In August 2006 I made my first backpacking assault on the Pyrenees, encouraged by Andy Howell's enthusiasm for the area, and the week I'd spent taking a look around the year before.

I walked a section of the Haute Route (or High Level Route) between Borce and Gavarnie, and it was an absolute revelation. Sunshine, beautiful scenery, a profusion of lovely flowers, lizards and wee creatures, interesting food in the Refuges and a complete absence of biting insects!

My tent was a Terra Nova Laser Competition--perfect!-- and all the piccies were taken with a Canon Powershot A95.

Incidentally, I made a podcast with Andy Howell of The Outdoors Station about this walk, and the books and maps I used to plan it, and if you'd like to hear it then you can download the MP3 here or go over to The Outdoors Station, scroll down to the bottom of the page and listen to a streaming version here.