The
bordermarkers of the Pyrenees : all my trips
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monday 13 september
2021 -
Redoing bm320
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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 6.
Today: from Lac des Gloriettes revisiting bm320 at Port Neuf de Pinède
and checking the routes to it.
Why? I want to have 'done' every bordermarker at least twice. I visited
bm321 for the first time on 28-8-2010.
Weather: cloudy/sunny
Basecamp: camping La Hounta in Luz-St-Sauveur.
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According to Garmin
Basecamp (uncorrected track with elevation added by Gpsvisualizer.com):
Distance: 23,1km
Max-height: 2478m
Min-height: 1648m
Elevation: +1622m -1620m
Total elevation: 3242m
Start 8:00 Finish 17:16
Total time: 9:16
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From Luz-St-Sauveur
I drive to this parking, close to Lac des Gloriettes.
(click photo to
enlarge)
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The waysigns tell me
that Port Neuf de Pinède (bm320) is a 3:45h walk.
(click photo to
enlarge)
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The Lac des
Gloriettes is a barrage lake.
(click photo to
enlarge)
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Beyond the lake
(click photo to
enlarge)
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the trail passes
this bridge.
That connects also to the parking.
(click photo to
enlarge)
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Gradually climbing
with in the far distance
(click photo to
enlarge)
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already - zoom-in -
Port Neuf de Pinède in sight.
(click photo to
enlarge)
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Progress is easy.
(click photo to
enlarge)
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At this point, you
have to go right and start climbing towards Hourquette d'Alans.
(click photo to
enlarge)
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On a higher level I
pass this bifork.
The red route is where I come from and which climbs to the mountain
pass of Hourquette d'Alans.
(click photo to
enlarge)
The blue arrow points to
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this waysign.
(click photo to
enlarge)
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Still one hour to go
to bm320.
(click photo to
enlarge)
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The trail is
distinct and
(click photo to
enlarge)
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the direction is
clear.
This picture: this is a bifork, the yellow route clims to Brèche de
Tuquerouye with its refuge.
(click photo to
enlarge)
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Continuing to Port
Neuf de Pinède,
(click photo to
enlarge)
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crossing a rockfall
(click photo to
enlarge)
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to the last part
(click photo to
enlarge)
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of the trail to the
Port.
(click photo to
enlarge)
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Arriving at the Port.
(click photo to
enlarge)
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Bm320 is at
west-side of the pass.
(click photo to
enlarge)
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And well engraved at
this rock.
(click photo to
enlarge)
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I remember that from
my previous visit but it takes some time to discern the engravings.
(click photo to
enlarge)
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After some chalking,
I can start making my pictures.
(click photo to
enlarge)
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Looking into Spain.
(click photo to
enlarge)
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Bm320
(click photo to
enlarge)
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Bm320
(click photo to
enlarge)
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View of the entire
pass.
(click photo to
enlarge)
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Bm320
(click photo to
enlarge)
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Bm320
(click photo to
enlarge)
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Bm320
(click photo to
enlarge)
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I descend a little
bit into Spain to have a look at the trail which descends quite steeply
and is at some parts slippery.
It's a descent of about 1000 meters before you reach a dirtroad. I did
that on 28-8-2010.
(click photo to
enlarge)
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The
connection between bm320 and 321 on the Spanish side was originally
part of my main GRPdesBF-route.
The same for the route between bm322 and 325.
But in 2000 I changed my mind, designing another main route (that is
the red one on the map). That results in a more smooth main route,
leaving the
high altitude and non-waymarked trails to the variants. In this case
bm320 becomes a hence & forth variant from the main route as will
be the case for bm321.
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Returning
(click photo to
enlarge)
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Zoom-in to
Hourquette d'Alans, my next target.
At Hourquette d'Alans, you arrive from the valley of Gavarnie. From
there my main GRPdesBF-route descends towards Lac des Gloriettes.
As said before, doing bm320 will be a variant hence and forth.
But descending from the Hourquette, there are 2 access routes towards
bm320, both branching off the main trail. They join further on.
(click photo to
enlarge)
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There is a more
direct route, starting not far below Hourquette d'Alans.
I'm going to check that route (in the opposite way) so towards the
Hourquette.
This picture: this is about where the direct route starts climbing the
hillside towards Hourquette d'Alans. There are cairns and trails to
guide you but not much.
(click photo to
enlarge)
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On my way, looking
back to Port Neuf de Pinède.
(click photo to
enlarge)
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Looking forward to
Hourquette d'Alans.
(click photo to
enlarge)
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And another view
back.
(click photo to
enlarge)
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At this point I have
reached the main zigzagging trail to the Hourquette (looking back).
(click photo to
enlarge)
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Almost at Hourquette
d'Alans.
(click photo to
enlarge)
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From the Hourquette
a view into the valley of Gavernie.
(click photo to
enlarge)
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A group of French
daytrippers are enjoying their lunch in the French way: including a
glass of wine.
(click photo to
enlarge)
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Zoom-in to the
Refuge des Espuguettes.
(click photo to
enlarge)
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I return and descend
on the winding main trail.
This picture shows both branches towards bm320.
(click photo to
enlarge)
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And this is another
view of the two possibilites.
(click photo to
enlarge)
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This is where the
first branch starts.
(click photo to
enlarge)
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I descend further, a
panorama in between.
(click photo to
enlarge)
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Approaching the
second branch.
(click photo to
enlarge)
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And this is the
bifork where the second branch starts
(click photo to
enlarge)
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with its
(click photo to
enlarge)
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waysign.
My conclusion: this (second) branch is the best one. There is a waysign
where it starts and overall progress is a lot easier.
From here you should go hence & forth to Port Neuf de Pinède,
taking you approximately 2 hours in total.
(click photo to
enlarge)
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Quietly I continue
(click photo to
enlarge)
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down the valley.
(click photo to
enlarge)
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Back at the bridge
which I showed you already in the beginning.
You have to cross the bridge for the connection to Cirque de Troumouse.
Yesterday I checked the other side of that connection.
(click photo to
enlarge)
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It's still 3:30h to
the Cirque de Troumouse which seems exaggerated.
The distance is ± 7,5km and that can be done in less than 2:30h, I
estimate.
(click photo to
enlarge)
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Anyway, beyond the
bridge the trail gets vague but if you go more or less straight on,
(click photo to
enlarge)
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the trail becomes
distinct again
(click photo to
enlarge)
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with a view to the
left to Lac des Gloriettes.
(click photo to
enlarge)
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Bifork, left to the
parking, straight on to Cirque de Troumouse.
(click photo to
enlarge)
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Another waysign at
this point.
(click photo to
enlarge)
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I continue along the
trail to Cirque de Troumouse
(click photo to
enlarge)
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for a while.
In general the trail is clear enough.
This picture: this is where I stop. From here it's approximately
another 500m to reach a dirtroad which will bring you to the tarmac
road which climbs to Cirque de Troumouse.
(click photo to
enlarge)
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Returning to the
parking. Back to the camping in Luz-St-Sauveur.
(click photo to
enlarge)
The next day I will drive to Lourdes to my
favorite Hôtel d'Annecy for a day of rest.
My brother-in-law is very ill and I have to decide what to do. But
luckily is already a bit recovering when I call him in Lourdes
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