Luckily, we were up early and filled our water bottles before the water ran out. Today’s walk took us uphill away from the refuge, then across boulder fields as we worked our way round two massive corries. Great scenery again of the massive granite mountains around us. We had a fairly short climb to our highest point of the day, before another big descent started. The first descent took us down into a valley, then along it, before another big descent to the next valley. We stopped at a small lake, along with lots of day trippers, and I had a quick paddle. Then it was off down again, finally walking down one of the old cart tracks built between granite boulders, with lots of terracing. We were running out of cash, required at some of the refuges, so dashed to the station and caught a train (15 minutes late) to the town of Ax Les Thermes, which had several ATMs. We stocked up on cash, and had time for a fizzy drink and cake, before going back to the station. Thunder clouds were building as we waited, and when we got back to Merens-les-Vals the thunder and lightning were going off and we could see rain in the distance. I suggested a taxi, but Christine insisted on walking and we reached the auberge twenty minutes later. The rain never came as we sat and had a drink before dinner.
Max elevation: 2505 m
Total climbing: 537 m
Max elevation: 1147 m
Total climbing: 90 m
You were lucky that the trains worked. In December, we took a train from Toulouse to Foix (on the same line) to meet Moray, Alba and Silas. Alba, Silas and I drove back to Toulouse while Iain and Moray took the train. The train only took them one stop and then stopped unexpectedly. We got a phone call just as we drove into Toulouse and had to go back to collect them and then we all had to cram into the car to go back to Toulouse…
(But the views of the mountains from Foix were great.)