Tag: Pyrenees

Thanks to the lovely Pam Buttifant for submitting this guest blog post following her snowshoeing adventures with us last year   Snowshoeing adventures in the Pyrenees Having spent two glorious weeks hiking in the warm and sunny Pyrenees a few months earlier, last January I ventured back to experience the magic that winter brings to this wild, unspoilt corner of France. A bit disappointed that ski touring wasn’t really an option this early in the season, the Adventure Creators offered up some snowshoeing adventures as an alternative. An avid outdoor lover, and never one to turn down an adventure, I snapped up a couple of days with one of the Adventure Creators' local guides Jean-Noel. At lower altitude, and less intimidating than the Alps, the Pyrenean mountains in January are topped with snow, but, more rustic in nature, the region boasts fewer and smaller ski areas. Perfect for those who relish the satisfaction of topping out on two feet, rather than by ski lift. Less arduous than ski touring, snowshoeing enables access into remote, less skiable areas. The shoes themselves attach onto hiking boots, increasing the surface area of each foot plant, and rendering deep snow travel enjoyable. Believe me, the novelty of sinking knee deep with every step quickly wears off without them! Our first day took us up on a ridgeline hike from Port de Bales (1755m alt) near Bagnères-de-Luchon. Accompanied only by a pair of kite skiers, we crunched through the snow, the small spikes on the base of the shoes gripping reassuringly on what would otherwise be treacherous icy patches. A clear blue sunny sky and light breeze, it felt more like spring than mid-winter. As we reached the highest point, my breath was taken away as an astonishing view of the mountain range opened up, ...