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.

Looking at rocks.

My dad worked at Shap Granite and I grew up in Tebay so I was always going to have an interest in geology.  From my house I could see the Silurian mud stones ( I believe these are now called the Windermere supergroup , Shap Granite, Carboniferous Limestone and Borrowdale volcanics.

It was time to look at rocks again.  I left the car at the Blencathra Centre and followed the path around above the Glenderaterra Beck.  The rocks being Skiddaw mudstones laid down in an ocean trench 480 million years ago.  This trip was to look at the Skiddaw Granite which is exposed in Sinen Gill. This is part of a batholith of granite underlying the Lake District, it intruded into the Skiddaw mudstones 400 million years ago.  The heat metamorphosed the mudstones and as you get closer to Sinen Gill the mudstones gradually change.

The first gill is about half a mile from the granite and the mudstones have developed white crystals of chiastolite.  As you walk further the mudstones get harder and become hornfels often with dark spots of cordierite.  Eventually in Sinen Gill you come across a 2m high waterfall of granite blocks.

The granite is pale in colour and is exposed in the beck bottom.

On the surrounding slopes are some very hard examples of the folded hornfels.

Not an expert so apologies for any inaccuracies.

Backpacking Food

 

First we made a beef mince stew with onions and carrots and then added frozen peas.

We have a couple of plastic trays but just use parchment paper to stop the stew running through on the rest.

At the same time as the stew we dried a sauce bought at Aldi.  These dry down to next to nothing and can be added to almost any stewy type meal.

The finished stew was spooned onto the trays.

The stew was then dried for 24 hours or so in the dehydrator.  It was cooked in camp in a plastic bag inside a home made cosey.  We like to use bowls to eat from and these are extremely light.  By cooking in a plastic bag the pan is still clean and can be used to make tea or coffee whilst the meal is cooking.
The meal above has had some smash powdered potato added.

This meal has had pasta added to it.  The remains of the plastic cooking bag and the cosey are also in the picture.

The dehydrator is made by L'Equip and shortly after producing these meals the element burned out.  This is the second time this has happened, the first occasion was under a year and I got it replaced .  I have had it a while now so I contacted the manufacturers with a view to purchasing an element.   If it's customer care you 're after don't use this make .  They have not even acknowledged my e mails.
Unless they respond shortly I will have to purchase a different make to process my meals for the summer hols.

Great Moss

After stopping at the Ratty cafe for a second breakfast  we headed up towards the great Moss.  The idea was to try out the new Vaude Power Lizard tent.  We hope to go backpacking in the Aiguestortes this summer and wanted to see if this tent was big enough.

Tent up and cup of tea on the way we decided on a little stroll before tea.

The tent is great to carry and I noticed the difference in bulk and weight between it and the Akto.  It is a bit small and I would not like to be in it sheltering from a storm for any length of time.  The porch is small for two peoples ' gear.  Probably a great tent for one person.

Next morning we awoke to the sound of wild geese flying down the valley and put the Caldera on for a cup of tea.  We will be having another night out soon if the weather is good and hope to try the Solar 2.2. This is a bit heavier but has an entrance at both sides for more space.  We have only been out a couple of times in the Solar in the past and I'm not keen of the way the flysheet goes on last and just drapes over the top.  

We packed up and headed back for the car, calling at the ratty cafe for a second breakfast.

Meall nan Tarmachan

Van parked at start of walk , Dawne inside making sandwiches.
We stayed in the van overnight in Killin and were there for a rather cloudy start at 0900 hrs.

Ben Lawers in the distance as the cloud starts to descend.  

The ridge ahead looks quite interesting, unfortunately this was the last  we would see of it as the cloud rolled in.

We sat by the little tarn above surrounded by clumps of Saxifraga  Oppositifolia. If only they kept the sheep out in the Lakes.

The Meall Garbh part of the ridge was narrower than expected and we struggled on a very steep descent at the end.  Apparently there is a little detour that avoids  the steep bit but we missed it in the mist.

Eventually we emerged from the mist in the corrie  below Creag na Caillich.  we walked back to the Ben Lawers car park on the quarry road.  Lower down there were clumps of my favourite flower ,  Primula Vulgaris.

Jack's Rake

Not used to the heat we arrived at the tarn quite hot.  I did not have the sun hat and my wife still had her winter trousers.  Must be 5 years since we did the Rake.  Tried taking a gradual rising line up the screes last time so just stuck to the path this time.

I must be getting old cos I certainly did not find it as hard in the past,  we struggled up the tight bits under the critical eyes of climbers.   Near the top we branched off right up some lovely slabs to the summit.  I've not been to the Cuillin Ridge but that gabbro will have to be rough to out rough the rocks on the top of Pavey Ark.

Put Buff over head in attempt to keep sun off bald spot.  Innov8 s looking a bit worn,  can't understand the huge boots some folk wear.

We descended down to Pike How, watching the paragliders catching the afternoon breeze.

A big cycling event was taking place in Langdale and the fields were full of cars.  They certainly had a nice day for it. Just time for a drink at the Stickle Barn before heading home.