The
bordermarkers of the Pyrenees : all my trips
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- saturday 24 august
2013 -
Rain and fog
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esfr-trip-track-20120824.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 12-days trip to the Pyrenees with a lot of targets from the Ariège mountains to the Basque country
Day 4: fourth day of a 6-days hike following the Ariège borderridge
from bm418 to 425, today from cabane de la Lanne to cabane de Crusous,
in between Port de Salau and Port de Marterat
Weather: rainy, foggy
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For
explanation of
the gps-coordinates and other cartographic backgrounds:
cartography-page
Start: 8.30, no break, finish 17.15, net walking time: 8.45h
According to the gps-tripteller:
Distance: 21,0 km
Total ascent: 1166m
Maximum height: 2195m
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According
to visugpx
- distance : 17,0 km
- cum. elevation gain : 1344m
- cum. elevation loss : 1291m
- total elevation: 2635m
- altitude maxi : 2193m
- altitude mini : 984m
- altitude average : 1592m
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The day starts with drizzle.
I follow the red/white GR Transfrontalière downhill and
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pass this shepherd's cabin. Probably destroyed by the enormous snowfall of last winter.
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For a moment there’s sunshine and wide views (this picture: towards Port de Salau),
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then it starts to drizzle again for the rest of the day. In the mountains that means: fog.
The
descent from the cabane to the parking above Salau (which takes me ±
3½h) isn’t that straightforward. I loose the GR-trail once
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and when I try the trail (shortcut) to Grange d’Espis - which is the branch to the left on this picture -
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it’s too much blocked by fallen trees. I have to return.
But nevermind, the GRT-trail to the parking is a nice and easy stroll.
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Then from the parking to the Anciennes Mines d'Anglade, an easy 2,5km walk on the tarmac.
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At the end of the road this derelict building
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with this rather sad philosophy of life.
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Beyond the building, a yellow trail will bring me first to the cabane de Saubé but with some navigation difficulties.
This picture: the first yellow waymark appears, go straight ahead.
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As far as I
remember, you have to go further uphill from here.
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After - let's say 150m of following that forest-road - you can go left and cross this small bridge
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and a bit further the trail climbs steeply NNE through and along a forest
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to open area where a few yellow crosses might confuse you as it did me.
They only want you to zigzag uphill and not to climb straight on.
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Continuing uphill, you will reach this cabin: cabane de Saubé
Behind the cabane, the yellow trail continues uphill.
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The yellow waymarking is not superfluous,
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so be attentive not to take a wrong branch. At crucial points there are often cairns.
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And suddenly I spot this curious engraving.
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I saw an identical engraving three days ago on 21 august.
Who knows its function?
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This picture: looking E and showing the last part of the ascent to Col de Crusous.
Once arrived at a sort
of pass/ridge (± 1900m) and looking forward E to a sort of valley at
the foot of a higher pass (the Col de Crusous), follow the trail to the
right (= S) which - after 125m - will bend to the E.
That is the blue trail
At this pass, I
lost the trail and descended into the valley, refinding the yellow
trail later on. The persistent fog made orientation and wayfinding
difficult. |
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This picture: on the final climb to the Col de Crusous (2203m)
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Now I'm on Col de Crusous and look forward.
I descend into the valley on the yellow trail.
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Then Cabane de Crusous suddenly emerges from the fog.
I’ already lost the
yellow trail but the direction is obvious: just descend along the
valley.
This picture: the cabin seen from the other side.
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The cabane is a bit crampy & dirty but it's dry and cosy in its own way. I liked it.
A running waterhose is just outside
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