Above the clouds

This is not me, I hasten to add! When this photo was taken (by S) I was below the mass of clouds you can see on the horizon, desperately seeking a glimpse of light. It was even greyer than yesterday. So I decided that S's successful ascent of Canigou in the snow deserved to be featured as the day's blip even if it's cheating.

It was a two-day affair, leaving the car in Fillols and then climbing to the refuge at les Cortalets at 2,150 m above sea level (in summer you can drive as far as the refuge, but this isn't possible in winter). The main staffed refuge is closed in winter, but there's an annexe which is freely accessible for use in winter -- there were 15 people there last night.

The climb to the summit (2,784 m) from here is actually relatively easy in summer -- even I've done it (twice, after vowing never to do it again the first time). It's a different matter in deep soft snow. S and his two friends needed all their equipment -- crampons, snowshoes, sticks, ice axes ... Well, almost all -- thankfully they did not need the ARVAs, devices for finding people who have been buried in avalanches. And as you can see, they made it, and the view was glorious. Then it was a long, long descent back to the car -- nearly 2,000 m. S eventually got home about 8:30, and has now gone to bed :)