July 29th Cauterets

With a lot of uphill to start the day I was ready to go by first light.
Initially very steeply through forest, then upward along the side of a valley before a very steep ascent to the Col d'Ilheou. All but ths last few minutes in shade from a mountainside.
I was very glad I had the late start and stopover the day before, it would have been hard in the full heat of the day.
Then it was down to the lake and refuge of Ilheou.
One traverse was a bit hairy for me, then around a bend came 20 5 and 6 year old children with 4 adults. That put things in perspective.
From the refuge it was mostly a rough track, with many people coming up from the car park.
After the car park it was down a wooded path  besides a river to Cauterets.
Whilst having a coffee outside a bar along came Patrick, a French-Canadian I had met at Arrens.
I went to the same campsite as he was staying at.