Nonrefundable Prepayment at Refuge-Orisson

[Oak Hill Walkers]

I've got reservations at the Refuge-Orisson for 31 August 2010. The proprietor wants a 31 Euro non-refundable deposit via PayPal. If bad weather sets in, we'll be forced to take the Route Valcarlos and lose our deposit. Proprietor says the weather should be fine on 31 August.

So what constitutes 'bad weather' for the the Route Napoleon? If there is only heavy fog, not snow or storms, would we lose our way because we could not see route markings? Good chance to get two unreserved spaces at Refuge-Orisson if we arrive by 12:00 (Refuge-Orisson has only 18 spaces)?

We are determined to cut the 15-mile day from SJdP to Roncesvalle in half, so secured reservations are a must for this paranoid soul.

[Covey]

I have never heard of freezing weather on top in August, but last year in early July I went "over the top" in visibility of 5-10M max most of the way. It was not really cold, but was very wet.

The route to the top is road all the way. At the top there is a cairn/marker where you turn right off the road and go across country for a while. If the visibility is very bad on top, then it is not that difficult to lose your way in places.

I have not walked the lower "bad weather route" but will be this year on 4th Sept, just to see what it is like. The lower route has a 400m lesser climb and there are places to stay on the way.

The owners of Orisson are covering their risks, because if the weather is really bad, then most will opt for the lower route, and they have no guests that night.

The weather "should" be OK, but there is no guarantee until you leave St Jean at dawn and see what it is actually doing. The weather can change in 30 minutes on top, and has done before whilst I have been walking through.

In August I would not bet on finding space at Orisson without a booking, because last year I asked and they were already fully booked when I asked at the Pilgrim Office in St Jean the evening before.

If the weather is good, then the views from the top are spectacular, so my advice would be to book in advance so you know you have a bed, and take a chance on the view.

[Oak Hill Walkers]

Covey,

I went ahead and booked the Refuge-Orisson for 31 August. Just as long as the way is marked we should not become lost like when we lost our way in the mist atop Loft Beck on the Wainwright Coast to Coast walk in 2004. I think I'll spend some time on Google Earth studying the cross county route that turns off to the right at the cairn/marker.

[Covey]

Good idea.

If you meet a grey haired Brit who is grumbling about the price of gin, you will know I have caught up with you!!