Walk Along Ridge above Coune Hiournède

After breakfast the others faffed getting rope, etc. ready for an exchange trip between the Gouffre des Pyrénois and Grotte de Pènne Blanque. In the end they decided that all would go to the entrance of the Gouffre d. P. so that those exiting there could find their way back to the cars, then some would head for the Grotte d. P. B., including Boyd who had already been to that entrance.
After they left, Karen and I drove the few kilometres to the nearby village of Arbas to see if we could buy some fresh bread but the shop was closed. We then tried the town of Aspet as we had passed a boulangerie there before and maybe also get some more carrots for the donkeys. We managed to get the bread at the boulangerie but the "Casino" supermarket doesn't open on Mondays!
So we had a wander around Aspet the returned to the gite for lunch.
After lunch we drove up to the Fontaine de L'Ours car park and followed the rough track leading past Trou Mile, etc. which led to open pasture with the Poque Pi Cabane (hut). We stopped beside the hut for a rest while a Pyrenean Mountain Dog kept an eye on us while he lay in the shade beside the hut. Steve White and Pete Wagstaff had a close encounter with one of these dogs while out walking a few days ago. They are trained to guard flocks of sheep and do their job very well!
There as a young horse among the sheep on the hillside opposite and it seemed to be lost as it kept neighing and followed us for a bit. We spotted another three horses of the same age on the crest of the ridge above and presumed the lost horse was looking for them.
We followed the marked footpath up to the crest of the ridge by the Tuc de Harrades then followed the waymarked route along the crest of the ridge watching several large birds of prey gliding long the valley beside us, in pairs.
In the distance to the South and South-West and South-East were mountain after mountain of the Pyrenees, a beautiful view.
When we reached the top of the Pas de l'Ane we could see several large Gryphon Vultures perched on the summit of the nearby hill of Tuc de Tucol. We took several photos of the Gryphon Vultures about 150 metres away, then as we got nearer they took off, including many we couldn't see on the other side of the small summit. Karen counted 28 Gryphon Vultures altogether as they soared around us about 40 metres above.
We dropped down the small Pas de l'Ane then up the other side walking over the area where the Vultures had been perched then started down the other side watching out for the path which leads down back to the car park.
In the trees ahead we could see a rough shelter and when we were about 50 metres away a Pyrenean Mountain Dog appeared and started towards us barking loudly. We skirted below where the dog was keeping about 50 metres away. Luckily, although the dog continued barking until we were out of site, it came no nearer. This turned out to be the animal Steve and Pete had encountered the other day!
We had seen the sign for the footpath we needed and headed for that. When we got there, there ere some sheep nearby so we didn't hang around in case the dog arrived!
After this we followed the path as it wended and zigzagged its way down through deciduous woods until we arrived back at the track to the car park, about 60 metres from the car.
An excellent walk with lovely views - Pyrenean Mountain Dogs notwithstanding.
Poor old Elaine had set off earlier to do much the same walk and found most of the ridge enveloped in low cloud and mist. Luckily it had all cleared when Karen and I arrived.