Lac de montagne

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From new parking area follow dirt track past barrier gently uphill

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After 15 min pass some old stone barns next to a hurried river. Keep straight ahead

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Follow road around to right it's signed

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After around 25min and at 1062m come to old parking area. Veer off road here to left and follow grassy trail hard up into dense dark woodland

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Moment or so later hop over stream

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Now the hard work begins. Fearsomely steep climb. After 5min pass through sty.

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Superb forest. Path unmarked for most part but easy to make oit

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Rare yellow markers keep I going right way

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After hr 30 and at 1360m emerge out of forest very suddenly onto a pasture with livestock and scattered trees continue straight ahead east to obvious ridge. High karstic peaks on right and view toward lescun behind. This is the Crete de Barca.

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After hr 45 reach the shepherd cabin (name on sign) where semi wild horses spend summer grazing with a millionaires view over valley. There's a cold clean water source here. Continue up hard in east direction

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At 1733m and 2hrs from start there's a trail junction with giant rock walls on your right. Continue straight ahead east toward obvious pass between rock walls. Path finally beginning to level out a bit more

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Valley dips down but path stays level on left flank of hill. Vulture and eagle roost on clenched fist rock slopes

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Reach the pass col de la taillandere after 2.5 hrs. There's an electric fence here for livestock and sign saying danger to continue buy no indication why and trail goes right past fence drops down a little and bends left. As view of valley de ossau opens up ahead

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From pass path climbs again bending right SW and heading around the back of the clenched fist rock faces which conceal the lake

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Most dangerous part of walk follows (and why it said dangerous) a steep climb up rubble slope at foot of rockfall probe peak

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Path itself not dangerous in clear snow free condition (but shady angle means snow lingers) but rockfall danger is real so don't linger but go steady

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Good way marking here. Last bit very steep and slidy loose rock

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After a good 3hrs from start and a leg burning final 29min asce t come to a ridge with the lake just Infront and below u. Heavily grazed by summer livestock it's an idylic spot but for full heart shaped overview u need to continue climbing and from this angle it looks high and far

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Go around left south side of lake and start climbing on clear path

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Path goes hard up in a SSW direction following a damp stream seasonal in places

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At m come to a pass with trail left and right and epic view toward lescun and ossau and lake. We will go first left to highest peak a few min climb onward. It's 25min from start of climb by lake to this point and in places can be quite vertical

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Summit of pic de Madras 2188m after 4hr from start and 30mim from lake

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Back at junction just below peak this time go straight ahead to the margin lower peak now facing you

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To get to summit of this peak the path splits a moment from top don't take very steep unstable one straight ahead but take one branching left going behind peak so u loose sight of lake and get views into valley d'aspe. It's much safer and climbs up without dfear of falling

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View from second summit

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Follow trail around lake for a view from other side

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From this northern side of lake it appears the lake is in middle of volcanic caldera. Perhaps it is? Very steep sides.. be very careful if climbing around slopes fringing lake. Do not take children weak walkers or vertigo sufferers up to two main peaks. Most people just climb 50m up above lake on north side for a perfect heart shaped view without the risk and exertion of summit.

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100m after rejoing Rd u can do a little short cut by veering off left there's a sign takes u through woods off road

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2 ?min later hot Rd again having cut off a sweep of road. It saves a bit of time but very little