Area: French Pyrenees
Walk: Lac d'Aubert - Col d'Estoudou (2,260m) - Las de l'Oule - Cabane de la Lude - Cabane de Bastan - Col de Portet (2,215m) - Vielle Aure
Distance: 15.25 miles 1,750ft ascent
With: Exodus trekking group
Conditions: Thunder storm early on then long rain showers for the rest of the day
Time: 8 hours
Heading towards the Col d'Estoudou in the rain
Lac d'Oredon and the dam of Lac de Cap de Long
The view south from the Col d'Estoudou
Col d'Estoudou (2,260m / 7,413ft)
Leaving the Col d'Estoudou
Heading down
The view west. Our next col is to the left of the mountain with
cloud on its very top, centre skyline
First a steep descent through the trees...
...to Lac de l'Oule
Lac de l'Oule and some sunshine
A short stop at the Cabane de Bastan and the sun is still out, but
not for much longer
Traversing the mountain side above Lac de l'Oule
A rainbow
The view back west as we approached the Col de Portet
Le Pla d'Adet
The path round the side of Le Serre
Looking back to the Col de Portet, the right hand side low point
on the skyline
Heading along the rolling ridge
Looking down on Vielle Aure and St-Lary Soulan. Tomorrows route
goes over the col just to the left of the small triangle of forest
left of centre
Looking back to the very steep and long descent as we head for the
campsite after a stop for liquid refreshment