Hi there. For this new episode we decided to go to the Pyrenees for our annual trip 
To mix things up a bit, we head to the Eastern Pyrenees 
Yep, with all this lack of snow 
it’s not only Italy that’s benefitted from the easterly perturbations 
So off we went to le Cambre d’Aze 
a small Catalonian ski resort in the Pyrenees, 80km from Perpignan 
And since we don’t go to the Pyrenees without the big boss 
we met up with Jean Mi Gouadain who was expecting us
At last!
Who’s he?
It’s Beber!
Beber, has he got his visa for the Pyrenees?
We’ll sort it!
Come in!
As you can see, we’ve got a new rookie in this episode
Bertrand Clair
AKA Beber the Hunter
He loves the mountains and its animals - especially those in his freezer
You’ve actually already seen Beber in another episode
He was the one shouting like a mad man in the Derby de la Meije
And is also one of the main guys in the web series ‘A la Française’ 
He’s also a Phoenix
He had a massive paragliding accident in 2016
which left him with 4 vertebrae pinned together
and a bone graft
He sure has come a long way and knows how to appreciate the simple things in life…
Enjoy!
Back in the Pyrenees!
Time to explore le Cambre d'Aze
Blue skies, fresh snow
We forgot to mention Xuleton
Bon App’s favourite superhero!
Nice hey!
We needed a local guy to show us around 
Mike from Labeau Sport gave us a guided tour
The Vermicelle couloir? Yeah yeah, there’s snow!
We could see there’d been lots of wind and it looked pretty hairy
So we obviously sent the local down to make it safe…
Now that’s what we call avoiding a disaster with the nonchalance of a Southerner
We had a feeling that might happen, didn’t we?
Mike was super cool, before he went back to the grind,
he showed us some of the cool spots in le Cambre 
Pretty stunning eh?!
Time to get the Bon App’ Helicopter out…
to see if it’s less dangerous on the other side
So this is a bit different from what you do in ‘A la Francaise’ eh?
it’s just cracked five metres above me
Now is not the time to be cocky!
Yes! I’m losing my other skin!
Careful, this ‘unofficial’ technique
doesn’t work at all!
Despite the wind and the unstable snow cover
we still managed to do some riding
And it was during this first run that Jean Mi decided to make his mark
by trying to take out all the rocks...
I think we can wait a bit, the sun’s going to come out
tomorrow morning…
It’s not plain sailing in the Pyrenees 
A bit rocky and a bit windy…
it’s the Spanish sending over their bad weather
it wasn’t bad, we were where the powder was
but there wasn’t really a base
Between the rocks and fragile snow cover
we had to go “piano piano”…
It’s falling!
We haven’t seen this since 2015 eh?!
We were stoked that the snow was back,
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00:03:50,920 --> 00:03:53,000
it was looking good for the next few days…
Talking of snow, it’s not always the case
the last two seasons have been a bit tricky in le Cambre d'Aze
with a big shortage of snow, this little resort has struggled to make ends meet at the end of the season…
Fred, a local shop owner, explained the story behind the resort…
It’s a resort that has managed to balance the books without any real investment
but it was tough
last winter: disastrous
It was only by word of mouth and a bit of advertising
that we managed to get people in
people want sun, with Spain and Andorra nearby
thermal baths…
it remains an authentic resort 
I think it needs to keep this image!
For example, the Coulée piste is never groomed
So, in a week it’ll be a mogul field! 
Do a Derby!
The ‘Derby de la Coulée’!
We’ve gotta dig ourselves out
At Bon App’, we like places off the beaten-track
We were determined to see what the famous Cambre d’Aze had to offer 
Hey Jean Mi, you alright? Fancy a Génépi?
We were starting to doubt Beber… 
Who are you working for? The CIA?
We’re in the firing line, I know it
Make sure he doesn’t show you the Saint Foy forest!
Fab, you hungry?
No, I’m alright
Jean Mi wasn’t the only one taking out rocks…
There’s the odd rock, like!
There were two or three things that tried to stop me in my tracks…
The lift pass is cheap, but that’s it
a pair of skis for every run
Hey Victor, time for some grub?
Not yet! Let’s ski some more!
Nice snow!
You’re doing my head in. I’m off for food!
That was the last time we saw Cyril Barat
It’s coming down!
Avalanche!
But we were well up for it, so we did a few more runs!
Go for it Beber!
It’s rammed!
Jean Mi, fancy a Génépi?
How awesome is it here!?
There was the odd rock or two eh?!
Come on Beber, push on ‘em poles! 
We gave it our all so we went on to do what we do best!
Bedroom dining!
Disgusting!
With all these hobs, we could feed an army!
So you brought all your mates along? 
It’s my birthday, a surprise party!
After 10 hours in bed, we then head off to Puigmal 
We’ve been had. It’s shut!
It’s really starting to look like a Pyrenean episode!
We just need it to rain tomorrow and we’re all good! 
Then the team started to wonder where Cyril Barat was!
Abduction Alert!
A child has been abducted 
This is an abduction alert 
A 36 year-old boy, with a food obsession has been abducted
from a piste in le Cambre d'Aze between 12.30-2pm
Do not take action on your own
Ring the number above if you have any information
It’s not easy with Bon App’!
With ‘A la Française’ you’d already be in the bar, wouldn’t you?
Puigmal is le Cambre d'Aze’s neighbouring resort
But it closed down in 2013
After several winters without snow, the resort struggled financially
and had to declare bankruptcy…
Which explains the locals’ concerns for le Cambre d'Aze
And reminds us that with the last few dire seasons we’ve had, it could happen to any of us…
And whilst we visited this graveyard of a resort, even the weather was depressing
Are we skiing?
I’m not sure it’s gonna happen
Great. It the apocalypse
Is it gonna be like this the whole time?
Luckily, the ski patroller’s hut was still in good nick
We are at the top of the Cotzé chairlift
Can you open the car from here to save time?
After a cereal bar and a big kick up the arse
we managed to put our skis back on to drag ourselves down
Are we outta here?
Off you go Beber!
Rancho does it!
Even if we didn’t see much because of the weather
it’s still sad seeing a ski resort shut...
it’s a reminder of how we are all at the mercy of snow conditions
and with the current climate change we are seeing
it’s likely that Puigmal isn’t going to be the last one
Anyone there?
We weren’t going to give up 
we went to cheer ourselves up with a good old Xuleta and a natural hot spring
I told you guys it’s better in the Pyrenees than in Iceland!
The Pyrenees are great!
After recharging our batteries in the natural springs and a good night’s sleep
our time in le Cambre d'Aze came to an epic end – with sunshine
How you doing?
Good and you?
Great, it’s a nice day!
We’re going up there!
See Beber, we weren’t messing you around – there’s the sea!
What’s awesome about this resort is the cirque in le Cambre d'Aze
If you ski tour up 400 metres
there are lots of good-looking couloirs around
Le Cambre d'Aze is beautiful
The mountains were windblown again  
We were relying on the sheltered side for some good snow  
with the aim of skiing down the Vermicelle couloir
a real classic in the area
But at the top, there were already two sets of tracks going down
I think we’re 24 hours too late
So, we split up to have more options
Jean Mi and I still decided to nail the Vermicelle
We didn’t expect to find a couloir like this here
it’s a bit like the Dolomites near Perpignan
it gets narrower!
Beber and I went off in search of other options at the top of le Cambre d'Aze
I’m not gonna go down like Tony Lamiche with 140 poles!
At the bottom of the couloirs
we were still raring to go
so we put our skins back on to make the most of the good weather
Hey Jean Mi, fancy a Génépi?
You’d know about it if the Bon App’ guys skied in the sun!
In the seven years with Bon App’ I haven’t got through one bottle of suncream
Enjoy!
The same again please, but 100km long...
We finished on a great day of skiing
Le Cambre d'Aze has so much potential
We wish this resort all the best for the future!
See you in three weeks for the next episode
“When will I see again, the marvellous Pyrenees?”
“Where those who love each other, live together” 
