Loop of Ibons de Milar

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stuartbutler

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Trail stats

Distance: 9.74 mi
Elevation gain: 3,494 ft
Technical difficulty: Moderate
Elevation loss: 3,494 ft
Max elevation: 8,248 ft
TrailRank: 49
Min elevation: 4,822 ft
Trail type: Loop

Moving time: 3 hours 45 minutes
Time: 6 hours 20 minutes
Coordinates: 2584
Uploaded: September 23, 2023
Recorded: September 2023

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near Gistaín, Aragón (España)

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Trail photos

Itinerary description

Long 6hr hike with a big climb and descent but what a stunner that takes in four big lakes set deep in rocky mountain bowls plus a breezy pass with amazing views to Postets the second peak of the Pyrenees. Many people do a straight up and down to the two biggest lakes following the gr11 for most part but this circular trail uses a very lightly walked path and for much of the route - even in summer - you will be alone. There's a lot of variety and scenery changes but a big climb. Can be done either way but we have done it anti clockwise so as to get the heavy climb out the way first. The drive to start point from Plan involves a bumpy 39minbdirt road but okay in a normal car.

Waypoints

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From the campement virgin Blanca head a short way uphillon gr11 and over bridge and parking area

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Hundred metres later at this camping peel off road to right and cross bridge over stream

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At crossroads with cabin head down towards Chisten on gr19

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Wide trail through conifer forest

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Through wooden gate and pass sign for ibon del pixon. Immediately opp the sign a small footpath with green way markers goes hard uphill. Take this.

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Pass small grassy clearing after 20 min

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Shortly after come to another flower meadow which is bigger and grazed by cows in summer. From here u can work out route ahead up over cliffs to grassy slopes beyond

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Already gained some height

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Cross reliable year round stream

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At upper end of this valley reach rockier ground where path has a moment of confusion. By first conifer trees keep going straight up not right

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Way markers on steepest part of whole trail

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Very steep trail up gentle cliff and rock (easy and safe but steep)

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After a genuinely steep half hour when u might need to use your hands to go up some boulders the ground levels and you can almost sense the first lake coming up

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First lake. Took me hr and a half but two for most

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Go round left north side of lake

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Just go a very short way along edge of lake. Just before first pile of boulders turn sharp left for a gentle climb that doubles back on yourself

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Duck under this old dead tree

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Only a few stubby trees now and a lot more boulders. Leaving first lake be careful of online gpx telling you to follow path along edge of lake. You don't.

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By time you reach

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By time u reach 2350m u r firmly in a land of rock granite boulders and the only sound is the whistling wind. U pass a few cold still pools

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45min from first lake come to larger second lake which sits lonely in bleak rock scapes and is frozen till late in summer

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Keep to obvious path to left of lake climbing gently now to the pass straight ahead

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Cairns and markers guide you over rocky then steep ground away from lake to pass

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Up over a ridge almost at pass and then the second highest mountain in Pyrenees lords into view with it's distinctive reddish rock face and vanished glaciers

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From second lake to pass and down other side there are plenty of cairns but with all the rock it's easy to loose the path so a clear day is essential otherwise too easy to get lost

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45min from second lake and reach the pass which most of the time u will share with only izards and marmots

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Pass views

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Just over pass and first view of lake on this side of pass. Barren in it's rocky scree cirque. Head down towards it keeping to left hand side

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Drop down to edge of lake by old damn wall. Cross this. Small cabin to left

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Go left at end of damn wall heading away from lake north and pass cabin locked not for hikers. Pass some small pools and drop gently down

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Pass ruined cabin

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Trail much clearer now. Amazing view to second peak of Pyrenees

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Short sharp drop to next and final big lake

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Fast easy drop down to this sublime lake at foot of pestots

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Lost trail a bit here but head to north lake shore by damn wall

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Cross stream pass rain monitor and pass ruined stone cabin headed toward Pestots

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Path zig zags down quick now and colour and life rtn to rockscape

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At a trail junction u rejoin the gr11 for a super easy descent with soft grass and easy angles. Next to you are the huge sheer walls of postets

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Back onto shaded forest with a big canyon off to left

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Path drops down steep into the bed of two streams before a short climb again. Be careful in spring here as it's an avalanche zone and path often changes slightly after winters if damaged

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Strange waterfall or perhaps alien life form

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Now deep in forest

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Nice places to picnic as path flattens and grassy areas appear. Lots of wild boar at night

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Confusing but where path goes away from refuge and signed to postets. If you saw that cut straight over grassy area for 50m to faint forestry vehicle track and follow downhill over bridge

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Staying with forest track go through this gate

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Forest track drops steeper and at bottom is a green or wooden marker on right and easy to miss. Branch off here right on footpath down to river through forest

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Hit road again and then cut down right to bridge u crossed at start of day and back to car a moment away.

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