The Tebay Lad and Geordie Lass backpack in the Parc National D' Aiguestortes I Estany De Saint Maurici, Part3

The next morning we headed  down the Vall de Dellui heading for the Refuge d' Estany  Long.  A party met us heading up as we negotiated the boulder field.  There were posts to guide you through.

The view down the valley with the Estanyets de Dellui.

Typical view.

Looking back up the valley, the camp site was just below the distant roche moutonnee.

We had hoped to spend a night at the Refuge d' Estany Long.  But of course it was full.  This is a very popular bit of the Parc with people coming up from the taxis to the lake. So we headed down to the taxis which whisk you to Boi for 5€. We had a night in a hotel after sampling the tapas.

A taxi was taken to the dam wall of the Embassament de Cavallers from where we headed up towards the Refugi Joan Ventosa i Calvell. This was a hot day and the sun reflected off the granite slabs as we made our way up the trough end.

The refuge.

......and lunch.

One reason the huts are popular is that  there is a circuit that they run around carrying very small packs.


Anyway, time to soak up the views and rest in the heat of the day.

Beard's coming on lad.

The Tebay Lad and Geordie Lass backpack in the Parc National D' Aiguestortes I Estany De Saint Maurici, Part2

We spent a pleasant hour over looking the Estany de Colomina before continuing on the GR 11-20.  After a kilometre or so we swung off up a track heading north west besides the Estany Tort.  Yes there are a lot of Estanys.

Greg en route.

Dawne en route.

Estany Tort.

We were going to camp by the Estany Eixerola, above, but the herds of cows and piles of dung on all flat surfaces forced us to cross the Collada de Dellui (2577m) rather later in the day than we anticipated.

From the col we looked down the Vall de Dellui and its obligatory Estany.

At the first suitable flat bit (2400m) the tent went up.  We had to be out of site as camping is not allowed in the Parc.  All the refuges are full and there was no camping signs beside them, so you dont have much choice other than stealth camping.

So the sun sets on another perfect day.  How many Estanys tomorrow?

The Tebay Lad and Geordie Lass backpack in the Parc National D' Aiguestortes I Estany De Saint Maurici, Part1

We travelled by Eurostar to Paris and then TGV to Toulouse.  In theory 13 hours from Carlisle.  A lack of research on my part saw us missing the Toulouse train by 5  mins and having to get a later train.

After a night camping in Espot we took the hair-raising Landrover taxi to the Refugi JM Blanc by the Estany Tort. We have been to the Pyrenees at least 5 times but always to the granite peaks such as Carlit and Andorra.  This area is no exception being white granite.  There are dozens of lakes , often with white granite sandy beaches and best of all no midges.

The track (GR11-20) led on past the Estany Negre.

The track continued to the col in the middle distance.

After a short first day we pitched up at 2500m over looking Estany del Cap del Port.  The cloud had built up, but luckily it stayed fine.

Next morning we followed the track around the lake and over the Collada de Saburo (2689m).

The Geordie Lass breaks free of the boulder field below the Collada de Saburo. There is a path down there somewhere.

After passing two more lakes, there are too many to mention, we rounded the Estany de Colomina and headed for the refuge.

We bought lunch in the refuge and settled down for a rest in the heat of the day.