The bordermarkers of the Pyrenees : the GRPdesBF
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- stage 22 -
 
Llanos de Larri - Cabane des Aguilos (bm321)

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Update may 2020: the 5 stages 21-25 (bm320-329) will be replaced by four stages. That will result in a more smooth main route, leaving the high altitude and non-waymarked trails to the variants. Has yet to be worked out. It will result in de following routes:


You can already watch these new routes in detail with this kml-file.

Hereunder the original stage:


Only the bordermarkers along this stage are shown (and some adjoining ones). The main route is red, the variants have other colors. The main route provides a smooth on-going route along most bordermarkers, the variants give access to the remaining bordermarkers. See the GRPdesBF-principles..
Click here for an fullscreen interactive map.

In short
After a tough & rough climb to Port de la Canau, the route (there are no variants) takes you down to the magnificent Cirque de Troumouse. From there it's a smooth continuation to an upper valley with Cabane des Aguilos at the foot of the pass of Hourquette de Héas.

Considerations
The first part - getting over Port de Canau - requires special care in wayfinding and is tough through steepness and lack of trails. From the Cirque de Troumouse onwards there are enough opportunities for bivouacing and water refuelling. At the end - when sufficient time left - one could continue on the next stage to the Refuge de Barroude but that will take you ± 2,5 h extra.

Factsheet
Routes
Km
Heights:
min - max
Heights:
start-finish
Cum. pos.
elevation
Cum. neg.
elevation
Cum. total
elevaton
Time
Bm's
covered
main route
14,7
1618-2690
1618-2273
1838
1183
3021
7:43
1
incl. all variants No variants in this stage
- the main route is a smooth trail along the border and most of the bordermarkers (within ±100m reach of the main route)
- the variants allow you to visit the remaining bordermarkers
- altitudes are derived from the NASA SRTM3 database with GPS-Track-Analyse.NET
- km & elevations established within Basecamp.
- time according to
Naismith's rule with average speed 4km/h; 10 min. extra for every 100m ascent and 5 min. extra for every 100m descent. Don't forget: this is a rough estimation.
- (+ or -) = extra km & elevation & time compared to continuing on the main route)
* = including overlap of 1 bm with previous stage
Bm's
covered
cumulative:
340
Bm's cum.
on main route:
228

Gps-files needed

kml/kmz
gpx (with
altitudes added)
Waypoints of all esfr-bordermarkers esfr-bordermarkers-all-waypoints.kml
gpx-version
Track of this stage grpdesbf-321-vs02.kml
gpx-version

Version 02
July 2014. If you have any correction, suggestion etcetera -> please email me: eefberns@grenspalen.nl


MAPS AND DIRECTIONS
You might check the relevant webpages in the 'All markers'-section and 'All my trips'-section for more pictures of the bordermarkers and wayfinding-issues.

Print your own maps
It's easy to print your own - custom made - maps with the GRPdesBF-route and the bordermarkers on them.
See: Print your own maps

The starting point: the plains of LLanos de la Larri.

At the end of it to the right, a track starts, well waymarked with cairns.
It climbs steeply along the rocky mountain-side with various vertigo parts, be careful.

This picture: looking back at the Llanos de Larri.
Then this view of the borderridge with Port de la Canau with bm321.

First you will need to descend to the valley ("camp") and then climb to Port de la Canau.

This picture shows the risk in climbing to the wrong pass (as I did). From the valley it's not obvious in which way to climb.
Finally all the rocky climbing is finished and the trail (which leads to Lagos de la Munia) flattens.

Again: looking back at the plains.

Further on you’ll see a grassy slope descending NNW to a stream.
Now descend in that direction (no trail) and arrive here, a little beyond the stream.

It makes a very fine bivouac spot.

But how to ascend to Port de la Canau?
Let's show it on a printscreen from Google Earth.
And let's project its approximate course on a previous picture and finally
on this picture.
By the way: on my way up, you might  stumble upon a distinct white waymarked trail as I did. It might help you uphill for a while.

It's unknown where it originates from. It could be a more direct trail from the plains of LLanos de la Larri to Port de la Canau but I found no prove for that.

Once in the right direction, it’s just going up. Climbing is heavy by lack of a real trail.

On this picture: almost at the pass, the bm already but faintly visible with its yellow painting.
At the Port de la Canau, bm321 at the other end of the pass.
Bm321
Then in 1½ hours down a well trail to the Cirque de Troumouse where 
the views are trementous.

Now descend NW for ± 1km to a parking spot. Then take a trail to the E and go around the Lacs des Aires.

Then the trail goes N - passing Cabanes des Aires - for ± 4km before it turn right and climbs to an upper valley.


If you get close to Cabane de Aguilous, the upper valley unfolds itself.

On this picture the cabane is visible,  also the Hourquette de Héas (next stage).


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