The bordermarkers of the Pyrenees : all my trips
Print this page

- wednesday 15 september 2021 -
Short reconnaissance to Valle de Añes Cruces


previous trip      next trip

Summary: part of a series of 11 daytrips in september 2021 in the western half of the Pyrenees. This is day 7.

Today: from Refugio de Viadós a short trip to Valle de Añes Cruces to have a closer look on the climb to Puerto de Chistau. My main GRPdesBF-route crosses that Puerto but is it not too steep for a hiker with a backpack.


Weather: cloudy



track-20210915.kml
(click to open this trip in Google Earth or copy link to Google Maps; click right on this link to download gpx-version). The gps-track has not been manually  corrected which explains the inaccuracy and misalignment at some points. 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 elevation added by gpsvisualizer.com)
According to Garmin Basecamp (uncorrected track with elevation added by Gpsvisualizer.com):

Distance: 9,3km
Max-height: 2104m
Min-height: 1695m
Elevation: +656m -656m
Total elevation: 1312m

Start 12:04  Finish 15:28
Total time: 3:24
In the early morning I drove from Lourdes via de Bielsa-tunnel to this building at the south-side of the tunnel.

I planned to do bm323-325 from here but it was already too late. I will do that tomorrow.


(click photo to enlarge)
Instead I drive on to San Juan de Plan and then on a bumpy dirtroad (± 10km) to this parking near Refugio de Viadós.


(click photo to enlarge)
From that parking, there is a waymarked path through the forest to the Refugio. It brings you at the backside of it.

You might as well - easier and faster - follow the dirtroad from the parking


(click photo to enlarge)
Refugio de Viadós


(click photo to enlarge)
Waysigns


(click photo to enlarge)
point among others to Refugio de Estós along the GR11.

My main GRPdesBF-route follows in this area the GR11 and climbs the Puerto de Chistau to get in the valley where Refugio de Estós is.

That makes me wonder what I am doing here. If the average GR11-walker can cope with that mountain-pass, why not my GRPdesBF-hikers?


(click photo to enlarge)
But now I am here. So I continue, over this bridge and on a well trodden and waymarked path.


(click photo to enlarge)
Bifork further on


(click photo to enlarge)
The direction to take is to Puerto de Chistau.


(click photo to enlarge)
Along the mountainside


(click photo to enlarge)
and gradually approaching


(click photo to enlarge)
my destination.

In the blue circle


(click photo to enlarge)
Cabaña de Añes Cruces which is above the actual Valle de Añes Cruces.


(click photo to enlarge)
Arriving at the scene to investigate (Valle de Añes Cruces).

The red route is the main GRPdesBF-route and the blue one the variant to bm330 (and bm330bis).


(click photo to enlarge)
Another view with this panorama.


(click photo to enlarge)
Descending to the junction of the three streams and looking in the direction of Puerto de Chistau.

There are 3 streams to cross to get to the trail which climbs to Puerto de Chistau.


(click photo to enlarge)
A bit tricky, this first bridge, but you can easily jump over the stream.


(click photo to enlarge)
A second bridge, same story.


(click photo to enlarge)
These signposts point


(click photo to enlarge)
to 2 mountain passes.

(click photo to enlarge)

Puerto de Añes Cruces (bm330) is the Spanish name for Col d'Aygues Tortes.

In the treaty of 1863 that borderpass was called Port de Clarabide. But in later years that name shifted to a borderpass 4km to the east. The original bm330 was forgotten and a new one was engraved at the current Port de Clarabide. See this page for the story of bm330-330bis in
'Changing toponomy: how the original bm330 was forgotten and refound'
The other waysign.


(click photo to enlarge)
The third stream to cross before the climb to Puerto de Chistau starts.


(click photo to enlarge)
Also here a bridge, not necessary to cross the stream.

(click photo to enlarge)

It's too late and too cloudy to continue to Puerto de Chistau so I return.

And as said before: if the average GR11-walker can cope with that mountain-pass, why not my GRPdesBF-hikers?
I have a look in the hikers-cabin of Cabaña de Añes Cruces and


(click photo to enlarge)
walk back at my ease.

This picture: the last part with


(click photo to enlarge)
- zoom-in - the Refugio de Viadós already in sight.


(click photo to enlarge)
Driving back. In Bielsa there is a fine camping (Complejo Turistico Camping Bielsa).

My small pop-up tent is perfect for an one-night stay like this.


(click photo to enlarge)
previous trip      next trip