Epic Hikes of the World ( PDFDrive )

A mix of the tall Catalan and rounder Gascon breeds, Pyrenean donkeys are fit,
strong and sure-footed, which makes them particularly suited to the steep and
winding hiking trails found in this rocky region. Traditionally used for farm labour
and transportation of goods up and down the mountains, their numbers dwindled
when car use became widespread, but their decline has slowed since the 1990s
and they’re increasingly settling into their new role as trekking companions for
visitors to the Pyrenees.
© Martin Mecnarowski | Shutterstock
the Pyrenees offers plenty of wildlife-spotting options, such as bearded vultures
We picnicked by a lake to a soundtrack of clanging cowbells, watching herds
drink at the waterhole and munch on the lush grass around it. We then started to
make our way down the valley through the giant glacial scree of the Cap d’Aout.
En route we passed springs in the hillside and stone barns by the pathways while
vultures circled in the sky, and although we encountered a few more hillwalkers
than we’d seen on the first day, we still saw no more than 10 people in total by the
time we reached our end point at the Col du Soulor.