Day 9, Jun 22, 2024
From Larrau to Sainte-Engrâce
27.4 km hiked, 18.4% complete

After the 2 km from our campsite to the start of the next section,  we left the road and commenced a steep climb up a gorge. The track was both rocky and wet, and we had to concentrate on every step. After about 45 minutes , we came to the pedestrian suspension bridge that we had read about in the guidebook. It is a great piece of engineering,  designed by an Italian engineer in 1920. Once on the other side of the river, our path continued up, but back in the other direction.

Some of the trail was along sheep tracks, and other sections took us steeply up through pastures. Much of the path was muddy and often churned up by cattle. Slipping and stumbling at times was inevitable. We were happy, however, that the rain largely held off – we only experienced a few light showers, and the overcast sky kept the temperatures down.

We stopped at the top of a saddle for a bite of lunch. We enjoyed some local produce – a tomato and some goat’s cheese with rice crackers. Then it was downhill, steeply, first on a road,  then steeply down through pastures and,  strangely, a long descent along a rocky and muddy creek bed.  More slipping.

As we approached the end of the section,  we found road signs directing us to the hostel where we planned to stay. Unfortunately, the track had been rerouted, and we had to retrace our steps just when we thought we were almost at the end.

The first hostel was closed for guests, and we were directed another 800m up the road to another place. Happily, they have room for us to set up camp in the field at the back of their buildings. We pay 10 euro per person to camp and the use of hot showers and there is a restaurant where we will buy dinner.