The bordermarkers of the Pyrenees : all my trips
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- friday 8 september 2023 -
Revisiting bm420bis from Montgarri

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Summary: part of a series of 9 daytrips in september 2023.
This is day 7.

Today: a tiring trip hence & forth to bm420bis.
And why? I have done bm420bis for the last time at least 10 years ago.

Moreover, Corinne Gourgeonnet reported in 2022 that the broken-off upper part has disappeared.

Weather: splendid

Basecamp: camping Era Yerla in Arthies.


track-20230908.gpx
This gpx-track has not been manually corrected which explains the inaccuracy and misalignment at some points. The original elevation recording has been replaced by more accurate DEM-data with Gpsvisualizer.com. 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 reliable elevation data added by gpsvisualizer.com)
According to Garmin Basecamp (uncorrected track with elevation added by Gpsvisualizer.com):

Distance: 15.7 km
Max-height: 2513m
Min-height: 1638m
Elevation: +1149m -1149m
Total elevation: 2298m

Start 8:25  Finish 15:45
Total time: 7:20
Like yesterday, I start in Montgarri.


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The trail (red-white waymarked) brings me W to a stream to cross.


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After the stream I have to climb into a forest to arrive later in the next valley which will bring me to bm420bis.


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Later on: the first ridge to climb (the south ridge of the 'Renadge d'en Haut) comes closer in view.


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At the end of the flat area, a steep zigzag trail climbs to the ridge.


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I have arrived at the south ridge (Port de la Girette) of the bassin of 'Renadge d'en Haut'.

From here it is less than 1km to bm420bis, close to the Passage de la Lègne.


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I meet a group of French walkers who take a picture of me, the view is to the S.


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Then crossing the bassin of 'Renadge d'en Haut' to the Passage de la Lègne.

Bm420bis is from the Passage ± 80m to the left on the hillridge.


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Bm420bis, the upper part has now vanished as Corinne reported in 2022.


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This is how bm420bis looked in the beginning.

Photographed on
20110902
(more pictures at that page)
Only 2 years later, the upper part was broken off.

Photographed on
20130822
(more pictures at that page)

And the last known picture of the upper part is from Corinne Gourgeonnet.

Bm420bis was installed in 1997 after a Spanish geographer discovered that the south ridge of the 'Renadge d'en Haut' (the borderline at that time) wasn't the watershed.

The northern ridge of the bassin is slightly higher and therefore the real watershed and that became the new borderline.

Reason enough for French bordercommissionary Jean Sermet to install bm420bis.

Read more about it on this page.
The French group has arrived and is willing to pose and the lady to the right


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turns out to be a good photographer


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and takes several nice pictures


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of me in the 'conqueror-pose'.


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The group leaves, they are walking the very interesting crossborder circuit of Pass'Aran and are heading for Refuge des Estagnous.

Now some other pictures of bm420bis.




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Bm420bis


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Bm420bis


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Bm420bis


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Bm420bis


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Returning. At the foot of the climb to the south ridge of Renadge d'en Haut, there is a stream.

Good to know if you want to camp there or to fill your water bottle.


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Back in the shaded forest.


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After the forest, crossing the stream


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and soon Montgarri comes in sight.


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Montgarri


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with its small cemetary with these 3 mysterious graves.

It's too busy at the Refugio-terrace and I take my rest next to my car in a camping-chair. Then back to the camping.

Tomorrow will be a transfer day: from Arthies to camping Espalias in Bossòst where I will meet Carlos & Conchita Roca in the evening.


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