The bordermarkers of the Pyrenees : all my trips
Print this page

- thursday 10 september 2020 -
Reconnaissance of the trail from Refugio Belagua to Col d'Anaye

previous trip      next trip

Summary: part of a series of 6 daytrips and 1 multiday trip in september 2020 in the Pyrénées Atlantiques. This is trip 6.

Today: from Refugio on the GRT13 in the direction of Col d'Anaye to see where a connection to the Añelarra-ridge is possible. Basic question: might this be an easier route to get to bm271?

Basecamp = camping in Arette

Weather: cloudy, sunny in the afternoon.

track-20200910.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 track):

Distance: 16.6 km
Max-height: 1877m
Min-height: 1402m
Elevation: +784m -779m
Total elevation: 1563m

Start 7:47  Finish 14:24
Total time: 6:37
Having parked at Refufio Belagua and looking forward to the terrain to traverse.


(click photo to enlarge)
An information panel with


(click photo to enlarge)
the red-white waymarked trail GRT13 to Col d'Anaye and refuge de l'Abarouat in France.

Spoiler: I won't get as far as the Col d'Anaye.


(click photo to enlarge)
More information on this trail which connects on the one hand both refuges and on the other hand (partly) the Spanish GR11 with the French GR10.


(click photo to enlarge)
Some warnings for the trail in winter (dangerous) and for frequent bad weather.


(click photo to enlarge)
It takes me a while to find the right trail from the Refugio.

That is - from the Refugio - not going SEE but NEE. At this point I'm back at the right track.


(click photo to enlarge)
The trail is well-waymarked and after


(click photo to enlarge)
the grassy part it enters


(click photo to enlarge)
a beautiful beech-forest.


(click photo to enlarge)
Later on the terrain gets more rocky and the


(click photo to enlarge)
trail traverses this open spot.


(click photo to enlarge)
Later on it gets more open and the trees become scarce.

The Añelarra-ridge comes in sight. Bm271 is on that ridge.


(click photo to enlarge)
Later on this panorama.


(click photo to enlarge)
This is the spot where I on 29082012 joined the GRT13, having descended from the Añelarra-ridge.


(click photo to enlarge)

Let's show both tracks on Google Earth.

It's still a long way to bm271.
This picture: having entered the rocky terrain for ± 30m for a better view of the terrain to traverse before you get at the foot of the Añelarra-ridge.

Once you get at that ridge, progress becomes easy on the ridge.


(click photo to enlarge)
This picture: approximately 250m further at a spot where Topopirineos shows the beginning of a route towards the Añelarra-ridge. But no trails, no cairns.

This is where I stop and return. Traversing to the ridge and bm271 is another 2,5km and 500m climbing. On this terrain estimated at another 2h walking and climbing.

(click photo to enlarge)
That would mean in total a trip of 5-6h to bm271 and 5h. back.

Conclusion: this route from Refugio Belagua has no advantage to an access from Col de la Pierre St-Martin as we tried 5 days earlier on 5-9-2020.


This picture: returning and descending into more green terrain.


(click photo to enlarge)
Back in the forest. The sun has started to shine.


(click photo to enlarge)
The last part back to the Refugio (visible in the background).


(click photo to enlarge)
While driving back, I stop here


(click photo to enlarge)
to make a zoom-in picture of Pic d'Anie and the Añelarra-ridge.


(click photo to enlarge)
In the ski-station of Arette La Pierre St-Martin, I enjoy a well-deserved lunch.


(click photo to enlarge)
And I am surprised to see in the alleys of the shopping mall these large information panels


(click photo to enlarge)
about bm262 and the its role in the "Junte de Roncal" or "The Tribute of the Three Cows".


(click photo to enlarge)
It's a yearly ceremony at july 13 since 1375 in which 3 cows are handed over from the French community to its Spanish counterpart.

It's the result of an arbitration after a bloody conflict between shepherds from both countries in 1373 and is considered as a payment for the use of Spanish grazing grounds and watersources.


(click photo to enlarge)
One wonders if this drawing of bm262 was made of the real bordermarker in an earlier verson or is an artist's impression or phantasy.


(click photo to enlarge)
We see more nice tiled images in the corridors.


(click photo to enlarge)
Now we see an image of the actual bm262


(click photo to enlarge)
and one of the cermonial meeting of the delegations from both communities at bm262.


(click photo to enlarge)
Back at the camping and reorganizing my stuff for the multiday backpacking-trip, starting tomorrow.


(click photo to enlarge)
previous trip      next trip