death in the Pyrenees

[pieter pannevis]

Dear all,
This is not an horror story but is a rough translation from the newsletter I
kindly received from Robert Spenger
You all know off last year’s accidents, which is the third in 2 years at
this mountain!
The original messages appeared in the Journal de Navarre at March 11th
2003-04-28 and reads as follows

A French pilgrim called Francis Joseph, Barthe Lepeyrigne 60 years old is
found dead as a cause of under cooling between the Ibaneta and Ortzanzurieta
pass

The body was found, without any traces of violence under a tree. The
hypothesis most likely would be that he died as a result of hypodermia. The
body was found by Canadian pilgrims.
Workers of the Group of Rescue and Interventions (Greim) of the Guardia
Civil de Roncal (might be read as Roncevalles) had been directed to the
spot.
The rescue operation was severely hampered by the enormous amounts of snow
in that area and they had to have the body in a saving sledge for 2 miles
before they could carry him on their shoulders. The body thereafter was
transported by car to Burguette
*       Rest peacefully Francis Joseph Barthe<
Last year two other deaths have been notified on the same stretch. The
mountains certainly in winter are difficult and ask for a good preparation
In order that no other silly accidents that could be avoided occur at this
stretch of the Camino it is necessary for every pilgrim to verify the
bulletin board in St Jean Pied de Port regarding the amount of snow and
temperature on the Camino over the mountain. By the slightest hesitation all
pilgrims are advised during wintertime al least to follow the road by
Arneguy just up to Roncevalles
In this time of year, never walk alone and read the info at Rue Citadelle 39

Signed;
Association des amis de St Jacques en Pyrénées Atlantiques

Thank you Bob for this post !


Pieter

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