Today’s walk traversed the Col d’Ossou after a nice hike out of the valley of the Gaube, which spreads out from the Northern face of Vignemale, a famous high peak of the Pyrénées at 3,300m.
The Grand Vignemale (3,300m)
Just past the col lies the Refuge Baysellance, the highest staffed refuge in the Pyrénées at around 2,700m.
Refuge Baysellance nestled in the mountains below glacier Ossue
Not the worst spot to have coffee
From there, the trail descended the valley created by the melt from Glacier Ossau, a spectacular crevasse with steep granite peaks all around, and plenty of waterfalls to keep you entertained.
You can make out the Cirque de Gavarnie in the distance
Three grottos carved out by the famous count Russell, who had a lifelong love for the Vignemale
At the base of the valley, the floor spreads out in a vast plateau, where a huge river / glacier must have flowed at some point.
The trail continued down this valley for 10km to Gavarnie, passing a number of other impressive, cirque-like mountain valleys.
Looking back at Vignemale
Finally, I arrived at Gavarnie and found a place at the Oxygene auberge (inn), where hikers and travelers from all over can rest their feet and have a nice breakfast for just €22 a night (and in the most touristed center of all the Pyrenees no less!).
No doubt people would surely pay €100 or more for the view you receive from the bedrooms and patios of this refuge.
How much would you pay for a room with this view?
Later, I reunited with my hiking partner Robin, and we had dinner at a restaurant on the main street. It was quite fantastic to experience the French version of a Hawaiian pizza! It was loaded down with tons of fresh veggies and delicious local cheese. Wonderful.
We decide to take a zero day tomorrow, because my clothes haven’t had a proper wash in 15 days! Sink washing just doesn’t cut it after a certain point, hah.
Look forward to awesome pictures of the cirque tomorrow! Good night!