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squiz Member Member#: 6644 Location: Registered: 27-05-2007 Diary Entries: 2882 |
21st March 2018 Hiking - Walking: To Lac des Bouillouse Wind Direction: Wind Stength: Surf / Sea State: Air Temperature: Sea Temperature: Weather: sunny but very windy! Max Speed: Distance Covered: 6.5 miles (Nautical Miles - unless stated otherwise) Wednesday 21st March – snowshoe ***** – To Lac des Bouillouse – sunny but very windy. 4.50 hours out, covering 6.50 miles Great night in our sheltered spot under the Mont Louis town walls, woke to only a light dusting of snow and minus 5 but still very windy. Plan was to sit it out today then ski tomorrow when the wind is supposed to drop. Nice relaxing start as the sun warms the van, Mag even walked up into the town for bread and croissants. After reading for an hour we decided to move on to the small ski resort of Formiqueres and after packing up we left approaching midday. Just outside we came to the C 60 which leads to one of our favourite areas which we have explored several times and couldn’t resist a detour. The small road leads all the way to the barrage on Lac des Bouillouse which six years ago we managed to drive all the way up to, to do the magnificent nine lacs walk but in the winter the road is inaccessible due to snow upon reaching the ski lift down from Pyrenees 2000. The road follows the beautiful la Tet river which was very icy, it is much colder and more snow here than last March! After several miles you reach a barrier closing the road and there is a small parking area which was full. We managed to find a spot back down the road and decided to walk to the dam which doesn’t look too far on the map? Mag packs a picnic and we decide to put on the snowshoes even though we will be walking on the road, this proved to be spot on as the snow got deeper the higher you walked although many of the other walkers only had boots on! Starting off at about 12.10 the road climbs up at 10% through the trees and then opens up with great views all around. Two walkers followed us but they soon gave up. We continued up higher and higher with no dam in sight, we passed a couple of snowshoers coming down and then a group of ski tourers heading up a steep path - we think heading to Les Angles which is over three hours away! Must be nuts. For the best part of this walk we were in lovely sunshine but the wind was very strong and you got waves of windblown snow every now and again! We thought about turning back but plodded on, we passed several others returning and on reaching a sign for Les Bouillouse – commune de Les Angles we thought we must nearly be there! We came to a large restaurant/chambres offering rooms and refreshments which actually had ten snowshoe customers! Then just past this we spotted the barrage for the first time and boy was it windy but we had come too far to turn back now so battled against the wind to the end of the dam so we could see the Lac. It was a job to see the lac, in fact it was a job just standing there in winds of 50 mph blowing snow over the dam wall. We were knackered now and just wanted to find a sheltered spot for our picnic as it was absolutely freezing by the dam! It was clouding over and light snow was falling but we found a spot for our delicious baguettes. Sadly, it was still too windy and cold so we continued down to where we had seen the ski tourers to complete our picnic. It was then just a case of a long plod back to the van but at least it was downhill and out of the wind for the most part! The highlight of the return journey was watching a very pretty Crested Tit feeding really close. (one of Mag’s favourite all time birds!!) We had already decided not to risk driving to an unknown ski resort this afternoon but return to the sheltered Mont Louis. We got back to the van after 4 hours 30 minutes shot to pieces after covering 6.50 miles but it was yet another pinch yourself afternoon – the mountains are unbelievable :) We quickly drove and got our spot. There was another English campervan there as well, he was very friendly and came over for a chat but it went on a bit and I got frozen. A cuppa and croissants warmed us up, then just finished the French bread for tea. Tomorrow still looking like the best day to get one last ski so will make a move early, then down to the coast for hopefully a sail at perhaps Gruissan before heading for home! Photo Gallery Here |
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