The bordermarkers of the Pyrenees : all my trips - 24 august 2011 - No vertigo previous trip     next trip  esfr-trip-track-20110824.kml (click to open this trip in Google Earth or copy link to Google Maps; click right on this link to download gpx-version) Summary: part of a 3-weeks trip to the Pyrénées to 'do' the ± 60 remaining bordermarkers. All done as daytrips from campings. Day 10: an afternoon trip doing bm280 & 281. Weather: all day cloudy, manifesting as fog at this height For explanation of the gps-coordinates and other cartographic backgrounds: see my cartography page En route (±): 12 - 17.30 (5.30h) According to the gps-tripteller: Distance:  14,9 km Cum. elevation gain : 773m Total elevation: 1546m Maximum height: 1843m Time: 5.16h According to visugpx - distance : 13,1km - cum. elevation gain : 790m - cum. elevation loss : 790m - total elevation:  1580m - altitude maxi : 1904m - altitude mini : 1284m - altitude average : 1655m From the parking of Forges d’Abel climbing to the pass of Escalé d’Aigue Torte. This picture: the final part of the climb. I would expect the cross bm280 to be on the pass itself but it’s on the edge of a rock at the N, overlooking the pass. The engraver apparently didn’t suffer from vertigo. Bm280, overlooking the pass Bm280 Then on the Spanish side over the grass heading SW along the hill slopes, crossing a few times a stream, following cattle-tracks as it suits. Later on you will enter foothills and soon join the GR11-trail (be attentive not to miss it).  Continue SE on the GR11. The GR10 will bring you to the Lac d’Estaens, a large lake. It takes quite some time to go along/above it untill you descend to the SE-corner of the lake. I missed a bend of the GR11 and descended by misstake to the NW corner of the lake. I returned to the GR11 but much later I wondered if my misstake might be a more direct route to bm281. See next picture. The yellow line is the suggested shortcut. So back to the GR11. On my way, I spot green/yellow waymarks which I saw two days earlier near Col de Somport, here together with  the GR11-waymarks. At the SE-corner of the lake, I leave the GR11 and go N along the lake. At its most nothern point, the Port de Benere Vannu (visible on this picture) is just a small climb. From the Port de Benere Vannu, this panorama-view of the lake. Bm281 Again the cross is not on the pass itself but on a outcrop sticking out of the ridge. In this case: ± 40m to the NE. Bm281 Bm281. The fog is now permanent and I decide to descend, back to my car. previous trip     next trip