Letter from Antonio - 2012 Lions Intro

Dear brave Lions of the Pyrenees,

The date of our departure is coming closer. It is a pleasure for me to write a few lines of encouragement to this group of friends that faithfully since the year 2000 return to the Pyrenees to enjoy a few days of adventure, endurance and camaraderie.

For outsiders, we may be a little crazy, but we know that we all benefit for a few days away from our normal professional, family and social duties, whilst we carry out what some consider extreme sports (rafting, canyoning, trekking and mountain biking) in the impressive environment of the Pyrenees.  It is easy in those days to share with the others our experiences and to help each other in a very natural way. It is also easy to give thanks to God, for all we have received during the previous twelve months and having the opportunity to return to these mountains and forests surrounded by this group of friends that we call ourselves with the grandiose name of the “Lions of thePyrenees”.

As you all know, the idea of this days is not only to push our bodies to the extreme, but more to help the others to have a good time, and to return to our homes with the resolution to help more at our homes, places of work and society.  That is why this group of brothers in arms returns year after year to this extraordinary experience. We know that our purpose is to go back home, and to show that we are struggling to be better persons with the help of God and our families.

To all of you and your families, I send my best regards and hope to greet you personally at the foothills of the Pyrenees on the 16 May,

Ave Caesar, muriturus te salutam,

Sir Anthony Irastorza

A lion of the Pyrenees

Walking around the Area...

Dear Lions, 

The other day I had the opportunity to explore the Aragon Pyrenees area, visiting a very small town called El Tormillo. It’s a typically farmer town which you would never know about it if you are not invited by one of the 20 residents in this town, or... by one of his daughters, in this case my friend Ana invited me, so I took my two little cousins and went for this adventure! (sorry, not pics from Ana, but she is so cute!...). I want to share the pictures and such a nice views with you, as very soon we will all be here surrounded with this amazing landscapes. 

This is not El Tormillo anymore, but the Alquezar, an old town in the area  with many interesting things to see:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alqu%C3%A9zar
On the top of the mountain you can see the Colegiata de Alquezar, a cathedral built in 1099, we are now walking to the top so I can make a picture from there and post it here:

This is the view from the top of the Colegiata de Alquézar of Santa Maria (1099)

We also had time to go to el Salto de Bierge, you can jump from there and its a good fun, but to be honest I didn't do it this time, water was not cold enough for a Lion, so I will come back in winter... 

 And this is a view from Torreciudad, with the snow mountains at the end... I hope you enjoyed it and I am looking forward to seeing you in a couple of weeks!! All the best,
Diego
GGRRRRRRR!!

Guido's ideas to train at home.

Dear Antonio,


I am glad to hear of your training in Wales. Unfortunately we do not have the snow in the Philippines. So I have, as usual, used my window from the second floor as my practice place for rappelling. Of course my neighbors find it strange..but who cares about those weaklings?

I am sorry i cannot join you this year, but I will surely be inLondon in November. I am sure I will be fit for 2013!

All the best!

Guido