The
bordermarkers of the Pyrenees : all my trips
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wednesday 8 september
2021 -
Redoing bm309, reconnaissance of a route to bm310
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Summary:
part of a series of 11 daytrips in september 2021 in the western half
of the Pyrenees. This is day 2.
Today: main target is a reconnaissance of a new connection route between bm309 and bm310.
Weather: cloudy/sunny
Basecamp: camping in Urdos
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According to Garmin
Basecamp (uncorrected track with elevation added by Gpsvisualizer.com):
Distance: 14,2km
Max-height: 2248m
Min-height: 1705m
Elevation: +969m -970m
Total elevation: 1939m
Start 8:26 Finish 15:06
Total time: 6:40
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| Yesterday I arrived at the camping in Urdos for a day of rest after the exhausting day of 6-9-2021.
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In 2009 I did a multiday hike in this region.
On 7-9-2009 I descended from bm309 into the valley and then - the next day - found my way to bm310.
But in recent years I saw on recent maps (OSM and Topopirioneos) an
alternative route which seems more straightforward and faster.
On 20 june of this year, I looked at that route from the side of Col du Pourtalet.
Today I will check this alternatieve route from Col des Moines.
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| Starting at 8:30 from the ski station of Astún. I look west and spot
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| the summit/ridge where bm308 is located and
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| - further away - the spot of the lost bm297.
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| Zoom-in
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| Taking the stairs
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| and then at the E-side of the giant hotel-building taking a path
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| which joins soons this dirtroad.
There are - surprisingly - no waysigns or waymarks. Still this is a popular daytrip-destination.
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| Further on, leaving the dirtroad and picking up a path.
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| View to the SW with a rough indication of my traversing of the mountain-side as done on 15-6-2021.
My misstake: bm309 should be 308.
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| It was Carlos Roca who saw on the maps and Google Earth, an alternative access to bm308.
Worthwhile trying one day.
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| Continuing on the trail towards Col des Moines (bm309).
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| I spot these colourful waymarks
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| and they appear to be trailrun-routes, never seen before.
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| Arriving at Ibón del Escalar, the trail passes the lake at its right side.
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| The last climb
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| and I arrive - after 1,5 hours - at Col des Moines with bm309 in sight.
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| In the background
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| the iconic Pic du Midi d'Ossau.
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| Bm309
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| Bm309
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| Bm309
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| Bm309
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| Bm309
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| The red-white GR108 crosses the
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| Col des Moines.
But I will be going E, underneath and along the borderridge.
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| Bm309, looking E
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| View back to bm309.
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| Zoom-in
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| A distinct trail heads SE and will later on curve underneath Pic d'Astu towards Col d'Astu
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| A view NE towards Pic du Midi d'Ossau and
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| Col d'Anéaou.
That is the Col which I crossed in 2009.
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| Zoom-in.
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| The trail has made the curve underneath Pic d'Astu and now heads to Col d'Astu.
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| Col d'Astu, it's 2,5km walking from bm309.
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| At Col d'Astu, looking into Spain
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| Looking E, the continuation of the trail.
A young dutch couple are hiking for the first time in the Pyrenees and they are very enthousiastic about it.
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| Still a distinct trail
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| with a rocky part to cross
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| that will bring you here.
It's a bifork but not that well recognizable as such. The obvious route is the "trail I took".
The "other trail = better"-one I will do on my way back.
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The Google Earth-screenprint shows how the "trail I took" is an unnecessary detour.
At the bifork you have to go right and head approximately E - keeeping the larger lake at your left - to get to Col de Houer.
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| But first the "trail I took".
This picture: a bit further than previous picture. The trail bends to the right making a U-bend
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| and arriving at these tiny lakes.
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| After that there are these - larger - lakes. This picture: looking back.
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| And then I arrive - after crossing Col de Houer and some descending - at this point.
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| The trail descends furhter in the valley.
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| And will - in the valley - pass between mountainside and smaller hilltop as indicated.
Col du Pourtalet is then not far away.
I know enough and stop.
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| First a lunch break
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| and then returning along
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| the south-side of the larger one of the small lakes
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| Back at the bifork - mentioned above - with my recommended route to cross the area of the small lakes.
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| Now returning to Col d'Astu.
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| Back at Col d'Astu.
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| I enter Spain to walk to
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| Ibón de Truchas with a cafe at the other side.
There is a ski lift from the ski station of Astún to this lake and it is apparently also working in summertime.
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| I descend from the lake along trails and dirtroads
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| to the ski station of Astún where my car is.
Another picture with the approximate route from bm308 towards bm309.
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| At Col de Somport a beer and a bocadillo as a reward and then back to the camping.
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The next day another day of rest. I use it to transfer from Urdos to the camping of Arette.
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