.JPG) | 1.08.08 Friday.
Refuge Pombie to Canfranc.
Quite a big day, some slight rain in the morning at about 0500 but the clouds were below us when we emerged from the refuge after breakfast. We climbed steeply up to the Col de Peyreget. On the way up we saw several chamois know locally as Izards. They were remarkably unconcerned probably knowing full well they could move a lot faster over the hillside than us. Almost at the col the sun started to come out from behind the Massif of the Balaitous and illuminated the clouds below. As we descended the other side the clouds there rose to meet us, the temperature dropped sharply and Tony’s GPS was employed to ensure that we were on the correct route down to the valley that would lead us up to the Col de Moines and our final crossing into Spain.
We went down in the mist through a steep valley with many purple iris in bloom and the stalks of the just finished blooms of Asphodel. We emerged from the mist just above a cabin in which in the summer live a family with pigs, cows and sheep making cheese some of which we bought for lunch. Another steep ascent and further views of clouds with Pyrenean peaks poking through them to a small lake and the final rise to the col and the Spanish border. After descending into an unused ski resort we traversed around the road to Col du Somport where we met the pilgrim support party of Karl, Claire, Alex and Jonathon. There is nothing at Col du Somport and we were grateful for lunch with the shared sheep’s cheese and beer before walking down to Canfranc, with Karl and Jonathon where they had already booked us and them into a pleasant B&B. Washing, charging of batteries and general regrouping with things to send home or not facing last decisions.
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