In the shelter of the Pyrenees: the Somontano Wines, a brief introduction.

By Pablo Campos

pabcamcam@gmail.com

Bonum vinum virorum animos laetificat

(good wine lifts the spirits of men)

Somontano means “at the mountain’s foot”. Well, in this case we are not talking of a small and lonely mountain, but in the shelter of the mighty Pyrenees. The term Somontano neatly defines a whole geographical area where this designation of origin has taken residence. It is a transition region, located between the Ebro’s valley and the Pyrenees. I guess the technical name would be something like the “pre-Pyrenees”, although somehow that doesn’t seem like an accurate nomenclature.

Where the Pyrenees begin to rise a whole variety of about 15 kinds of grapes, both local and foreign, find a perfect place to grow. And they do it in about ten thousands of acres of land.

The soil has a combination of sandstone and clay, mixed with a considerable amount of limestone and alluvial material. It is not the most fertile of land, although the drainage is of certain level. The altitude for this wine oscillates between 350 and 650 meters.

We owe it to the Romans who, through their appreciation of a gentle glass of wine, sought the means to consolidate this grapevine. Their endeavors where further developed by the unrelenting influence of the local monasteries during the Middle-Ages. Nowadays, the wines from the Somontano can be fully appreciated by us consumers, allowing us the simple pleasure of tasting the fruits of this green and abrupt corner of the Iberian Peninsula.

Lions 2018 Meeting the Brown Bears of the Pyrenees!

By David Steinegger

swissstein@live.co.uk

Background

Brown bears had been prevalent in the Pyrenees for thousands of years until the 20th century. In the 1900s, some 150 bears roamed the habitat in the Pyrenees. The population halved by the 1950s, as action was taken to protect farm livestock.

In the 1970s the French government took action to protect bears, but this came too late, with almost all of the bears disappearing. Various initiatives followed to grow the population, including the transfer of brown bears from Slovenia, but this met with limited success due to the small numbers involved.

In 2005 efforts were redoubled, and the population gradually increased, helped by the employment of over 100 people to help in conservation measures.

Bear habits and habitats

Bears have an extensive range with male bears roaming territories as large as 500 square kilometres. They do this in search of food, shelter, mates and more. In winter the bears hibernate for around four months from late November to March, and typically do so in rocky caves.

Bears are generally herbivorous but the bear is also omnivorous. Diet includes fruit, vegetation, insects and wild and domestic animals, both dead and alive.

Adapting to bears in the farming community

Changes are happening in the community to adapt to the presence of the bear. The sheep population in the Pyrenees is estimated to be over half a million and hundreds of sheep are lost each year to bear attacks. The French government pays compensation to the farmers for any loss of animals due to such attacks. Various measures have been put in place to minimise these losses including on location shepherds, sheep dogs and selective use of electric fencing.

Size, weight and expected life span of bears

The Pyrenees Brown bears can weigh up to 300kgs for the males and up to 90 kgs for the females. Standing up their height approaches 2 metres. Bears can typically live up to 25 years in the wild.

So if you spot a bear …

Generally the bears will do all they can to avoid humans. They have excellent sight and smell and will generally disappear before you can spot them. If taken by surprise however they can react adversely and pose a threat. Best advice is:

1.      Never attempt to come into close contact (less than 50m) with a bear

2.      Never follow bear tracks if you come across them.

3.      If you come across one, calmly make your presence known by moving or talking slowly and quietly.

4.      Slowly distance yourself from the bear, avoiding the path the bear is most likely to take in his flight from the encounter.

5.      Never, ever run.

Conclusion

If you go down to the woods on our May 2018 trip, you had better not go alone. Because even though you are a Lion, those bears can give you a scare!

David Steinegger

11 April 2018

Surviving a bear encounter: http://lionstimes.blogspot.md/2014/05/surviving-bear-encounter.html

Intro by Antonio

Dear Veteran and Rookie Lions,

As we are celebrating these important days of Holy Week with our families, we cannot but think that in just under six weeks’ time we will be meeting again at Barcelona Airport to start another of the very enjoyable “Lions Pyrenees Expeditions”.

Time really flies by. When I was meeting a friend the other day and I told him that we have been doing this Expedition for eighteen years he could not believe we had managed to keep it going for such a long time; and he encouraged me to continue doing it. That is clearly our intention, and it was nice to see that last year at the Expedition Johnny Dauncey and Ovidiu Radu, sons of two veteran Lions joined us, and now they are themselves part of this group of adventurers.

I appreciate that our encounters with most of the Lions are limited to once or twice a year, one during the Expedition itself when we go around the Pyrenees and the other at the Lions Annual Dinner in the Oriental Club in London, which due to the help of its Secretary-General, Matthew Rivett (a Veteran Lion himself), has become the London headquarters of this adventurous group. As we are spread around the world, it is not possible to meet many other times but with some regularity during the year I receive either a telephone call or an email from one of the Lions and this way we keep in touch despite the distance.

As the years go by, many people have heard of the existence of the “Lions of the Pyrenees”, and this year as I travelled to different locations some contacts, relatives, clients, were impressed when they learnt that I belonged to this distinguished group, with such an imposing name. To make them aware of my belonging to the team I regularly wear the Lions Polos. I appreciate I cannot use it when I go to work in the City of London, but when I am on holidays or on weekend I do so that I remind others who we are.

This year like every year there will be some new faces of people joining us for their first expedition, but as it is always the case, they will be welcome by the others, and when those intense days come to an end after four intense days in the Pyrenees, they will experience like the rest the impression that they have known the group for a long time.

We all know that we go to the Expedition to have a good time, but the main purpose is to make the others have a good time, this way we all enjoy it much more, when we see the others enjoying it and the camaraderie of the group makes people help each other without expecting anything back. It is not difficult to give thanks to God during those days for the many benefits received during the rest of the year; either at home, at work, or due to health, or other matters. Also as our base camp is near the Shrine of Our Lady of Torreciudad we have established the tradition of going up to see her with the uniform of the Lions (the Polo of the Lions) and as we approach the shrine at the end of those marvelous days one cannot but be grateful to God and to Our Lady for the fact that we have been able to enjoy these fantastic days, despite the difficulties that we all have experienced during the year; and we leave at Her feet our personal intentions and our gratitude as we were able to go another year, and ask that we will be able to go back the following year.

Well men, I finish by wishing you and your families a Happy Easter. Forward Men!

Ave Cesar, Morituri Te Salutant!¡

A Lion of the Pyrenees

Antonio Irastorza

If Lost While Hiking

By Ovidiu Radu

ovidiu.radu3@gmail.com

Once lost

• Do not panic. That is the worst thing you can do and will likely cause things to get worse.
• Follow the STOP rule

Stop – As soon as you realise you may be lost, stop, stay calm and stay put. If you keep going you are likely to get even more lost. Sit down, take some water and eat something.

Think – How did you get to where you are? What landmarks should you be able to see? Were you heading North or West? Where were you when you were last sure you knew where you were?

Observe – What can you see? Where on the map is it? Where is the sun in the sky? Roughly how long until sunset? What does the weather look like it is going to be? What supplies do you have? How long will they last?

Plan – Never move until you have a plan. Based on your thinking and observations, come up with some possible plans and then act on the best one.

• Check for phone coverage. If you have some then you can call for help. They may be able to explain how to get home or they may come to get you.
• 
  
• Use a whistle to try and attract attention. Three blasts is the universal signal for help.
• If you have any bright items get them out as it will make it easier for a rescuer to find you.
• If you are confident enough you may wish to try and retrace your steps to find the path you were on earlier.

Staying the night

• Find a sheltered spot that will keep you from the rain and wind before it gets too dark
• You will likely need to put on extra layers to avoid hypothermia setting in.
• Do not sleep beside a river as the noise might mean you cannot hear a rescuer.
• Start a small controlled fire. This will give you some warmth but also the smoke is a good way to signal for help.
• Create a HELP or SOS sign with rocks in a clearing. This will make you more visible from the air.
• Hang any colourful items of kit from tree branches around you. This will make it easier for a rescuer to find you.

Briefing by Sir Anthony Irastorza

Dear Veteran and Rookie Lions,

Time flies and in just a few weeks we will all be meeting at Barcelona Airport ready to start this yearly event. I am looking forward to meeting all of you there.

It is always nice to experience the reputation of the “Lions of the Pyrenees”, frequently beyond of what we deserve. I was travelling for work a few weeks ago in a European city and I met a client; to my surprise he knew one of our early Lions, who had informed him of our adventures; but the way he described what we do was a little exaggerated, so I had to correct one or two things. It is always nice to be recognised and admired, but I think it has to be always within reality. In any case whenever I travel or play sports many times I wear one of the Lions polos, you will not believe me if I tell you that on many occasions people ask me for one, I tell them that for them to be able to wear it, they have to earn it, they have to suffer, they have to deserve it; otherwise it takes away the joy of wearing it. And they all respect it.

As I informed you in one of my emails, a few weeks ago, on 14 March we had the death of our first Padre, Don Javier Mora-Figueroa, for those of us who knew, he was a real friend and always welcoming to the Lions; as being the Rector of Torreciudad, he was like the king of Torreciudad and could get anything done for us. Like the Mayor-President of El Grado, who also died a few years ago of liver cancer and was another “honorary Lion”; I feel that we should not be sad, but happy to have two local friends from our base camp in the Pyrenees in heaven. We can ask them to help us from up there.

I appreciate that as the Expedition comes closer, there are always difficulties and problems do arise. It is normal, we have to try to overcome them, as those of us who have come before will realize how much benefit we obtain from those days in the mountains. It is much more than the sport, the challenge; it is also the camaraderie and the mutual help of this group of friends who help each other to have a good time, helping in small and bigger things, and we all contribute to it.

In the same way that last year Jonny Dauncey (son of Tim Dauncey) came as one of the doctors of the Expedition; and he was the first son of a Lion to join the group; this year Ovidiu Radu (son of Vergiliu) will join us from Germany via Moldova. It is a great pleasure to see the group grow in this way. Even if we have come for so many years to this area, Fyrky and the other professional Mountain Guides ensure we do different things, we go to different valleys, mountains, ravines or canyons. The Pyrenees are not only wild and large, but they are always changing, and the weather conditions (snow, rain, sun, etc) make them look different.

Even if I have been in those Expeditions since the beginning, I always feel that the last one is the best; as the “spirit” of the Lions is seen in action, mutual support and help, interesting conversation, camaraderie which goes beyond duty, etc. It is a pleasure to see that others enjoy as much as I do. We all understand that one enjoys it more, when we try to make life agreeable to others in small things, and for this I am grateful to all veteran Lions. Just a word of warning, do train and keep training, but with moderation; as we have had some injuries. I myself twisted my ankle a few weeks ago whilst I was with clients in Barcelona and I have a bandage and a swollen foot. I spoke to a doctor and I am following his advice in every aspect; God willing I will recover soon.

As we go away, we remember our families and we train with them, as it is precisely due to our families support that we are able to do this; for this reason it is great to see that some Lions are being followed in this group of friends by their sons, as I told you before.

Ave Caesar Morituri Te Salutant!

A Lion of the Pyrenees

Antonio Irastorza