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Col and pic d'ayous

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Author

stuartbutler
769 62 1346
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Trail stats

Distance
9.78 mi
Elevation gain
3,596 ft
Technical difficulty
Difficult
Elevation loss
3,596 ft
Max elevation
7,497 ft
TrailRank 
42
Min elevation
7,497 ft
Trail type
Loop
Moving time
4 hours 12 minutes
Time
6 hours 52 minutes
Coordinates
2885
Uploaded
May 23, 2021
Recorded
May 2021
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near Gabas, Nouvelle-Aquitaine (France)

Viewed 115 times, downloaded 10 times

Trail photos

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Itinerary description

Col and pic d'ayous

Waypoints

PictographPhoto Altitude 4,629 ft
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From carpark go round north side of lake by damn wall

PictographPhoto Altitude 4,613 ft
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It's a nice wide trail

PictographPhoto Altitude 4,636 ft
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On damn wall

PictographPhoto Altitude 4,677 ft
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Pàss watero7tflow pipe at end of damn wall and 59m later just before a stream veer right uphill up rocky clear but unmarked trail by hunting sign board

PictographPhoto Altitude 4,715 ft
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After 5min climbing reach junction. Cross straight over. Heading west

PictographPhoto Altitude 4,723 ft
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Few min later a flowery clearing gives wonderful views of lake and pic du midi

PictographPhoto Altitude 5,074 ft
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Big cliff face on right with stream between u and it

PictographPhoto Altitude 5,202 ft
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45min from start clear forest onto wide glacial valley. Small waterfall on 4ight

PictographPhoto Altitude 5,377 ft
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There's a small stone cabin 100m into pasture next to stream. Keep climbing gently west

PictographPhoto Altitude 5,469 ft
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Very attractive valley full of flowers and home to masses of marmots.

PictographPhoto Altitude 5,588 ft
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As u get closer to head of valley the path gets less obvious but watch for rock Cairns and keep to right true left of stream

PictographPhoto Altitude 5,773 ft
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In places trail is as much a small stream bed as path. Aiming toward the gap to the right nw. There is a line tree on hill to right of pass

PictographPhoto Altitude 6,042 ft
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Right nr head of valley is a junction that's not clear at all. Veer right though not toward steep scree slope

PictographPhoto Altitude 6,192 ft
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Path is very confusing and many sheep trails but veer nw and to r8ght of hill with single tree and climb t9 grassy pass

PictographPhoto Altitude 6,938 ft
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Eventually you reach the crest of a steep ridge and Nat park marker posts. A clear trail runs along ridge left sse. Follow this

PictographPhoto Altitude 6,897 ft
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Okay totally messed up. Don't veer off right and carry on up head of valley and path becomes clearer as aims for a little norch in cliff face tight against rock wall. It's a steep dramatic pass with great views

PictographPhoto Altitude 6,782 ft
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Cross over pass and a wonderful wild and roadless valley is revealed. Follow path down and around west flank of the cliffs of pic d’,ayous

PictographPhoto Altitude 6,787 ft
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Pass a small waterfall . Can see gr 10 trail on opp side of valley

PictographPhoto Altitude 6,814 ft
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Stream and path becomes one and same

PictographPhoto Altitude 6,999 ft
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Around waterfall stream the path heads south a few more min climbing to obvious pass

PictographPhoto Altitude 7,185 ft
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It's a short but steep pull up onto pass. From pass head right still going more moderately uphill to again summit in few min

PictographPhoto Altitude 7,218 ft
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View se from pass

PictographPhoto Altitude 7,218 ft
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Pass

PictographPhoto Altitude 7,481 ft
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5min climb to summit

PictographPhoto Altitude 7,354 ft
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Rtn to pass and go round nw flank of small peak to right side of oass

PictographPhoto Altitude 7,155 ft
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After 5min reach col d'ayous (other col is something else) and gr 10. Turn left and descend toward refuge ayous

PictographPhoto Altitude 6,996 ft
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Red white gr markers now path drops sharp

PictographPhoto Altitude 6,385 ft
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After 25min descent reach lake shore and turn left onto wide clear path

PictographPhoto Altitude 6,354 ft
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After 5min pass another lake and pic du midi fills view ahead

PictographPhoto Altitude 6,346 ft
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Pic du midi

PictographPhoto Altitude 6,259 ft
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Pass waterfall leading to yet another lake

PictographPhoto Altitude 6,065 ft
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Lakes

PictographPhoto Altitude 5,698 ft
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After 40min renter beech woodlands on easy but steady falling trail

PictographPhoto Altitude 5,007 ft
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On reaching valley floor with cattle pasture go left through gate

PictographPhoto Altitude 4,785 ft
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Last part is a long drop down on a cement rd (not for public use)

PictographPhoto Altitude 4,895 ft
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Even though on cement rd the scenery doesn't let up. There are glimpses of the vibrant river and lovely old beech trees

PictographPhoto Altitude 4,647 ft
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It's half hr from valley floor back to upper carpark (add another 10 min for drop to lower parking

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