Cirque d'olibon

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Author

stuartbutler

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Trail stats

Distance: 11.05 mi
Elevation gain: 3,071 ft
Technical difficulty: Moderate
Elevation loss: 3,071 ft
Max elevation: 6,961 ft
TrailRank: 42
Min elevation: 6,961 ft
Trail type: Loop

Moving time: 4 hours 30 minutes
Time: 6 hours 15 minutes
Coordinates: 3244
Uploaded: June 2, 2021
Recorded: June 2021

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near Bérat du Bas, Nouvelle-Aquitaine (Francia)

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Trail photos

Itinerary description

Add also about going down via the wire ropes on cliffs to make nice loop. From the busy lake follow a quiet trail to a mighty cirque that few people realize even exists. We have had it to our selves even I June. Just marmots and lots of izard. Very satisfying walk. 5hrs walk time.

Waypoints

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Head down to river from parking

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Lake after hr 10

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Drop down to lake where it runs tight against high mountain slopes at South end

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The path rises up over rocky ground. Direct ahead is a high finger if rock

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Path can be indistinct but there are Cairns and some yellow and green way markers

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After 10min on this rocky trail cross a rock ridge and drop back to lake shore where a stream emerges into lake and waterfall tumbles down mountain slop to left

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Don't drop down to lake but 25m past rock ridge there is an indistinct and unma4ked junction. One trail drops to lake the other heading leftgoes up to small ridge 30m higher up. Take this in south direction

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After couple min reach gap in rock face for superb view back to lake. The trail is now clearer and marked with yellow and green and enters a wild mountain cirque. A waterfall is off to right. Keep heading south

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At head of this cirque and by a str3am is a trail junction. Go left SE and climb upward

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Having crossed stream u are now followy it upstream on true left and path is now the gr 11trans Spanish pyrenees route marked in red and white.cross through a deamy little pasture to low grassy ridge

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At top of grassy ridge is another waterfall and start of wide flat pasture. Path forks by waterfall. Take right path which quickly starts climb

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After an energetic but short climb which takes u to notch between two rocky peaks and sees u pass above waterfall u were at base of just 20min ago u emerge I to cirque

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The cirque floor of which is water logged in early summer with ice melt

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At head of cirque

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Carry 9n to head of cirq and path turns to right for short climb to this low pass. Walk on two min to small lake on left

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Lake 29m past pass and view other way west

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Huge boulders size of cars lie heaped in places along cirque floor. Outside high summer when shepherd graze flocks here the only other sign of life likely marmot and izards name of valley means izard valley

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If u get valley to yourself it inspires real awe

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Rtn to main lake by same route

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Viewa

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Back through beech forest

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The forest communale de Borce and the clear fast flowing river. Can't swim but some ßpots to paddle

Comments (1)

romain Arnaud 1 Jun 17, 2023
J'ai suivie votre trajet et il est très complet, il y a juste la bifurcation du lac vers la vallée qui était un peux flou mais la carte IGN a stoppé les doutes. Merci pour l'ajout

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