HRP Day 43 Refuge du Rulhe - L'Hospitalet pres l'Andorra

Wednesday 19 August 2015

The weather today is supposed to be good. So I get up early, am ready for breakfast when it begins at 7am, and am gone by 7.30. Before I go I tell Calou the Refuge guardian that last night's dinner was the best so far, which is no more than the truth, at least as far as the refuges go. Saucisson soup, boef Bourguignon, and a home made tart of impressive delicacy. Not bad at 2,200m.
There is some cloud about when I set off but it looks promising, and indeed it turned into a fine day. It has still been a rough one though, with a lot of difficult rocky terrain and a very long, seemingly interminable descent to L'Hospitalet. The guide book says: "This fourth section of the HRP ends with a nice walk along numerous lakes in Andorra & the Haute Ariege. The HRP pays a brief visit to Andorra & leaves Andorra at the Port de I' Albe. From there on, the HRP stays in France for several days. Today there is a lot of rough terrain to negotiate, especially on the French side of the Port de I' Albe & on the way to Collada de Juclar. The climb to Etang de Joclar is extremely steep & requires a little care."

Couldn't have put it better. I reach l'Hospitalet about 5pm, so about 9hrs walking. I am in the friendly gite d'etape  and looking forward to a much needed rest day tomorrow.

nice to be above the cloud, not in it or below it

it's warm in the sun, but can be surprisingly chilly until you reach it 

lots of this today: clambering over rocks

 

not an alien spacecraft, but a pluviometer, for measuring rainfall

wild raspberries. Who knew this is where they originate? Lots of them, and bilberries too. 

magnificent scenery

L'Hospitalet from above. The mountain behind is vertical. If ever a village needed avalanche protection, this is it