Back country Telemark in the

Hight Pyrenees (France)

Five ski station just around : a lot of off piste routes from the lifts

The Pyrenees have a little-known, yet extensive network of ski resorts set in beautiful, unspoilt country. While the piste-skiing here is excellent, there are huge areas of undeveloped skiable terrain, so it is easy to get off the beaten tracks and into the real mountains. Taking advantage of the ski lift system !

Cauterets : The ski area is situated between 1730 and 2450 meters and is part of the better snow-covered mountains of the Pyrenean ranges. The Cirque du Lys, the kingdom of alpine skiing, offers you its 36 kilometers of ski runs, always snow-covered .

Barèges : A small charming montain village at 1250 m altitude, remown ski and spa resort at the foot of the Col du Tourmalet and the Pic du Midi du Bigorre, Barèges has kept it's charm as an authentic village whilst having the largest skiing area in the Pyrénées. Bareges La Mongie the largest ski area in the french Pyrenees !

Luz ardiden :http://external.skiinfo.com/external/s4/alpine_map.jsp?product.skiinfo.DESTID=EFRLUZARDIDE&USERLANG=en

Gavarnie : Considered the cradle of “Pyreneisme” and heir to a long mountaineering tradition, the Gavarnie-Gedre ski resort offers an imposing high-altitude decor accessible to everyone owing to the ski area. Our snowfall enjoys a solid reputation of being generous throughout the season, thus guaranteeing excellent skiing pleasure for everyone

Hautacam :a small ski area very interesting to begin back country ski tours

Back country skiing in the national parc

It is a unique territory, endowed with an exceptional natural heritage.The Pyrenees National Park is made up of two zones : The central zone (45 705 hectars) is almost uninhabited and is subject to reinforced protection. It is in this area that the most spectacular landscapes are to be seen. The peripheral area is a kind of pre-park on the edge of the central zone. It has 86 villages and 40 000 inhabitants.

the Pyrenees are an ideal place to get off the beaten tracks and into the real mountains. At any period in winter you’ll find very good snow conditions. Powder in the west and north mountainsides, spring snow in the east and south mountainsides. All kind off routes with slopes of 25 degree to 50 degree and snow crests.

There are a multitude of routes through that part of the Pyrenees (seven vallee country), one life is not enought to do them all !

Accomodation in the gite : Relais isaby - Access

Very well situated to choose one of the seven vallee interesting to ski

Pierre the owner and telemark instructor guide you freely every where you want to go !

Links :

http://isabyblog.blogspot.com

http://www.skisylvio.com/tri/pays/valleegaves.htm

http://www.remi-thivel.com/photos/archpyr/skirandojanvier2004/index.html

http://www.pyrenees-rando.new.fr