The
bordermarkers of the Pyrenees : all my trips
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- 4 september
2012 -
A fraudulent bordercross
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esfr-trip-track-20120904.kml
(click to open this trip
in Google
Earth or copy link to Google Maps; click right on this
link to download gpx-version)
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 9: a circuit from Gavarnie to cover the fake bordermarker 316 and try an ongoing route from bm315 via this fake bm to bm316.
Weather: cloudy in the morning, bright skies in the afternoon
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For
explanation of
the gps-coordinates and other cartographic backgrounds:
cartography page
Start:9.15, break ¼h, finish: 18.30, net walking time: 9h
According to the gps-tripteller:
Distance: 27,2 km
En route: 9.19h
Total ascent: 1453m
Maximum height: 2496m
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According
to visugpx
- distance : 26,3 km
- cum. elevation gain : 1451m
- cum. elevation loss : 1451m
- total elevation: 2902m
- altitude maxi : 2506m
- altitude mini : 1478m
- altitude average : 1929m
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From Lourdes (my favourite Hotel d’Annecy) I drive to Gavarnie and park nearby Refuge La Holle.
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I pick up the GR10-trail (after some difficulty finding it) and follow it W until cabane de Lourdes.
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In the far distance, the Vignemale is visible.
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On this zoom-in the glaciers of the Vignemale.
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In the distance the Cabane de Lourdes. To the right of it, I will climb up the valley.
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There are no trails and I climb W up the grassy slopes towards Port de Pla d’Aube with bm315.
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But I arrive ± 650m too far NNW of
that Port at the borderridge by some strange gps-dysfunction.
This picture: looking into Spain from that spot. I have to
go S along and under the ridge to reach
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the real Port with bm315.
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Bm315, looking into France
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Bm315, looking into Spain
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Bm315
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A
strange case of mirror writing,we see that more often. As if the
engravers couldn't write and didn't recognize the characters they had
to engrave.
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Bm315
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Then it’s a half ellipse to Col de Lourdes (a toponym not show on the IGN-maps).
First a bit descending into France,
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then bending to the right and traversing to Col de Lourdes,
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shown on this zoom-in.
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On my way to Col de Lourdes and looking back
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to - zoomin - to Port de Pla d'Aube
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I am close now to Col de Lourdes.
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The fake bm316 is easily found on the N-side of the pass.
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Zoomin of the previous picture.
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bm316fake. It’s only painted, not engraved. Who does the re-painting now and then, I wonder.
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Bm316fake
Probably painted by Spanish shepherds in an effort to legalize their
border-crossing via this Col. The bordercrossing of spanish flocks was restricted to other cols. See also the curiosities-page.
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bm315fake
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Then the next curve (S, then E) is
in Spain to Col du Cardal with the real bm316.
That curve is easier
than I thought although the descent is quite steep. One hint: stick to
the grass strips while descending.
This picture: I've just started the descent. In the far distance:
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Col de la Bernatoire where bm417 is.
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Approaching Col du Cardal.
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At the Col is up the hillside:
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bm316
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Bm316, the 3 is in mirror writing
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Bm316
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Bm316, looking into Spain.
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From bm316 descending back into France
to Lac du Cardal. That’s a nice bivouac spot with streaming water from
the lake to down below.
Parallel to that stream I descend to the trail that leads to Col de Bernatoire.
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It’s a bit of wayfinding in the last steep part of this descent.
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I spot a lot of marmottes.
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I'm back at the GR10 and look again towards the Vignemale.
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With this zoomin, I can even spot the refuge de Bayssellance
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Then along the GR10 back to my car which is a long & long journey.
This is another view back.
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Then returning to Lourdes to my hotel and visiting at night the candles procession.
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