THE ALPINE JOURNAL

London, England

November 1900

(page 249)

A PYRENEAN CENTRE.

By Henri Brulle

. . .

After crossing the Brèche d' Allanz one penetrates into the Cirque of Estaubé, less imposing, no doubt, than that of Gavarnie, but with crests which afford very fine and sometimes hard scaling. Its most salient peaks are the Roc d'Estaubé (2,720 m.), the Pointe de la Fenêtre (2,650 m.?), the Pic de Pinède (2,866 m.), and the Cime de Tuquweouye (2,822 m.); although in another valley their ascents can easily be made in one day from Gavarnie.

Another ridge with towers immediately above the village to the N.W., and which seem to attract nobody's attention, is, however, well worth mentioning. It is mainly composed of the Pic Blanc de Sécugnac (2,573 m.) and its prolongation. On both sides the peak is defended by a formidable brèche. After having cleared, from the east, a smooth limestone steeple, followed by a gully with a very 'Cumberland-like'* pitch, we failed in an attempt to descend on the opposite side.

. . .

*—In two brief visits to Wastdale Hotel I had the good luck to scale Napes Needle, Steep Ghyll, Moss Ghyll, Deep Ghyll, and the Keswick Brothers' Climb, under the guidance, for the two first, of Mr. E. A. Crowley, and for the others of Mr. A. E. W. Garrett, two gentlemen whom I met by chance and whose extreme kindness I can never forget.