Pyrenees

A southern view into Spain

The mountain valleys of the French Pyrenees  are a paradise for hikers.  There are routes for just about every level of hiking expertise that offer splendid views of the mountains, and often interaction with the wandering herds of cows and sheep that pass the summer in the high pastures.  The Vallée d’Ossau, just south of […]

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The mountain valleys of the French Pyrenees  are a paradise for hikers.  There are routes for just about every level of hiking expertise that offer splendid views of the mountains, and often interaction with the wandering herds of cows and sheep that pass the summer in the high pastures.  The Vallée d’Ossau, just south of

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Patou at work

Somewhere along the GR10 in the central Pyrenees mountains, a Great Pyrenees sheepdog protecting its troop of sheep.  Know as a “Patou” in the local dialect, these are guard dogs, not herders.  That job falls to another dog, usually a border collie or other herding specialist. Thanks to Doug McDonnal and Lisa St. George (who

Patou at work Read More »

Slide 1

Somewhere along the GR10 in the central Pyrenees mountains, a Great Pyrenees sheepdog protecting its troop of sheep.  Know as a “Patou” in the local dialect, these are guard dogs, not herders.  That job falls to another dog, usually a border collie or other herding specialist. Thanks to Doug McDonnal and Lisa St. George (who

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Transhumance in the Vallée d’Aspe

The transhumance is the practice of moving livestock to high mountain pastures as the weather warms in early summer.  As I learned when I visited the Fromagerie Écologique Agour Irati, this ancient practice has economic and culinary roots. Moving the flock to communal mountain pastures in the summer allows the farmer to use his land

Transhumance in the Vallée d’Aspe Read More »

Slide 1

The transhumance is the practice of moving livestock to high mountain pastures as the weather warms in early summer.  As I learned when I visited the Fromagerie Écologique Agour Irati, this ancient practice has economic and culinary roots. Moving the flock to communal mountain pastures in the summer allows the farmer to use his land

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