Helen and Gaël - your guides

Helen

Although born and brought up in England upto my early teens, I have spent most of my life in the south of France and now live with Gaël my husband in a tiny village in the Pyrenean foothills.

After 8 years in Toulouse doing scientific research work and a Ph.D. degree, I decided to quit life in the city and set myself up as a mountain guide. Having passed the 2 year long French mountain leader course, I am now a qualified mountain guide and organise all kinds of walking and snow-shoe activities from easy strolls to strenuous high mountain hikes.

All of our day trips out are great for discovering the Pyrénées - why not join one of them and mix with French hikers for an authentic day out. I have also designed specific holidays for English people wanting to visit the Pyrénées : High Mountain Hiking in the Central Pyrénées and Aragon Canyon Walking (Spanish Pyrénées).

I also work as a freelance specialised biomedical translator, translating documents both from French to English and from English to French. See Pyratus Translation.

Gaël

Gaël quit his job in Toulouse at Christmas 2008 to follow Helen down the mountain adventure path. After 12 years working as a software architect in a major pharmaceutical company, he is now training to become a mountain leader. He has already passed partial qualifications and can guide in the mountains this summer (he should get his winter qualifications for next year).

Gaël has recently discovered himself a passion : donkeys ! His collegues gave him two donkeys (Shinto and Utopia) as a leaving present from work and now their number is up to four with the arrival of Scoub and Aladin. He’s in charge of donkey logistics !