Quote Originally Posted by Pyrenees Haven View Post
Looking forward to this years race, hoping the weather will be kind being a little earlier.

Intrigued by a 3rd route option off the summit. Gary says from the trig point go straight down, then keep left along the ridge line, making sure you are not tempted to drop into the valley, he becomes a bit evasive at this point at says 'at some point' turn right and drop straight down to the checkpoint at the bridge. He claims there are no big bogs or reed sections if you follow his advice... Having said that he did manage to get lost on the summit plateau one year..!

Debbie
www.pyrenees-haven.com
That i think is the one everyone takes, but it's an arc, and in bad weather you'd almost certainly go too far left. I think anyone who hasn't planned or recced would automatically go too far left off the trig anyway, because of the line you come along on the approach to the trig. I like to break immediately right off the trig and head for the V where the little Gills meet, instead of dropping over the edge of the V you swing left and follow the very edge of that little basin. It's rough and full of features so if you aren't fleet-footed it'll be slower, but i find it to be around 45secs faster and i overtook Lisa Lacon one year on that route. The third route is to drop into the basin straight over the edge of the V. I'd bet my bottom dollar that there is a sheep trod somewhere close to the wall that will lead you through the marshes to the checkpoint, as sheep graze the basin and will huddle the wall line in bad weather to get shelter. If you can't drop into the basin very fast and make the most of the gradient going over the edge of the V where the gills meet it would be slower for you.