera. Instead, we followed the trail of vultures which had begun to tear the carcass of a white cow apart. We've commented of our perspective on this natural but distasteful (for some humans) behavior. Do we act any differently from the animals? Pass me the salad, please.


The view from the top lake including the second lake below.





Surprised to find it's a 'horsey hangout' in what appeared to be a deserted region.




Moving on towards Pic Milminut.


Editor on second climb of the day. After finding ourselves on some very tricky ledges, we decided to ease off a bit with some of
the 'stunts' we'd undertaken. An hour later, we found ourselves on a steep incline and wondered what we had learned and achieved.




Sometimes, we don't even understand ourselves. We were heading up to a peak, off trail, and found ourselves in a precarious situation. We continued along until we realized it was not a good idea. Thereafter, we headed down by making our own switchbacks so that we would be able to cope with the decline. It was extremely steep and without good footing. Phew! Then we ate and decided that we need to ease up a bit as some of the moves of late were proving to be a little too ambitious. After breakfast, the 'boy hero' noticed what looked like a peak with an unusual slope, fin-like but steep and 'obviously' manageable. Off we went up again. Of course the rule which we know is nothing is ever as easy as it looks. Nevertheless, it was a wonderful experience but exactly what we had decided we should not do a mere hour before. We did not even wait a decent interval. Oh! The simple minds. I have suggested to the editor she needs therapy.



Approaching the summit of a deceptive looking mountain. Free climbing as there was no trail.





Reality of life a few mountains away as the vultures enjoy a barbeque or is it a 'braai'?





We think we hit a 'gusher' on the way to the refugi.




Editor 'rolling down'. It was awfully steep and without a trail.





A waterfall close to the base of Pic Coma Pedrosa which we passed on the way to the refugi.





The final push to the refugi after 2,200 feet climb in a relatively short distance.




Cheers,


Jenni and Jeffrey

27.21 Port de l'Arbella, a challenging climb below Pic Tristaina: A trail of sorts to Franca.

At the outset, we thought we were climbing toward Pic Tristaina, our goal, but followed a path that headed a little right. When we reached the pass, after a tricky and steep climb on scree, we looked up with envy at the magnificent sight of Tristaina, towering above us, some 800 feet. There was no sane path from the position we reached to attempt a climb to the peak so we were a little dejected. Nevertheless, the hike was fabulous as well as being in a delightful locale. The following Monday, we found the correct path and arrived at the summit to witness some of the finest sights we've seen. (See earlier blog, 27.17 Pic Tristaina.) At the pass, we were once again back in France, something we had done at least on five occasions. We were nearly concerned that the non-existent border guards might think we were 'illegals', a term much more familiar to Americans.



A little more to go to reach the pass after a treacherous number of hundreds of feet climb over scree.





A view towards Ordino-Arcalis from before the ascent to the pass.




View into Franca from the pass.





Editor, on a pedestal, reaches the top in fine form, brave climb.





Clouds over Franca.




The largest Tristaina Lake, also 'bloody' cold.




It may be freezing but it's a great thrill at high altitude.





Some action after the tough part of the trail.















From Tristaina Peak the following week, looking down some 800 feet at our current position over the pass. (Franca left, Andorra right.)




A walk in the park on our return from higher ground.




Playing hide-and-go-seek without the grandkids on the international border...not quite the same.




Cheers,


Jenni and Jeffrey