The bordermarkers of the Pyrenees : the GRPdesBF
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- stage 23 -
  Cabane des Aguilos - Port de Bielsa (bm322-323)

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Update may 2020: the 5 stages 21-25 (bm320-329) will be replaced by four stages. That will result in a more smooth main route, leaving the high altitude and non-waymarked trails to the variants. Has yet to be worked out. It will result in de following routes:

You can already watch these new routes in detail with this kml-file.

Hereunder the original stage:

Only the bordermarkers along this stage are shown (and some adjoining ones). The main route is red, the variants have other colors. The main route provides a smooth on-going route along most bordermarkers, the variants give access to the remaining bordermarkers. See the GRPdesBF-principles.
Click here for an fullscreen interactive map.

In short
An attractive stage with various mountain-passes to climb. The second part - from Col de Barroude onwards - follows the borderridge - including the Pic de Port Vieux (± 2700m) - until Port de Bielsa.  There's one short variant to bm322 which is at the western side of Port de Barroude.

Considerations
The high mountain-ridge from Port de Barroude to Port de Bielsa is high and exposed which make you vulnerable in bad weather. Water is available at the beginning and further approaching and near Refuge de Barroude. Between Port de Barroude and Port de Bielsa: none. 
A bivouac is possible around Refuge de Barrecoude and you can shelter of course in the Refuge. At the end - at Port de Bielsa - there's no appropiate spot for a bivouac and no water. The next stage continues on the ridge for a few hours (but Lac de Hechempy on the French side might offer you bivaouac-opportunities,  ±1,5h from Port de Bielsa)
You could also - from Port de Bielsa - descend on a trail S into the valley until you find flatter terrain and water.  As an alternative you could descend from the vieux Port on a green/white-trail SE and find a bivouac spot, continuing the next day to Port de Bielsa  and further on.

Factsheet
Routes
 Km
 Heights:
min - max
 Heights:
start-finish		 Cum. pos.
elevation
 Cum. neg.
elevation
 Cum. total
elevaton
 Time
 Bm's
covered
main route
 14,5
 2272-2696
 2273-2424
 1197
 1030
 2227
 6:28
 1
incl. all variants 14,8
 2272-2696
 idem
 1211
 1043
 2254
 6:35
 2
variant 1 via
bm		 0,4
(+0,3)
 2514-2526
 2514-2515
 15
 13
 28
(+27) 		0:08
(+0:07
 1
- the main route is a smooth trail along the border and most of the bordermarkers (within ±100m reach of the main route)
- the variants allow you to visit the remaining bordermarkers
- altitudes are derived from the NASA SRTM3 database with GPS-Track-Analyse.NET
- km & elevations established within Basecamp.
- time according to Naismith's rule with average speed 4km/h; 10 min. extra for every 100m ascent and 5 min. extra for every 100m descent. Don't forget: this is a rough estimation.
- (+ or -) = extra km & elevation & time compared to continuing on the main route)
* = including overlap of 1 bm with previous stage 		Bm's
covered
cumulative:
342
Bm's cum.
on main route:
230

Gps-files needed

kml/kmz
 gpx (with
altitudes added)
Waypoints of all esfr-bordermarkers esfr-bordermarkers-all-waypoints.kml
 gpx-version
Track of this stage grpdesbf-322-323-vs02.kml
 gpx-version

Version 02
July 2014. If you have any correction, suggestion etcetera -> please email me: eefberns@grenspalen.nl

MAPS AND DIRECTIONS
You might check the relevant webpages in the 'All markers'-section and 'All my trips'-section for more pictures of the bordermarkers and wayfinding-issues.

Print your own maps
It's easy to print your own - custom made - maps with the GRPdesBF-route and the bordermarkers on them.
See: Print your own maps
This is your starting point: at the cabane.

There are two trails leading to Hourquette de Héas. Avoid the one which makes an unnecessary bend.
The map shows the more direct trail from the cabane.

The blue trail makes a detour, as you can see.
On the Hourquette de Héas.

A last view of the Vignemale in the background.
Then after some descending, continue to the next pass (Hourquette de Chermentas).

Then, after some descending the main trail leads directly southward to the Refuge de Barroude.

This picturer: that trail underneath the mountain ridge at your right.
Getting closer to the refuge, the broad, saddle-like Port de Barroude comes more in sight.

From there (the red line) you can continue over the borderridge and via Pic de Port Vieux onwards.
You will pass Refuge de Barroude and not far beyond it:
Port de Barroude.

This picture: looking W to the small rocky hill where bm322 can ben found.
Variant 1 via bm322
That larger rocky outcrop with a metal pole sticking out, ± 200 meter to the west of the Port itself, consists of two little pics, the bm situated just underneath the top of the second.
Bm322

Then back to the Port.
Then proceed - on a trail over or  beneath the ridge - to the E.

This direct route from Port de Barroude to the Vieux Port takes about 1 ¼ hour. In bad weather one might make a detour via the vallye which will take ± 4 ½ hours!

This picture: looking back, you can see the trail going underneath the ridge.
The “ridge-route” passes the summit of Pic de Port Vieux (2723m).

On this picture, taken probably from the Pic de Port Vieux and looking to the Port de Barroude in the distance.
Now looking forward.

Essentially you will traverse in as along the mountainside from Port Vieux to Port de Bielsa.

An alternative could be: descend on waymarked trails (green/white) to the valley and climb on a branch to Port de Bielsa. Might be easier than the traverse on the grassy slope.
The Port Vieux

From there, simply cross the grassy slope in the direction of Port de Bielsa, gradually climbing. There are no trails.
This picture: looking back at  Port Vieux and the Pic de Port Vieux.

Close to the Port de Bielsa, you might need to descend a bit to pass underneath a rocky ridge. 
Port de Bielsa

But you won't find bm323 here in the passage itself. It's on top of the left ridge.
Bm323 is on top of the western side of the corridor.

It requires a little climbing from the French side.
Bm323
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