The bordermarkers of the Pyrenees : the GRPdesBF
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- stage 6 -
 
Col d'Ispéguy - D58 (bm091-137)

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Only the bordermarkers along this stage are shown (and some adjoining ones). The main route is red, the variants are blue. 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 long stage with a lot of bordermarkers. It's one of the most beautiful stages of the GRPdesBF.
The route continues from Col d'Ispeguy until bm130 mainly on a hillridge, often through nice beach forests and with magnificient views of the Basque landscape. There are 4 minor variants to cover all bordermarkers.
From bm130 to bm137, the borderline leaves the ridge and becomes a straight SE line over hills and valleys. That involves a tough variant while the main route makes an easy curve on Spanish soil.

Considerations
There are several nice options for bivouacing, getting water might require some descending to some stream: study your maps and plan your water refuel.
The variant along bm0131-136 requires trespassing of private property: be respectful to fences and cattle & ask permission when possible.

Factsheet
Routes
Km
Heights:
min - max
Heights:
start-finish
Cum. pos.
elevation
Cum. neg.
elevation
Cum. total
elevaton
Time
Bm's
this stage
main route
19.6
677-1138
677-758
1368
1287
2655
8.15
35*
incl. all variants
19.3
677-1138
idem
1667
1316
3276
8.57
47*
variant 1 via
bm092-094
0.9
(-0,1)
679-827
679-822
153
10
163
(+5)
0.29
(-o.01)
3
variant 2 via
bm097
0.3
(+0,1)
846-908
883-846
25
62
87
(+50)
0.10
(+0.05)
1
variant 3 via
bm113
0.7
(+0,1)
890-981
926-890
55
91
146
(+78)
0.20
(+0.07)
1
variant 4 via
bm124
0.6
(0.0)
817-865
817-853
51
15
66
(+28)
0.14
(+0.02)
1
variant 5 via
bm131-136
3,5
(-0,4)
702-914
911-772
349
489
838
(+460)
1.51
(+0.29)
6
- 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.Don't forget: this is a rough estimation.Don't forget: this is a rough estimation.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:
150
Bm's cum.
on main route:
119

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-091-137-vs02.kml
gpx-version

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

Version 02
March 2014. If you have any correction, suggestion etcetera -> please email me: eefberns@grenspalen.nl


MAPS AND DIRECTIONS

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



Your starting point: the Col d'Ispéguy with bm091.

In the background a venta-restaurant.

From here, first go S for 60m along a hedge until
this corner of a fenced field.

For the variant 1 via 092-094 go straight ahead to the edge of the forest.

The main route however turns right en continues along the fence and then picks up a path going SW and entering the forest.

It's a waymarked (green-white) trail which passes through the forest and then continues S on the hillside.

It then climbs SE towards the hillridge which is the borderline.
Variant 1 via bm092-094
From bm091, it's a short climb S straight through a steep forest to its edge. 

There might be trails to help you but anyway keep climbing S.

When leaving the forest, you will find
bm092 with at the rock at its foot the number engraved.

Then continue climbing along the next strip of forest as the previous map shows.


Bm093 is on a sort of saddle between two rocky parts.

Then continue S, travering along and through rock-ridges as this map show.

Then climb SE to the hillridge
and the highest point of the hill with bordercross bm094 (this picture looking N).


Bm094 looking forward = S

Now continue S along the  hillridge and after 300m you will join the main route (the green-white trail) coming from the right.
 End of variant 1
Continue on the green-white trail.

Right after entering a forest, bm095 is approximately 20 meters to the left at the end of a rocky ridge (this picture: looking back towards the trail).
The trail climbs to the edge of the forest (this picture) where we look down at a valley where the destroyed bm098 is located.




Zoom-in.

The green-white trail will bring you nicely to that spot.
But the original picture shows more: the border passes a kind of col to climb again to a ridge.

And useful if you want to bivouac: there are streams descending from the col (NE from bm099 and N of bm101).
From this view over the valley, bm096 is only 75m to the right (west) along a rocky ridge

Bm097 is at the hilltop in the background but that one involves variant 2.



Variant 2 via bm097
Approximately 75m SWW from bm096,  there's bm097 on this hilltop.

This picture: bm097, looking back along the edge of the forest where bm96 is located.

Descende S to the valley to the square stone enclosure.

End of variant 2
North-east of the enclosure, there are these shattered pieces of rock.

These are the remains of the vandalized bm098.
This map shows well your continuation.

After a half-circle covering bm099-102, you will climb again to the hillridge and follow it until bm105.
From bm098, the green-white trail brings you to bm099 and
further along bm100 (a bit to the S of the trail).

This picture: looking ahead. Note the position of bm103 which is not that easy to find.
Bm101, also a bit S of the trail.

And finally bm102, besides the tarmac-road.

Further on, to the right of the tarmac road (where it bends to the left), there's a distinct trail (not waymarked) leading uphill.
And let's show more precisely where bm103 is  located.

After the first forest-patch, there are rocks to the left and by going underneath them to the left, you will find (after 50m) easily

bm103

Return to the trail and follow it uphill (with a fence to the right, the ridge above to the left).
The trail climbs SWW in the forest, parallel to the ridge which is to the left above.

The trail ends more of less when you notice to the left a sort of pass (this picture).

You have to go this pass, the trail continues SW on the other side of the ridge and switches later to the spanish side of the ridge.

Note: you are in fact traversing underneath the hilltop of Hautza to the NW.
Continue SEE along the ridge. There's no clear trail anymore 

Bm104 is on the ridge itself. It's located ± 100m NW of a sort of pass which is wel recognizable.


Then climbing to the top of the ridge with bm105.
From bm105 you have to descend to another 'pass' between bm108 and 109.

Then you pick up again the ridge on an orange waymarked trail which will bring you until bm114.

To cover bm113 you need to do variant 3.
But first descend to bm106, seen here from distance.
Bm106
Then - 150m S down the hillside - bm107 and

further on bm108.
Bm109, situated at that (kind of) pass and looking back.

SE there's a stream where I once collected water.

From bm109 onwards, there's again a waymarked trail (orange) which is the main route until bm114
Further on S: bm110.

You are now on the next (border)ridge.
Bm111, after another 200m on the ridge.
The next bm - bm112 - is considerably further on the ridge: after ± 1 km.


The orange trail now leaves the borderridge, traverses through the forest and reaches after ±600m the edge (left) of an open hillside.

That's where variant 3 climbs SE to bm113.

The main route (still orange waymarked) however continues and makes a curve SW-SE and climbs over a lower part of the ridge and then descends S to bm114.
Variant 3 via bm113
As said, from bm112, the orange trail leaves the borderridge, traverses through the forest and reaches the edge (left of the trail) of an open hillside.

From there, climb directly SE to bm113.

From bm113, you can see well the pass SSW down below where bm114 is. Descend directly towards it.
Bm113.

By the way: it's not located on the summit itself of this hill (the Abraku) - where a cairn is - but ± 100m W of it.



End of variant 3
Bm114
Beyond bm114, it's a steep climb S on a distinct path into the forest.

It's the next ridge which will bring you to a next borderpass with bm117.

There's no waymarking but naviation is easy,
On the hilltop: bm115.
Then - 175m S - bm116, with a cross and a concrete pillar.
Then descending SWW and SW to bm117.

From here, you can pick up to the W another trail (yellow waymarked) which follows more or less the borderline
After 350m, the yellow trail bends left (=S).

That's where you have to leave the yellow trail for a short detour 75m NW to cover bm118.
After 450m, the yellow trail bends SWW.

That's where bm119 is. 
As you can see, we are climbing again to a ridge and hilltop (Zarkindegui) and descending to a borderpass (Col de Belaun).

The yellow trail (purple line) takes a route underneath that hilltop to join the GRPdesBF again at bm122.


Approximately 175m SWW from bm119 is bm120 engraved on this solitary rock.
Bm120.
The yellow trail now leaves the borderline to traverse N underneath the hilltop to reappear at bm122.

We stick to the borderridge and find bm121 at the hilltop.
Further on the ridge, you reach a point where the descent abruptly starts, a kind of view-point.

At your feet: bm122.

Descend a bit and join the yellow trail again.
Bm122bis is 75m E of the yellow trail. (and 175m S of bm122)

This picture: we're looking forward to the next pass - Col de Belaun. Bm123 is further on, on top of the hill.

The 'bis' of 122bis is hardly visible.


But painting helps.
That "bis" is engraved in small characters just above the second 2.

This is digital zoom-in of first picture above. You can see that the 'bis'-engraving has largely weathered away.


Then descending to Col de Belaun and climbing to the next hilltop where
bm123 is engraved on one of the boulders.
Bm123, looking back to Col de Belaun.

From here, the borderridge isn't that obvious anymore.
Beyond bm123, descend SWW for ± 150m to flatter part which is sort of pass.

From there, you need to do variant 4 to cover bm124.

The main route descends from that 'pass' 150m SW to a dirtroad.

That dirtroad brings you to Col d'Eyharza with bm125 nearby and where variant 4 ends.

Then a climb SE will bring you to bm126 and from there onwards a sturdy fence will easily guide you S along the bm's until bm130.
Variant 4 via bm124

Following the hillridge uphill (which is further on approximately the N-edge of a forest) you will find this large lying boulder with




bm124 engraved upon.

Then an easy descent of 200m SE to bm125 and Col d'Eyharza 50m further.

That's where you join the main route again.
End of variant 4
Bm125

Navigating now becomes more easy.
First a tough climb SE for 600m towards bm126.

While climbing, you will spot at your left hand a fence which also climbs towards bm126. Bend gradually to the fence and arrive together at the spot of bm126.

From here to bm130 this fence indicates the borderline. Also the GR11 has joined in from the NW.
Further on: bm127
Bm128
Bm129
Bm130

At this point the border leaves the fence (and the watershed).

It goes in a straight line SEE to the hilltop of the Ichterbegui (bm141) and then in a straight line SEE to Col de Lindus (bm155).

See the curisosities-page
for the item on Pays Quint.
The main route will continue its last part on easy trails and dirtroads until bm137.

Variant 5 is however a strenuous crossing of of hills and valleys to cover bm131-136 on the straight borderline bm130-137.


But first the main route.

From bm130‭ ‬it continues generally along cq parallel to the fence, following orange or red/white GR11-waymarks until you reach a gate after ± 2km.


This is that gate. At that point you have just left the GR11 which goes SW.

Go through the gate and continue on the country road‭. ‭ ‬The country road becomes a concrete road for a while and descends steeply later on.

Then you arrive after a bend in the road at a point where you can see to your left above
a cabin in army-camouflage colours.


‭ ‬At the other side you see down below a meadow in the forest.‭ ‬

You need to go down along the fence of the meadow through the forest untill you reach a narrow concrete road.‭ ‬See the map below for this part.

Following the narrow concrete road brings you to the main road.‭ ‬A few hundred meters to the left and you are at the venta Baztan which is the end of this stage.

Variant 5 via bm131-136
Approximately 200m S of bm130 you can cross the fence at a passage.

You are now (probably) entering private property : be respectful to fences and cattle & ask permission when possible.

From there on, directions are less useful. These maps and your compass should be sufficient to navigate from one bm to another.

NB: this is how I found my way in 2009. There are of course other options.
Bm131 should be easy to locate: it's 150m SE from the fence.

Then a steep descent SE to a stream, with a farm and meadow visible to the E and a forest in front of you.
After crossing the stream, circle clockwise SE and W around the forest to bm132.

You have to climb fences. Probably, this route is easier then going straight through the forest.

Curving counter-clockwise around the forest, might be the best option (but not tried in 2009).

Bm133 is located 300m SSE




Then - from bm133 - a steep descent S towards a stream. But first you will arrive at a barn with a meadow behind it.

From the west-side of the barn, go ± 75m SW on the dirtroad, crossing a branch of the stream.

A bit further take a path to the left to the stream itself. Cross the stream.

Then on compass-reading a steep climb into the forest (generally SSE). When the forest gets moren open, there's a lot of blackberry.

You will arrive at the fence of a meadow. Follow the fence counter clockwise until a dirtroad. Go E at the dirtroad.

After 175m at the dirtroad, bm134 is to the right above the dirtroad on a slope. A bit further on the dirtroad you can easily climb SWW to bm134.
Bm134

After all this difficult traversing of hills and valleys, things get more easy.
From bm134, climb SSE for 450 to the hilltop.

That's where bm135 stands, near some hunter's shelters.

Then an easy descent for 200m SSE to bm136.
After descending 100m SSE descent, you will arrive at the edge of a meadow with venta Baztan in sight.

Now traverse SE along the fence and a stream to the tarmac road and head for the venta.
End of variant 5
Bm137 is located SE underneath the venta.

It can be easily accessed by from the E, using the roads.
Bm137

(NB: between bm136 and 137, there are two unnumbered markers in a meadow. If you are interested: see this page.)
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