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A great goal for spending a day hiking on the GR10?!
As children, my parents, keen hikers, took advantage of the Tour de France to take us up these famous passes, via the trails, from the valleys. A good way to avoid the road closures the day before, and a good motivation for everyone: a great day of hiking, participation in this cycling event, the atmosphere and... the publicity caravan for us children!
On July 13, 2021, the weather was neither very nice nor very hot.
However, the passage of the Tour de France is always a celebration... that everyone experiences in their own way!
Departure from Esbintz (a few km above Seix) for around 2 hours of climbing on the GR10.
It's been raining pretty heavily all the way to the pretty Tariole cabin (1169m), maintained by the commune of Sentenac d'Oust. I'm happy to find refuge there, take off my raincoat, put on some dry clothes, eat a bite, and browse the guestbook and its treasure trove of testimonies.
I think of the happiness of hikers on the GR10, who find these providential cabins on their way, with a little dry wood inside (which they will of course replenish ;).
A lull! And as good things come in pairs: four people are also sharing a break with me at the cabin. These Toulouse residents, loyal visitors to Ariège, knew little about the Couserans region and are taking advantage of the Tour's passage to discover our valleys and the Col de la Core.
As I set off again, I came across a camp of Périgourdins on the Aube trail, with whom I shared a friendly glass of wine!
I arrive at the summit and open the gate that prevents animals from getting on the bikes, I emerge directly under the arch of this 1st category summit. I meet and exchange a lot there: that's the "Tour de France atmosphere"! Let me introduce you to:
- two young people from the local club “Couserans Cycliste” riding their bikes with several other enthusiasts,
- Christof – German hiker, from Bremen, who is doing the GR10 in 4 stages: this year he is on the Luchon-Mérens section
- Yonas and Max, also cycling, but from the other side, since Max works at the Relais Montagnard in Bonac-Irazein. For them, the Tour's passage was an opportunity for a great climb of the mountain pass by bike with friends!
- Pauline and Fabien, from Aude, who chose to stop at the Col de la Core to see the Tour, before returning home
- Not forgetting Daniel and Raymond, the Vendée campervan friends, who discovered the Couserans as children while staying at the Couflens Mountain Centre, the “lady at the café” for joking GR10stes, etc.
Then the advertising caravan which brought me back to my childhood memories, and finally the runners and their incredible courage between km, elevation changes and extreme weather conditions: the sports summary here!
The Tour de France is legendary, and everyone loves it (or not) in their own way.
I strongly advise you to take advantage of this event which crosses our beautiful Ariège almost every year in the summer, to discover beautiful hikes from secret valleys, towards the Pyrenees Passes which you may not yet know...
