Photographs: Quick Access
This reference allows quick lookup of all the best photos, in geographical (stage) order. Those prefixed 'PL' are only accessible here, but the others are accessible via the 'Voici' links, sequenced into stage text.
Many thanks to my 'guest' photographers, Pawel Lis and companion Rosemary Grauiche, who trekked a variant HRP in 2004, enriching this collection immeasurably. Their works are those prefixed 'PL'.
The photos have been given a loose star grading as follows:
| *** |
excellent |
** |
v good |
* |
good |
STOP PRESS: JANUARY 2015 - ALL HRP photos now available to view on flickr
HRP Photos on Flickr documented stage by stage
Stage 0
PL: Hendaye moorings **
PL: Highest peak hereabouts; La Rhune *
Stage 1
PL: Shopping mall in the hills; Ibardin *
PL: A frontier home *
Stage 2
Ancient Beech Pollards *
Village of Apaoia **
Stage 3
Valley of Les Aldudes *
PL: Thoughtfully provided *
Stage 4
Sunny above the inversion cloud *
PL: Face the sun *
Stage 5
PL: The vulture's view **
PL: Ring of trees **
Stage 6
PL: View above the clouds *
PL: Heather haze *
Stage 7
Red earth slip *
High horses **
From the summit of Pic d'Orhy ***
Stage 8
Sheep grazing at Col de Bimbaleta **
Still stark scenery at Point 1683m *
Col d'Anaye at 7pm *
Stage 9
High screes above Sources de Marmitou *
PL: Highland homested *
Stage 10
PL: Stone walls between *
High above Lescun *
PL: Approaching Ansabëre **
PL: Backlighters grazing **
Stage 11
PL: Morning reflection ***
The pipeline led us to Lac d'Estaëns *
A fleck of red beneath the great landslip
That cirque of crumbling twisted rock *
PL: First appearance; Pic du Midi d'Ossau **
PL: Above all **
PL: Evening reflection **
Stage 12
Approaching Pic du Midi d'Ossau **
PL: Volcanic presence **
Descent to Ref Pombie **
Stage 13
Sunrise from Ref Pombie ***
The cruxy Passag d'Orteig *
PL: Ageing characterfully *
Chimneying out at Col de Lavaudan *
Long rocky descent to Ref Laribet
Stage 14
Interminable switchbacks
Looking towards Ref Respumoso *
PL: Ref Respumoso in sight *
Glacier-wake rock-scrape
Ref Wallon with companion chapel **
Stage 15
Cloud-scrapers and sweeping screes *
PL: Vignemale invites **
Climbing above Ref des Oulettes de Gaube *
Stage 16
PL: Appearing briefly on the skyline **
PL: Still waters *
Stage 17
PL: Exiting Ref Serradets *
Cirque de Gavarnie *
PL: Greyscale moonscape *
Stage 18
A shapely skyline: Le Casque & La Bréche **
Vignemale dominates the horizon
Stage 19
At Hourquette de Héas ***
Lakes of Cirque de Barroude **
Stage 20
Cones and carnations *
Whorled rock formations of Posets *
Silencio; a significant menhir **
Stage 21
Memories of Viados ***
PL: The fin **
PL: Blown ragged & wild **
Stage 22
Interminable boulder fields *
Lac des Isclots *
Exit from the glacier *
Crater lake; Lac Glacé ***
Lac Portillon and beyond *
Stage 23
Ibon Blanc & the Spanish side *
PL: Ref de Marmot **
PL: Real & reflected ***
PL: Setting on fire **
Stage 24
Rock walking at its best ***
Boundless mosaic of slabs and ribs **
Wandering ad-lib **
Only mosses and lichens *
Bouldery scramble to summit of Tuc Molieres *
Autumnal profusion *
Stage 25
Ubiquitous Colchiques *
PL: Lake district **
PL: Of sun & water I **
PL: Of sun & water II **
Autumn salvage *
PL: Dried in action **
Stage 26
Une lac marcageux
PL: Trace of passage *
PL: Bee here now **
Stage 27
Lac d'Airoto *
Granite wilderness of rocks, pines & bilberries **
Valley of Isil
PL: The witness **
PL: Hard wear ***
Stage 28
PL: 3 storeys in local style *
PL: Church corner *
PL: The logpile 2 yrs on **
PL: Larger than life **
PL: Geraniums framed *
Tiny silvery refuge *
Stage 29
Serene sunrise from Ref Enric Pujols **
Ref Enric Pujols at dawn ***
Birch hamlet; Noarre **
Cascade to marshy flats *
PL: Rufous rock *
PL: Dark peak *
Stage 30
Passerelle provisoire *
PL: Room for two *
PL: A memorable cairn **
Stage 31
Sun on snow at Port de Bouet *
PL: Tour of the Orrhys I *
PL: Tour of the Orrhys II *
PL: Tour of the Orrhys III *
PL: Tour of the Orrhys IV *
Stage 32
Andorra; Collada del Clot Sord *
PL: Superbly crafted **
PL: Ref Sorteny *
PL: M-aquerelle sky **
Stage 33
Joyful re-encounter with sunlight **
PL: Port d'Envalira & environs *
PL: Old mine workings **
Stage 34
The final steepening *
Exiting the gully, left fork **
PL: Still impressive without snow **
Sweeping views back to the big lake *
Hard work on mixed terrain **
String of lakes & the Bouillouses plateau *
Stage 35
PL: Barrage Bouillouses *
PL: The Dolmen at Col de la Perche ***
PL: Noah's promise *
Stage 36
Dawn light on the Carlit range ***
Steeper snowfields approaching the main ridge *
Virgin snow, sometimes rocky *
Snow capped peaks & deep corries ***
PL: To the un-known dead at Fossa del Gegant *
Stage 37
The dragons back; Les Esquerdes de Rotja
A portal to the south *
The snow left far behind **
Canigou's Orrhy *
PL: At 2300m in the Pyrenees ?! **
Stage 38
A staircase of sorts *
Far beneath, business as usual I *
Approach; Peak of the three winds
PL: Far beneath, business as usual II *
PL: With a view to find *
PL: A dark brooding **
Stage 39
PL: Mature beech forest *
PL: Prayer and thanksgiving *
PL: School of thought **
Stage 40
A forest homestead *
PL: First snow on the Canigou Massif *
Stage 41
PL: Noted Roman passage *
PL: Monolithic v. tarmac *
PL: Stronghold *
Stage 42
A curious art; topiaried hollies I *
The end in sight; Banyuls sur Mer **
A line of rocky fins *
Beside the viewfinder *
PL: A curious art; topiaried hollies II **
PL: Welcome vineyard *
PL: Ultimate milestone *
PL: Sea fever *
Epilogue: Pavel Lis
PL: Portrait **
PL: Last light ***