The bordermarkers of the Pyrenees : the GRPdesBF
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- stage 49 -
 
Coustouges - Refuge de Salinas (bm543-553)

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Only the bordermarkers along this stage are shown (and some adjoining ones). The main route is red, the variants have other colors. The main route provides a smooth on-going route along most bordermarkers, the variants give access to the remaining bordermarkers. See the GRPdesBF-principles.
Click here for an fullscreen interactive map.


In short

A nice walk along the borderridge, gradually climbing to the landmark of Roc de France (1450m) and then - in the final part - descending to the refuge de Salinas.
From Coustouges we climb on a rocky trail to a dirtroad which passes bm545. You have to leave the dirtroad to cover on the only variant in this stage bm543 and 544.  The dirtroad brings you then on Spanish soil directly to bm546  and continues (with bordermarkers left and right of the road) until Pla de Falguerona (bm550) with a deserted restaurant.
A smaller road/trail leads you further and higher along the borderridge/borderfence until bm552. The dirtroad continues underneath the borderridge until bm553, the last bm in this stage. Then it takes another 4,5 km and 350m elevation along the borderridge up to Roc de France. After the descent to Coll dels Pous, there's a footpath bringing you directly and easily to Refuge de Salinas.

Considerations
Again, water is a concern since most of the route is on the borderridge. Collect enough water while you're still in Coustouges. At the end - at Refuge des Salinas, there's plenty of water.
Refuge de Salinas is nothing more then a large room with bunkbeds and a fireplace in a larger building. Camping seems possible beyond the building, further along the stream.

Factsheet
Routes
Km
Heights:
min - max
Heights:
start-finish
Cum. pos.
elevation
Cum. neg.
elevation
Cum. total
elevaton
Time
Bm's
covered
main route
14,4
826-1427
826-1090
966
701
1667
5:47
9
incl. all variants 14,9
826-1427
idem
995
730
1725
5:59
11
variant 1 via
bm543-544
1
(+o,5)
975-1017
981-1007
57
30
87
(+58)
0.22
(+0:12)

- the main route is a smooth trail along the border and most of the bordermarkers (within ±100m reach of the main route)
- the variants allow you to visit the remaining bordermarkers
- altitudes according to the NASA SRTM3 database, derived through
Gpsvisualizer:
- km & elevations according to Basecamp.
- time according to
Naismith's rule with average speed 4km/h; 10 min. extra for every 100m ascent and 5 min. extra for every 100m descent. Don't forget: this is a rough estimation.
- (+ or -) = extra km & elevation & time compared to continuing on the main route)
* = including overlap of 1 bm with previous stage
Bm's
covered
cumulative:
666
Bm's cum.
on main route:
369

Gps-files needed

kml/kmz
gpx (with
altitudes added)
Waypoints of all esfr-bordermarkers esfr-bordermarkers-all-waypoints.kml
gpx-version
Tracks of this stage grpdesbf-543-553-vs02.kml
gpx-version

Useful
You might check the relevant webpages in the 'All markers'-section and 'All my trips'-section. They provide pictures of the bordermarkers and additional information.

Version 01
March 2014. If you have any correction, suggestion etcetera -> please email me: eefberns@grenspalen.nl


MAPS AND DIRECTIONS
You might check the relevant webpages in the 'All markers'-section and 'All my trips'-section for more pictures of the bordermarkers and wayfinding-issues.

Print your own maps
It's easy to print your own - custom made - maps with the GRPdesBF-route and the bordermarkers on them.
See: Print your own maps



We start in the lovely village of Coustouges and pick up the yellow/red trail
which soon becomes only yellow waymarked and climbs
on a rocky path
- with in between this viewpoint back on Coustouges -
until you reach this broad sandy dirtroad.
A bit further you can already spot the hill-ridge where bm543 ans 544 are located.


There is a trail from the dirtroad towards bm543 but where does it start?

You will pass a first cairn at the right side of the road but it's the second one - 100m further - which is the one.


Variant 1 via bm543-544

Actually , you can already spot from this cairn in the distance the white metal pole besides bm543 (see the pictures further on)
The trail leads me to a hillside.

Its course is E-SEE for ± 250m, (passing in the end in fact underneath bm243), then bends N to climb the hillside.

Note: that bend to the N is the dominant course of the trail but the trail also continues straight ahead (NE -> SEE) on a smaller path. Don't go wrong there.

Let's show it on a map:
So: the trail bends to the NNW  and climbs to a high fence

From there the trail goes left along the fence.
When you have reached the ridge after ± 30m, there is a side-trail going SE.

In 40m hence and forth, you can visit bm543, its finding facilitated by a metal pole.
Bm543
The back and continuing along the fence
to bm544

Then further along the trail until
bm545.

You are now back on the main route.

Continue on the dirtroad, it will bring you in 700m to
bm546.

At this point, go to the right.



Bm547, on a small hill S of the dirtroad, amidst blackberry, with a iron pole besides it. The pole is visible from the road.
Bm548, to the N of the dirtroad, again with a pole besides. The pole is visible from the road.
Bm549, an atypical bm, located at a forested hill, amidst blackberry.

Might be difficult to reach, perhaps better from the dirtroad N of it.
Bm550, again a 'fat' granite one, close to a closed restaurant.

Beyond bm550 there's a 'borderpath' between two fences like a sort of no man's land.
Bm551, a small bm like bm549
Bm552, idem

Keep following the dirtroad which first winds left and right on eitherside of the borderline, then enters Spain and goes (orange waymarked) NEE to
bm553

Then it takes another 4,5 km and 350m elevation along the borderridge up to Roc de France.
Not much further beyond bm553: this "Menhir de la Dona Morta".

Continue on the -variously  waymarked - trail over the borderridge.

 
At Collada de Sant Martí the trail connects with the GR10-trail. When approaching Roc de France, wayfinding might be a bit confusing. This map might help you:

Remember that the GR10 (which winds underneath Roc de France at its N-side) will also bring you to Coll dels Pous.
At Coll dels Pous, there's a footpath going SE, bringing you directly and easily to Refuge de Salinas.

Refugi de Salines: the red door is the entrance of the refuge-part.
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