Cooler temperatures at Pic du Midi d'Ossau

To escape the heat wave we went into the mountains, the ones that are so close, the ones whose existence it is so easy to forget. But there they were, ready and welcoming, cool and still snowy.

Approaching the Pic, South face coming into the view. Surprisingly short approach (400 vertical meters, about 1hr 20 to the hut with normal pace) brings us into the close contact.

With very nice weather, we were able to climb the South East Direct route in a long and painful day. The two hard pitches, at 6b+ and 6c, were hard, and the climbing was still very sustained, especially in the higher part of the wall.

Javi coming up to the anchor before the first hard 6b+ pitch.

And myself following somewhere low on the route.