The bordermarkers of the Pyrenees : all my trips
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- sunday 20 june 2021 -
Redoing bm310-310bis, visiting railway station Canfranc + N-side railway-tunnel

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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 8.

Today: two trips:
- redoing bm 310 and 310bis
- visiting railway station Canfranc and the north entrance of the derelict railway-tunnel.

Weather: cloudy

Basecamp: Camping Le Gave d'Aspe in Urdos

track-20210620.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: 7,9 km
Max-height: 1872m
Min-height: 1774m
Elevation: +301m -326m
Total elevation: 625m

Start 9:46  Finish 12:43
Total time: 2:57
My plan today was to visit bm309 and investigate a new route from bm309 to 310.

But too cloudy and rainy around Col du Somport.

So I drive on quiet Spanish roads (sunday morning) to Col du Pourtalet to redo bm310 and 310bis.


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First to bm310bis.

Behind the venta-complex a dirtroad heads SE.


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Red waymarks now and then


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The dirtroad follows the hillside


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and becomes a trail.


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Still the red waymarks to guide me though I have no idea to where they ultimately lead.


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After traversing a rocky terrain, having lost the red waymarks,
I arrive here.

You can see a distinct dirtroad in the distance.


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Around here, I have to curve to the left (N-NW), partly on trails
towards this col (Col de Peyrelue).


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At the flattenend hilltop in the middle of the col, lies this rock


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with bm310bis engraved on it.


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Bm310bis

Until september 2012, this bordercross on Col de Peyrelue was unknown to the bordermarker-community. The official treaties do not mention this bm.

See this page for more information.


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Bm310bis



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Bm310bis

Besides the flattened hilltop a small lake.


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In the distance I see a cabane, perhaps meant for walkers.

But it is a shepherd's cabane as I read on this webpage.


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Overview of the pass with bm310bis.



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Bm310bis



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Bm310bis



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Panorama from the south-side of the lake


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with this signpost.


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It shows that the trail downhill to the N is part of a pilgrim's route to Santiago de Compostella.

Enough evidence that the trail downhill is still usable for my GRPdesBF-route.


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I return on a trail, leading me back on a higher level than how I came here.

This picture: looking back to the col


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with this zoom-in to bm310bis.



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This higher trail is apparently the 'red' route.


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A 'marmotte' stands guard.


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Further on, back on the track  of my outward journey, and looking back.


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Approach of Col du Pourtalet.


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I keep following the dirtroad just above the venta's and arrive here at the main road.


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Having crossed the main road and looking back.


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Bm310 is the rocky hillside west of the Col.

Easy to reach with some climbing.


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Bm310



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Bm310



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Bm310



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Bm310. looking south



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Bm310. looking N with the Pic du Midi d'Ossau covered in clouds.



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Bm310, looking N



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Bm310, from the road.



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Zoom-in to bm310



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Further zoom-in to bm310



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From a parking lot, I look to the west.

I have still to investigate a new route from bm309 to 310.

It's too cloudy today for the entire route but I will check the beginning from here.


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This is that route to explore from bm309 to 310. If you are interested: download kmz-file or gpx-file.
Drawing of the route based on trails in OpenStreetMaps and on Google Earth. GE says (when coming from 309):
-distance: 8,5km
-elevation: + 260m, - 622m
I try this trail leading W


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This panoram gives a better view of the beginning.


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Following the trail


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which descends


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to this stream which has to be crossed.


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After that, the trail gets vaguer but with the OsmAnd-map on my smartphone I proceed until I get a better view of the rest of my route to check.

In the far distance,


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it climbs to the borderridge.


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Same route on this panorama.

I have seen enough and return


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and cross the stream at another point, close to the road.


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Last view of Col du Pourtalet.

I take a lunch at one of the restaurants and drive back.


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On my way back I will visit two spots before returning to the camping.

First the famous giant railway station of Canfranc-Estación.

Second: the northern entrance of the derelict railway tunnel.
The giant railway station of Canfranc-Estación


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with an information panel.


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The building looks quite new


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because it has been repaired and painted in recent years.

I read somewhere that it will be converted into a hotel.


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At the backside of the old building there is a new, much smaller station.


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Old rusty coach.


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A picture of the derailment of the train in 1970 which led to an immediate stop of the railway connection through the tunnel.


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Then driving through the tunnel into France and visiting the northern entrance of the railway tunnel.
An abondoned


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train station


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with the old railway tracks.


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Further on, where the road goes underneath the railway, I climb to the railway which is overgrown.


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Railway bridge.


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The tunnel entrance in the distance.

The undergrowth on the railway tracks is a bit too fierce to struggle through.


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So I help myself with this zoom-in.

Just inside the tunnel, there is a fence blocking further access.

Return to the camping. This will be my last day in the Pyrenees.


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This is a picture of the next morning.

I wanted to visit bm309 from the ski-resort of Astún before driving home.

But again it's too cloudy around the borderridge.


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So I decide to return and drive home in 2 days.

Nice weather until Bordeaux but afterwards a lot of rain and thunderstorms. Camping in Beamont-sur-Sarthe.

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