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Unmanned hut (refuge forestier) at Mariailles
When I stayed at the unmanned Pla Guilhem hostel last year, I said to myself I would come back when the vast plateau was covered in snow. Yesterday I was there again.
I slept in the Refuge forestier, not far from the Mariailles hostel, which is closed until 28 April.
Refuge du Pla Guilhem in the snow 19 April 2017
In the morning I climbed up to the plateau and paid a brief visit to the hut. The door was half hidden under the snow, but opens inwards. Inside, more snow blown through small holes in the windows.
Looking west (towards Nuria) from the Pic des Sept Hommes. The arrow indicates the refuge du Pla Guilhem.
On the way up to the Pic des Sept Hommes (2650m) my water bottles started freezing. The three hoods and woollen hat I was wearing were not enough; I had to cut a hole into the hat to convert it into a balaclava. My walking poles were blown around like pendulums.
Canigou seen from the Pic des Sept Hommes.
But in the patches where the snow had gone, purple crocuses were beginning to flower.
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Footprints on the mountains