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JEREMY TAYLOR: WRITER - TEACHER - JUGGLER
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The Pyrenees in Winter The Pyrenees are beautiful in any season but with a dusting of snow on the peaks - together with possibility of skiing and snow shoeing, they are particularly special. Watch out for avalanches - or more sensibly, avalanche warnings. People are killed every year in the Pyrenees. |
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Taken in February 2005, this is near Artouste on the way to the Col du Portalet. Specially prepared tracks are ideal for either cross country skiing or snow shoeing. |
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Here is Jeremy in the hills above Gourette. While he is not a fan of the resort itself, he is a big fan of the superb mountains around it. |
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With the closure of Artouste, more and more skiers come to Gourette. There are enough lifts and there is enough room on the pistes. The problem? Not enough car parks. Is that what the Pyrenees needs? More car parks? |
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The pistes are well maintained and skiing here is cheaper than in the Alps. |
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And the pistes are not too crowded. They have put in new facilities for beginners including a 'magic carpet' which is a stairless escalator for taking you up an incline. |
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Sorry Tenzing and Hillary, Jeremy got there first. |
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Doesn't it make you want to set off with an old fertlisier bag, climb up the peak, and slide down again? Well, each to his (or her) own. |
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Near the Col du Somport is a good cross country sking area. You do have to pay to go on the prepared tracks but it is not expensive - nor is renting the equipment. You should be able to have a good day out for about 12 euros. |
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Is he 'The Angel of the North'? Or perhaps Jesus overlooking Rio? Or perhaps just a wally standing on a rock? |
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Just in case there was any doubt about Jeremy's sanity... It was minus eleven at the time. |
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If you're lucky enough to get a cloudless sky and wonderfully cold weather, then you can take wonderful pictures like this one. |
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or this one. |
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The snow has melted from many of the peaks by about June though there are permanent glaciers in the Pyrenees. |
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New webpage! Lescun in Winter Want to see more of the Pyrenees? Hiking in the Pyrenees Flora and Fauna Main Photo Gallery Home |
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