Our Moveable Feats

September 14, 2024

Aumont-Aubrac -> Montgros

Feeling refreshed and still dazzled from the night’s epicurean spree, we sprung out of A-A with nice vibes.

The procession continued, among familiar pine forests, edging upwards…

There were considerably more fellow walkers today, making ‘passing protocol’ awkward at times, especially with long stretches of narrow trail – we went around singles, split couples, clacked our poles in warning… it being le samedi, day-trippers (in gaggles) were out in force. Also, we’ve learned this area is the confluence of 2-3 other major hiking routes, so, a cavalcade it was at times!

About halfway, the terrain unfurled into grassy plains; S tried for cinematic inspiration: ‘this looks like Rohan from the Lord of the Rings!’

T: ‘then where’s my frickin’ horse ?!?’

The land is criss-crossed with lines of stone (‘drailles’), surrounding lumps of granite and cow.

It was so windy under a boundless sky! We were glad to have the breeze mostly behind us, but any stop caused a shudder within a minute.

A wasp sting and a blister slowed us up, but we made our first ‘wobble’ off the official chemin, to the celebrated ‘Cascade du Déroc’ which was nice and all, but we do waterfalls way better!

Longest day yet, a ‘metric marathon’!