39   Ax-les-thermes - Port de Pailhéres  22 km

Ax-les-thermes

Port de Pailhéres                             22 km

The trail started with a steep climb and conditued climbing all day. It ran basically paralel to road D 25. Most of it was quite hikeable but for the last part. The last bit up to the road was bad and got worst before finally reaching a bridge across river La Lauze. From there we followed the road to the pass at Port de Pailhéres. Shortly before reaching the road the weather turned bad. We hiked either in rain or in the clouds with less and less vision with increasing elevation. Finally we arrived at the top and could hardly see the stone shelter by the road. Inside it was cold but at least dry. We had our dinner at the table and set up our sleeping bags on the benches.

Than we got a visitor. A man came in and talked with us a bit about our hike and left again. A short while later a car stopped outside and the man now with his wife returned. They had rented a nearby chalet and invited us to stay at their place for the night. We gladly accepted, packed ur things and where driven down to their place. Here we had a nice shower, got a second dinner and talked for a while. We where really lucky. Instead of a cold place in the clouds we had a nice and warm place to stay. Thank you so much trail angels.

Fountain in Ax-les-thermes

Thermal baths of Teich

View back of Ax-les-thermes

Uphill into the clouds

The view constantly became worst during the ascent to Port de Pailhéres

Inside the cold shelter at Port de Pailhéres