Pyratus Montagne - Accompagnement en montagne et location d'ânes dans le Comminges et les Pyrénées

Snowshoeing around Luchon

Helen Mundutéguy — 2009-07-15T16:23:22Z

Brief description:

3 or 7 days
grade: moderate
location: Luchon valley (Central Pyrenees)
accomodation in a small hotel in Luchon
equipment provided (snowshoes, poles, kit ARVA)

The Luchon range is one of the highest in the Pyrenees with its 14 three-thousanders. This region is also formed of many lower, gentler-sloped peaks that are ideal for snowshoeing outings and that provide an outstanding view towards the main chain.

We offer two holidays in the Luchon valley of either 3 or 5 days.

Trip details:
This is 3 or 7 day centre-based holiday with outings every day with snowshoes (5 days walking for the 7 day holiday). The venues will depend on the amount of snow but here are a few examples:
a loop in the mountain forest in the Vallée d'Oueil
Espiau mountains
walk above Luchon with a view over the whole valley
etc.

Accomodation and porterage

Full board in a small familly hotel in Luchon (twin rooms). A warm welcome and great cuisine. Porterage: just your kit for a day outing.

Grade - moderate

This holiday contains walks with climbs of up to 1000m at the most. Don't forget that snowshoeing is much harder work than summer walking because you have to lift your feet so much higher!

Prices:

3-day holiday: 239 €/guest (approx. £213)
7-day holiday: 546 €/guest (approx. £486)

Guaranteed departure: minimum 4 guests. Equipment provided (snowshoes, poles, kit ARVA).

Our price includes guiding, transfers by minibus around Luchon, equipment (snowshoes, poles, kit ARVA), accomodation and meals (from the evening meal on day 1 to the end of the trip). The price does not include flights or any other means of travel to and from the meeting point at the start and end of the holiday.

Transfers from airports to Luchon are not included but can be arranged at an extra cost.

Habilitation tourisme N° HA 031 09 0003.

Capcir

Helen Mundutéguy — 2009-07-15T07:49:50Z

Brief description:

3 ou 5 days
grade: easy to moderate
location: Capcir (Eastern Pyrenees)
accomodation in mountain huts
equipment provided (snowshoes, poles, kit ARVA)

The Capcir region near Font Romeu in the Eastern Pyrenees is on an ancient high glaciar plateau where the minimum altitude is as high as 1600m (higher than Ben Nevis!). It's a great place for snowshoeing with vast white of snow just waiting to be trampled. We'll be crossing frozen lakes, walking between the mountain pines and sleeping in mountain huts far from everything. Try it!

We offer either a 3 day or 5 day holiday.

Trip details:
3 days:
Day 1: gentle climb to the Bouillouses hut and lake
Day 2 and 3: round trip under the Puig Peric with night at the Camporells hut.

5 days:
Day 1: gentle climb to the Bouillouses hut and lake
Day 2: we'll head for the Camporells hut via a peak that will give us a view over the entire Capcir region.
Day 3: round trip to discover the frozen estanys (lakes)
Day 4: Coma de Grava valley
Day 5: we'll make our way back down but via a climb to the estany d'Auda

Accomodation and porterage

In mountain huts. In the winter time, the dormitories of mountain huts are often not heated but the keepers provide plenty of blankets. The atmosphere in a hut in the winter is something special and is, in itself, well worth the trip. The keeper will cook us great hot meals with plenty of soup to warm you up after a day snowshoeing.

Porterage: you'll be carrying a medium to large-sized bag (40-50 litres) with your warm clothes and picnics (no sleeping bag, the huts provide blankets).

Grade - easy to moderate

This trip does not contain any obligatory hard climbs (maximum of about 400m in a day) - we can always do more if wanted! However, you'll quickly discover that snowshoeing is quite a bit more tiring than summer walking because you have to lift your feet so much higher.

Prices:

3-day holiday: 261 €/guest (approx. £232)
5-day holiday: 460 €/guest (approx. £410)

Guaranteed departure: minimum 4 guests. Equipment provided (snowshoes, poles, kit ARVA).

Transfers from airports to Luchon are not included but can be arranged at an extra cost.

Habilitation tourisme N° HA 031 09 0003.

Prices 2009-2010

Helen Mundutéguy — 2009-07-14T10:23:56Z

Here are our prices for next summer and this winter:

	1/2 day	full day
guided trip (individual bookings) (mountain or foothill walks)	17 €/pers	26 €/pers
guided family trip (individual bookings) (at least 4 guests)	14 €/pers	22 €/pers
donkey hire	18 €	34 €
guide fees (for groups) (maximum 12 guests)	100 €	170 €

NB:

guaranteed departure from 4 guests, unless otherwise stated
donkey hire does not include a guide

For any other prices and for tailor-made holidays: contact us directly.

Snowshoeing prices for this winter 2009-2010:

	1/2 day	full day
snowshoe walk (individual bookings) adults/teenagers	23 €/pers	30 €/pers
family snowshoe walk (individual bookings) (children aged 6-12)	17 €/pers	25 €/pers
guiding fees (for groups) (maximum 10 guests)	120 €	200 €

These prices include winter equipment: snowshoes, poles, ARVA kit.

These prices include:
your guides: either Helen Mundutéguy, fully qualified European mountain leader; or Gaël Mundutéguy, junior mountain leader (summer activities);
professional civil liability for both guides;

These prices do not include:
personal expenses and drinks;
visits that are not listed in the trip details;
your own personal insurance for injury, repatriation and medical expenses (check your insurance covers mountain sports, hiking or trekking).

Helen Mundutéguy holds a "Habilitation tourisme". Some of the prices advertised (essentially for the holidays) are all inclusive. Habilitation tourisme n° HA 031 09 0003

The pilgrim's donkey trail

Helen Mundutéguy — 2009-07-14T15:14:16Z

In brief:
7 days / 6 nights
grade: moderate
6 days point-to-point donkey walking
accomodation: camping, guest houses and hotels
visits of St Lizier and St Bertrand de Comminges
price: 600 €/guest (approx. £534)
guaranteed departure: minimum 4 guests

A week travelling with the donkeys as did the pilgrims on their way to Sanitago to Compostella. We'll be following the general direction of the "voie du Piedmont", the foothill route to Santiago, but leaving it now and again to take time to visit the mountains and see the best spots. We'll leave from near St Lizier and end up in St Bertrand de Comminges, two of the major cities of the region in the Middle-Ages, bustling with life and stories to tell.

Trip details:

Day 1: we'll start off with a visit of St Lizier before finding the donkeys walking to our first camping spot.

Day 2: a great view of the high peaks of this part of Ariege before heading down into the Bellongue valley.

Day 3: tiny villages, mountain passes and woodlands and rest at the Solayan guest house where sauna and jacuzzi await.

Day 4: we'll follow the donkeys and climb upwards to spend a night in a shepherd's hut. Camp fire and stories about the bears (or donkeys!).

Day 5: ascent of the Cagire peak (1912m) via the "donkey'sstep" for a stunning view in a directions. Downhill walk to the lodge in Moncaup.

Day 6: this last leg of the journey will take us to St Bertrand de Comminges, a beautiful medieval village with an enormous cathedral. Night at a hotel in St Bertrand.

Day 7: free morning to rest and visit the village, transfer back to St Lizier before lunch. End of the trip.

Accomodation and porterage:

1 night camping in tents and 1 night in a dormitory in a shepherd's hut with meals provided by the guide. 2 nights in guest houses and 2 nights in hotels (twin rooms).

The donkeys will carry most of our luggage but you will carry a rucksack every day with your water, picnic and extra clothing (about 30-40 litres).

Prices: Our price includes guiding, transfers by minibus, accomodation and meals (dinner on day1 and breakfast on day 8). The price does not include flights or any other means of travel to and from the meeting point at the start and end of the holiday.

Walk grades

gwelboul — 2008-05-21T17:34:32Z

Walking in high mountains is quite different from walking through the English countryside and it can be quite helpful to train yourself if you decide to join up on a week-long high mountain trek.

Some trips involve substantial uphill climb, walking out of frequently used paths or even not on paths at all, so it is really important to choose the grade that suits you so that you enjoy your holiday at its best.

Don't forget - if you overestimate your abilities, then it'll firstly spoil your holiday and then that of the people you'll be trekking with.

Here's some information on how I grade my walks and treks to help you choose properly:

Easy: for those who have never done any mountain walking but are ready to give it a go. A day walking with last from 4 to 5 hours (breaks not included), and the average uphill climb will be of about 300 to 500m (900 to 1200 ft).

Moderate: you walk or do some kind of sport quite frequently. A day out can mean from 700 to 1000m uphill climbing (2100 to 3000 ft) in about 6 hours. Some portions can be off paths, walking across grassy slopes or easy ground.

Strenuous: uphill climbs of over 1000m (3000 ft), 7 to 8 hours walking per day with portions off paths on steep slopes, scree, etc. Only for experienced walkers used to mountain hikes. Good physical condition required.

For families and children

Helen Mundutéguy — 2009-07-15T16:56:02Z

For families and children, we propose especially designed outings (usually one day) to discover the mountains under a big layer of snow.
We find animal tracks and decide what kind of animal they belong to and what they were doing in the snow and have an igloo building competition. Plenty of activities for a great day out. - For families and children

Contact us

gwelboul — 2008-05-22T13:42:56Z

Helen and Gaël Mundutéguy - Hutchings
Hameau de Lôo
31510 Sauveterre de Comminges
FRANCE

And where's that? In the central area of the Pyrenean foothills. Away from any of the main roads, Sauveterre de Comminges is located between the small town of Saint Gaudens and the much visited village of Saint Bertrand de Commines. Sauveterre de Comminges is surrounded by gentle hills and woodlands and is not far (1/2 hour) from the start fo some of the Pyrenees' best climbs. Thanks to Google you can now see photos and maps of where we are.

Ici devrait s'afficher la carte à l'aide de Google Maps. Si cela ne fonctionne pas, vous avez peut-être le javascript désactivé.

The GPS coordinates are:
43° 03' 12'' North
0° 40' 55'' East

Don't hesitate to get in touch:

by phone +33 (0)561 956 041 / or GSM +33 (0)620 75 8 697
or
by email: contact@pyratus.com
or
leave a message below:

In France, a state qualification is required by law to be able to work as a freelance mountain guide.

Only two qualifications allow their holder to work as a mountain walking/trekking guide :
high mountain guides (also alpine climbing, skiing, sport climbing ...)
mountain leaders (walking and snowshoeing).

We are qualified French/Eurpean mountain leaders.

Helen Mundutéguy :
Mountain Leader (Brevet d'Etat d'Alpinisme, 1er degré)
State authorisation (DRDJS 31): n° 03107ED0288

Gaël Mundutéguy:
Junior mountain leader
State authorisation (DRDJS 31): n° ED005186

N° SIRET (company registraton number): 491 516 340 00016

Helen and Gaël - your guides

Helen Mundutéguy — 2007-03-25T16:51:39Z

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!