HRP Day 7

Tuesday 14 July
4.7/95/455 miles

A short day today, just a 2 hrs climb of about 400m ascent from the lower Iraty lakes up to the col d'Iraty  (or Bagargui ). The chalets d'Iraty are holiday homes, buried in what they claim is Europe's largest beech forest

Gradually we are creeping upwards. . the col is at 1327m, and I will climb over 2000m tomorrow. The scenery is changing too, less greenery, more rocky, and the views are getting wider and more impressive. I hope that comes through, the phone camera is not great at panoramas.

The next three days are all tricky ones and quite long though rewarding. First over pic d'orhy and on to the cabane d'ardane, a small hut by a natural spring.  Then over the col dAnaye to the source Marmitou, a spring with not even a hut, then a long descent into lescun. They pass through remote areas and it is possible I cannot post again until Saturday, when I shall be in beautiful Lescun. I took a nice video of some cows but cannot find a way to add it here, sorry! 

a panorama of the lac d'Iraty, camping field on the left, Le Kayolar on the right behind the bridge

view from the terrace of the restaurant at the col

I have seen a lot of big birds, including some eagles. They are hard to photograph!