Pyrenean Peaks : 16th February, 2008

A week of Ski Touring from our Valley base in Luz St Sauveur, Hautes Pyrenees

Ski from the famous peaks of the Taillon, Breche de Roland, and the Vignemale

This week of ski touring is based in the 11th Century market town at the centre of the Pays Toy - Luz St Sauveur. Luz sits at the confluence of three valleys in the Hautes Pyrenees. To the south is Gavarnie and the Spanish border, East lies the Neouvielle Nature Reserve and the Col du Tourmalet, west is the Ardiden Massif and behind that the Pyrenees National Park.

This is a week of classic Pyrenean Peak bagging. Each day we set out from Luz to climb to and ski back from a range of well known peaks (like the Vignemale) and almost unknown ski peaks (like the Pen det Pouri). We've been skiing in these hills for more than 13 years and our UIAGM mountain guides live here. Each day you come back to Luz and the Templiers Hotel

OUTLINE ITINERARY

DAY 1 - Fly to Pau Pyrenees
The best way to get to the Pyrenees is on a Ryanair schedule to Pau. We pick you up from there in our minibus and drive you to the Hotel Templiers in Luz St Sauveur. You collect your hired gear and meet up with your guide in the evening for a drink and a briefing.

DAY 2 - Pic du Midi d'Ossoue
The week starts off with some gentle skiing around the Bareges La Mongie ski area where there are some good off piste itineraries to warm up on. After that we take the cable car to the Pic du Midi (2900metres) and ski the long off piste route from there back to either Superbareges or Artigues depending on conditions.

DAY 3 - Pen det Pouri (2587m)
A low, but challenging peak to start the real peak bagging off. The Pen det Pouri is hidden at the head of a small valley behind the little village of Sers. We've never met anybody else skiing here - it is well and truly off-the-beaten-track. It's a stiff climb of a 1000 metres and needs and early start. Views from the summit look out over the plains of southern France towards Toulouse. Great ski back down to the road head.

DAY 4 - Taillon and Breche de Roland (3050m)
A big day out and a 3050m peak. We set off to catch the first chair lift out of Gavarnie ski area up to the top of the resort. Then we traverse to the Spanish border and head east below the North face of the Taillon. 2.5 hours and we reach the famous Breche de Roland and the natural gateway to Spain. Once through the Breche we head West along a crest to the summit of the Taillon. We ski back down to the Breche de Roland and then down steep slopes to the Pouey Aspe valley and on past the Cirque of Gavarnie to Gavarnie village and our pick up point. A really classic Pyrenean day.

DAY 5 - Pic de Chanchou (2949m)
Off the beaten track again. A tough day out but really worthwhile. We set off from the Luz Ardiden ski area with a short descent in the Bernazou valley. Skins on to head up first to the Ardiden lakes and then to the small Pourtete de la Homme. A very short ski down and then skins back on for the final climb to the Chanchou. This really is in the middle of nowhere. We ski down wide East facing slopes to the end of the snow line and then hike out through small forest tracks to our road head by the GR10 and a lift back to Luz. Hard work, but fantastic skiing. We've only ever skied here once before in 13 years.

DAY 6 - Petite Vignemale
We spend the last two days of the tour getting to the summit of the Petite Vignemale and the Vignemale using the Baysallance refuge as a base. We set out from Cauterets via the Lac de Gaube to pass under the North face of the Vigenamle before climbing to the Horquette d'Ossue. From there the Petite Vignemale is a steep 50 minute climb. We ski from the summit to the Baysallance refuge where we spend the night.

DAY 7 - Grand Vignemale
After and early start we make a short ski descent before the long climb up over the Ossue glacier (small by Alpine standards, but the largest in the Pyrenees) to the pinnacle summit of the Vignemale. This is the highest place in the French Pyrenees. We ski back down the glaciers and then out through remote valleys to a road head above Gavarnie for our pick up point and return to Luz.

DAY 8 - Fly back to London
You are transferred back to Pau Airport or Lourdes SNCF to connect with transport back home.

Please Note: This itinerary may be altered if conditions, weather forecasts or the overall fitness of the group are judged to put the safety of the group at risk. Pyrenean Mountain Tour Guides reserve the right to make changes to the itinerary without notice. These changes will be explained to the group as and when they occur.

EQUIPMENT AND CLOTHING NEEDED FOR THIS TREK
We recommend that people joining this trek are equipped with the following:

Technical equipment
Ski Touring Skis with Touring Bindings
Ski Poles
Skins (with good glue!)
Ski Crampons
Crampons
(please note: you do not need to carry an ice axe on this trip)
Ski Strap (for tying top of the skis together when carrying on rucksack)

Clothing suggestions
Thermal underwear- 1 set as a base layer
Fleece
Waterproof jacket
Waterproof over trousers
Warm hat
Warm gloves
Warm walking socks
Sun hat or peaked cap
Sunglasses/Goggles

Other useful items
40-60 litre rucksack (needs side straps so that you can carry skis)
Sun block for face and lips
Personal First Aid kit (plasters,compede, paracetamol)
Water bottle or Platypus
Penknife

Optional items
Change of clothing to include: underwear,tracksuit bottoms/ long-johns,dry shirt, spare socks.
Camera and film
Paperback novel
Maps
Snack bars/dried fruit/chocolate

Ski Touring Equipment Hire
Pyrenean Mountain Tours offer a full equipment hire pack. You can hire everything you need for this tour or individual items at the costs shown in the table below. We are unable to provide equipment "last minute" so you need to book what you need well in advance.

Please remember to carry as little gear as possible. A heavy rucksack will make the trip hard work and less fun.