The bordermarkers of the Pyrenees : all my trips
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- friday 18 june 2021 -
Redoing bm280-295

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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 7.

Today: a very long trip to redo bm280 to 295.

Weather: sunny, pleasant.

Basecamp: Camping Le Gave d'Aspe in Urdos

track-20210618.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: 27,8 km
Max-height: 1888m
Min-height: 1291m
Elevation: +1587m -1565m
Total elevation: 3152m

Start 7:59  Finish 19:59
Total time: 12:00
Parking at parking Sansanet.


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Crossing the bridge and through the forest heading N to


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an open space with a cabane with nasty dogs


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and again through the forest.


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Then open space again with already the Pas de l'Escalé (bm280) in sight.


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The trail climbing to Pas de l'Échelle (close to bm281) is temporarily closed,


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due to reconstruction works.


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Having arrived at the dirtroad with further on, this signpost to go right to climb to Pas de l'Escalé.


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And that's an easy trail with not much climbing.


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The Pas de l'Escalé comes in sight.

Bm280 is not on the pass itself but ± 25m NW of it.


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The route to the pass.


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The spot of bm280 indicated.


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Having arrived at bm280


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Bm280


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Bm280


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Bm280


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Bm280


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Selfie to let Carlos & Conchita know where I am as they do often to me while on bordertrips.


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Panorama with bm280


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Then I walk into the valley W of the pass.


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You need to cross some - crystal-clear - streams and then curve to the left as indicated on the picture.


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In that way you can join the GR11-trail.


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Spot the GR-waymarks.


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The GR11-trail heads to a sort of mountain pass.


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Getting close to that mountain pass.


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Almost there.


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Soon after the mountain pass, the lake of Ibon de Estanés comes in sight.


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You can see how I circumvent the lake today.

But I should have better tried the shortcut. On OpenStreetMaps you can see a trail descending directly to the lake. More about it further on.

By the way, on 24 august 2011 I did that shortcut to the lake by misstake.


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I soon discover that the GR11 has changed its course and is not going anymore to the SE-corner of the lake.

Instead I have to follow the old trail


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which brings me gradually closer to the lake


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and finally to it.

Time for a lunch break and a cigar.


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On my feet again and continuing along the lake.

You see again the shortcut which I am going to check from the side of Pas de l'Echelle.


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This panorama shows the meaning better: the shortcut will bring you a lot faster to Pas de l'Échelle (bm281) when coming from bm280.


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There is a trail along the  N-side of the lake.


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This part seems steep and tricky but in fact it gives no problems.


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It descends finally to the lakeside and that's all I want to know.


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I return.


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The spots of bm281 and 282 come in sight.


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At the Pas de l'Échelle, the trail downhill blocked because of reconstruction works.


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Bm281 is in fact 50m N of Pas de l'Échelle.


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Bm281


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Bm281


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Bm281


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Bm281


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The spot of bm282, as seen from bm281.


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Having arrived at bm282


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Bm282
Bm282 with the hilltop of bm283 in sight.


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Bm282



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Having arrived at bm283.





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Bm283, in the background the Ibon de Estanés.



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Bm283



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Bm283, looking back to where I came from.



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Bm283



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Bm283



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Approaching the hilltop with bm284



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Bm284


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Bm284


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Bm284, looking back to where I came from.


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Bm284


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Bm284


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Bm284 with the next goals in sight.


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Along the hillside.



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with the hilltop of bm285 in front of me.

I must say that 10 years ago progress was easier on the many cattle tracks then.


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Lookig back to the hilltop of bm284


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Bm285 is not at the top of the hill but at its side.

But I have difficulty to find it.


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It turns out that bm285


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is covered by mud....


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With my brush I can uncover bm285


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Bm285


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Bm285


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Bm285


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Bm285


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Bm286 is at the hilltop in front.


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Approaching that hilltop and


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climbing to bm286.


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Bm286


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Bm286


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Bm286


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Bm286


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Bm286, looking back.


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Bm286


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Then curving to the spot of bm287


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On my way to bm286 and looking back.


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Bm287


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Bm287


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Bm287

Apparently, I had no trouble finding this inconspicuous marker.


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Bm287


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Bm287


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Bm288 is only 60m E in a straight line but needs a circumventing of the hill.


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Bm288


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Bm288


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Bm288


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Bm288


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Bm289 is only 85m SSE of bm288.


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Bm289


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Zoom-in from the previous picture to the spot of bm288


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Bm289


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Bm289


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Bm289


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Bm290 is lot further along the hillside and well


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under this solitary tree.


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Approaching bm290


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Bm290 already visible


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Bm290


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Bm290


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Bm290


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Looking back to the spot of bm289


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Bm290


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Continuing to bm291


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While getting closer,


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I can see in the far distance the spot of bm296. I was there yesterday.


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Bm296, further zoom-in


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Bm291


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Bm291


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Bm291


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Bm291


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Bm291


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Then to bm292


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which is a bit hidden under a tree.


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Bm292


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Bm292


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Bm292


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Bm292


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Looking in the direction of bm293 which is on a small hilltop.


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Another zoom-in to bm296


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Bm296


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It's already getting late but I decide to go on to do bm293-295 as well.

Getting closer to bm293


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Zoom-in to bm293 on its hilltop


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Approaching bm293 in a hence and forth detour from the main trail.


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Bm293


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Bm293


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Bm293


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I return to the main trail and continue on it and at the edge of the forest I have to enter it to find (using my gps) bm294


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Bm294


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Bm294


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Bm294


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Bm294


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I return to the trail and follow it until I see these two large boulders.

I leave the trail and


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pass the second boulder at its right side and head SW to the rockwall.


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It takes a while searching along the rockwall to find bm295, the gps being unprecise under that high rockwall.

Look at the rockslide in the background, that will help you as a reference to find it.


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Bm295


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Bm295


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Bm295


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Bm295, the last one of today.


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I return to the trail by passing the two boulders.


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And in the setting sun I walk back to the spot of bm292, passing the hilltop of bm293.


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The descent to the parking takes not long.

I am tired but content.


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