Another difference between the Basque area and the Alpine area of France is the presence of livestock guardian dogs (Great Pyrenees). Somewhere along the Pyrenees there are some wolves and reintroduced brown bears. People rarely see them, and there is no cause to fear them, unless you’re a sheep. Many signs in French which I cannot read, but I know they say to stay clear of the dogs because they will bite you.

I’ve seen several flocks guarded by dogs, only one which was close enough to cause me to alter my course. The dogs sit up on a hill overlook king the flock, just like the cartoon character from my childhood.

Lescun, a village with quite a backdrop.

Another old spring-fed water fountain, in Lescun.

On the path up to Col d’Ayous (just another climb), the horses form a circle because the flies are horrendous (presumably that’s why)

So much livestock is on the grazable land here, major erosion is common.

At the top of Col d’Ayous, with the famous mountain Pic du Midi d’Ossau in the background.

From my camping spot the next morning.

I ‘bivy camped’ (tent camped) on a field in front of Refuge D’Asou. I ate dinner and breakfast there but didn’t want to be in a crowded refuge overnight.

On my way up the highest pass yet, Hourquette D’Arre, I met a shepherd. He didn’t speak English and I don’t speak French, but we still had some sort of conversation. I told him that his sheep were ‘magnific,’ which they were. Thick and healthy and only one lame one in the group. Earlier in the trip, I noticed a lot of scraggly lame sheep, worthy of dragon food actually. There must be foot rot in this area, which is a bacteria that causes very sore feet in sheep; hard to get rid of. Anyways, this guy rocked.

I rushed to the top because the sky was getting cloudy and rumbly.

The other side. I’m heading to the left 🙂

I made camp down by the lake. One of the nicest spots yet.