The bordermarkers of the Pyrenees : all my trips
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- tuesday 15 june 2021 -
Redoing bm306-308 and trial to reach bm296

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Summary: part of a series of 8 daytrips in june 2021 near Bagnères-de-Luchon and Col de Somport. This is day 5.

Today: two trips:
- redoing bm306-308 and the traversing of the hillside towards bm309
- a trial to reach bm296 along the stream.

Weather: sunny, nice


TRIP 1

From Col du Somport redoing the traversing of the hillside from bm308 towards 309.

track-20210615-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). The gps-track has not been manually  corrected which explains the inaccuracy and misalignment at some points. For cartographic backgrounds: see the cartography-page

Gps-waypoints of all bordermarkers (most recent version):
kml:  esfr-bordermarkers-all-waypoints.kml
gpx:  esfr-bordermarkers-all-waypoints.gpx (with elevation added by gpsvisualizer.com)
According to Garmin Basecamp (uncorrected original track):

Distance: 9,6 km
Max-height: 2130m
Min-height: 1632m
Elevation: +592m -642m
Total elevation: 1234m

Start 11:06  Finish 15:09
Total time: 4:03
Yesterday I spent a day of rest in Lourdes, staying in the same hotel as every year: hotel d'Annécy.


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This morning I drive to Col de Somport.

It was my plan to do a 2-days trip from parking Sansanet but somehow I missed the side-way to that parking and ended up here.

So I changed my plan. First a cup of coffee in the bar and then on my way.


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Behind a building at the NW-corner of the Col a trail starts


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It brings you quickly to this small building and bm306


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Bm306


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Bm306


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Getting to bm307 by crossing a hillridge


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to a sort of valley.


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Bm307 in sight


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Bm307


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Bm307


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In the far distance the original spot of bm297 in sight. I will explore that spot tomorrow.


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Bm307


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Bm307


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Then I decide to climb directly towards bm308


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There are two routes to bm308.

This is a picture I will take tomorrow from bm304.

The red one is the one I will do today.

I followed the blue route on
7-9-2009 and on
27-8-2012 (descending by the red route).

Which one is the best? In terms of distance combined with effort, there is not much difference.

But after this trip I will conclude that the blue one is easier in terms of wayfinding.
There are some cairns guiding you uphill


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Looking back at Col du Somport


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Continuing uphill


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Getting closer to the final climb


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The last part in sight


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A bit further on


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You have to go around underneath this rock summit, it is too steep to climb directly to bm308.

At the N-side of the hillridge you can climb on the grassy hillside


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to bm308.


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Bm308. looking W


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Bm308


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Bm308


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Bm308


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Bm308


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Bm308


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Walking W on the hillridge and looking back to bm308


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A view ahead to the N with my approximate route.

On the maps we see also a trail over the hillridge but traversing along the hillside is easier and faster.

Within an hour I will arrive at the trail climbing to bm309.


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On my way


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continuing, mostly on cattle tracks


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until I reach the stream which descends from the Ibon de Escalar, close to bm309.

On the other side the trail uphill to the Ibon and bm309.

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I know enough: traversing along the hillside until you can connect to the trail to bm309 is an efficient connection between bm308 and 309.

I descend along the trail



to the ski station of Astún.


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Looking back to where the trail to bm309 starts from the ski station.

Walking back along the road to


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Col du Somport


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TRIP 2

I drive to a large parking at the ski resort of Candanchu.

I want to visit in the remaining 2-3 hours bm296.

track-20210615-trip2.kml
(click to open this trip in Google Earth or copy link to Google Maps; click right on this link to download gpx-version). The gps-track has not been manually  corrected which explains the inaccuracy and misalignment at some points. For cartographic backgrounds: see the cartography-page

Gps-waypoints of all bordermarkers (most recent version):
kml:  esfr-bordermarkers-all-waypoints.kml
gpx:  esfr-bordermarkers-all-waypoints.gpx (with elevation added by gpsvisualizer.com)
According to Garmin Basecamp (uncorrected original track):

Distance: 7,6 km
Max-height: 1658m
Min-height: 1522m
Elevation: +403m -399m
Total elevation: 802m

Start 15:23  Finish 18:25
Total time: 3:02
Progress is easy on these dirtroads


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Then I continue on a trail


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that traverses a forest


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and returns in open terrain with the Pas d'Aspe in the far distance. That's where bm296 is.


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The trail traverses this rockslide


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to arrive at this signpost.

The old continuation to the stream has apparently slided away and there is a new diversion.


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The signpost


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Along the diversion-path I arrive at the stream.

The trail crosses the stream but I will climb along the stream upstream.


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But that is not easy. There is a lot of water in the stream and I have to climb over rocks to get higher.


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Finally I get blocked at this point. Only 40m to bm296 still but I have to return.


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On my way back to the trail, this impression of the landslides.


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I have a look how to get to bm296 on a different route, higher on the hillside, above the landslides.

I will try the red route tomorrow.


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Walking back, descending to the forest


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and arriving at the plateau to return to my car.


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I drive to camping Le Gave d'Aspe in Urdos to check in and pitch my tent for the coming days.
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