The
bordermarkers of the Pyrenees : all my trips
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- 12 september
2012 -
A fire helps
previous
trip
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Summary: part of a 2½-weeks-trip to the Pyrenees with a lot of targets, most of them reconnaisances of routes for the GRPdesBF.
Day 15: before visiting Fort de Bellegarde, I
discover that the extensive forest fires of july 2012 have exposed
the slopes of the hill, revealing a direct route from bm573 to 574.
I do bm570-577, visit Fort de Bellegarde for the old bm569 and finish with redoing bm567-569.
Weather: cloudy
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Trip 1
esfr-trip-track-20120912-trip1.kml
(click to open this trip
in Google
Earth or copy link to Google Maps; click right on this
link to download gpx-version)
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For
explanation of
the gps-coordinates and other cartographic backgrounds:
cartography page
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According
to visugpx
- distance : 4,9 km
- cum. elevation gain : 172m
- cum. elevation loss : 170m
- total elevation: 342m
- altitude maxi : 421m
- altitude mini : 234m
- altitude average : 334m
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Yesterday
I drove from Fos (visiting in between the medieval town of St-Bertrand-de-Comminges) to
camping Le Vallespir near Arles-sur-Tech.
Today will be the last day of
my Pyrenees-trip. Main target: the old bm569 in the museum of Fort de Bellegarde.
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I’m too early at Fort-de-Bellegarde and make a stroll to bm570.
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To my surprise, the enormous fires of spring 2012 in Catalogne have reached as far as the Fort and the borderline.
That gives an unique opportunity: the maquis has burnt away leaving only blackened trees on the slopes.
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This is a zoom-in of the previous picture showing bm571.
I miss my walking shoes and
walking stick but the access to bm571, 572 and especially 573 is now
easy and straightforward.
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Bm571
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Bm571
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Bm572, which stands 20m to the NE
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The
underground is loose and somewhat slippery.
I'm heading to a rocky outcrop which is about 40m W of bm573 (and 25m higher).
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Something becomes clear on
this barren slope. There is a direct descent possible from bm573 to Le
Perthus!
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It looks not difficult when following a winding course down a
sort of valley. |
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A view towards Le Perthus
I have reached the rocky outcrop, I descend on its N-side to the E
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and soon reach - after 25m elevation loss and 40m walking - bm573.
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Bm573
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Bm573
I have descended a bit and then start to make the S-curve which brings me down to
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this wall, close to the road.
It's some 10 meters up the slope from the road and is the
spot where to reach the road (or start climbing to bm573).
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From there it's 40m N to this parking-lot on the westside of the road.
In Le Perthus, I do of course bm574 to 577.
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Bm574, looking to bm574bis (at the end of the dotted line).
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Bm574
You might be interested in the text on the tile.
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Well, I did some digital enhancing on this close-up. Still not large enough for you: open it fullsize
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Bm574bis
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Bm574bis, looking to bm574
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Bm575
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Bm575, looking to bm574bis
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This text also digital enhanced. Still not large enough for you: open it fullsize
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Further N in the street: bm576
The borderline takes the street to the right and brings me to
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bm577.
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Bm577
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Bm577
Lunch-break in a cafe. Then back to Fort de Bellegarde.
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I visit the - once glorious but now poorly maintained - premises. Some of the halls have become art galleries.
I liked this text: "Finding the secret passage which gives access to our own reality, the one which belongs to everyone: that's the labyrinth of life"
Mysterious, philosophical or meaningless? Make your pick.
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This is the large inner court of the Fort.
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A few rooms are dedicated to the local history.
This drawing shows both cols, seen from Spain.
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And this drawing shows the monastery of Panissars in 1649, now gone
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Another view of the inner court, now looking to the other side. The old bm569 stand at the far end.
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In another room, I find this drawing: the Col de Pertus and Col de Panissar seen from France. They seem equally important.
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Bm569 - the former one - is standing along a wall of the inner courtyard with no explanation whatsoever.
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It’s larger than I thought and in good shape.
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Bm569 - former one
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Bm569 - former one. On its top the bend of the borderline engraved.
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Bm569 - former one - backside.
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After the museum-visit, I drive to the ruins of Panissars to complete this Le Perthus series with bm568, 567bis and 567.
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Bm569
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Bm569
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B568, seen from far
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Bm568
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Bm568
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Bm568
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Bm567bis, seen from far. Bm567 to the right.
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Bm567bis
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Bm567bis
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Bm567
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Bm567
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Bm567
This is the last picture of my 2½-weeks-trip.
I drive back to Holland in one go, arriving there next morning very early.
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previous
trip
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