Perdiguère 3222m border-hike and -scramble

Start: Col inférieur de Literole 2983m (see the Pyrenean Haute Route to get there)
Distance: 5,64 km (circular route)
Total ascent and descent: 662m
Alpine grade: F+
Recommended months: Mid-July to September/October (as long as there's no snow and ice)
Time: 4h45
Route: via Aguille de Literole 3028m, Pointe de Literole 3132m, Pic Royo 3121m, Tuca de Literole 3095m, Hito Occidental del Pergiguero 3176m (optional) and Hito Oriental del Perdiguero 3170m.
Recommended gear: helmet (low risk of stonefall in the start), early in the season crampons and ice-axe may be useful at the French side of Col Inférieur de Literole.

This route takes an adventurous hiker above the Pyrenean Haute Route to a exciting ridgewalk that leads to the Perdiguère. The fact that this circular walk/scramble starts from the highest col of the Pyrenean Haute Route gives an indication of the spectacular views there are to be enjoyed. In the start there is a little route-finding and scrambling but soon this is a surprisingly easy borderwalk to one of the Pyrenees legendary peaks. Still it should be clear that this is no trail for anyone with the slightest form of vertigo! It returns to the start via the Pyrenean Haute Route from Portal de Remune.

0.00 Col Inférieur de Literole. Walk S on the French side of the border and go next to a first small peak to a small pass, which is reached very soon. Move to the Spanish side of the border and walk 250m on a trail marked with cairns (the crest has too many loose rocks here and is therefor unsafe). Walk and scramble up to the ridge (take care for loose rocks), pass the Aguille de Literole and scramble on to

0.35 Pointe de Literole 3132m. The are fantastic views to Ibon Blanco de Lliterola, Lac de Portillon, Perdiguère, etc. Continue on the ridge and easily reach Pic Royo 3121m and Tuc de Literole 3095. Go down shortly to Col Supérieur de Literole 3049m. Scramble steeply up after the col, cross a few minor peaks and arrive at a small flat area that marks the final climb to the main peak of the Portillon area, the Perdiguère. Follow either the centre of the ridge (a decent scramble without real difficulties) or stay a little below the ridge on the French side and reach:

1.55 Pic Perdiguère 3222m. Supurb views to the close surroundings and the Posets massif, Pic Schrader and the Maladeta massif. There is a large stone windbreak near the peak.

To the SW there is an optional peak, Hito Occidental del Perdiguero 3176m, which can easily be reached by descending WSW from Pic Perdiguère and then climbing a little again. Take the same way back to Pic Perdiguère. Back and forth to this optional peak takes about 25min. The timing is not included in the timing given here.

To continue, follow the crestline E and reach Hito Oriental del Perdiguero after 20min. Continue descending in the same direction. There are cairns and where hikers have gone the rocks have a lighter colour. The are several trails to chose from, but all will lead you to the S end of:

3.40 Ibon Blanco de Literola 2734m where you can easily cross the outflow of the lake.
Climb 80m NE, passing several bivouac places (stone windbreaks) and arrive close to Portal de Remune 2831m. There's no need to go as for as the actual col. Now follow cairns that keep you at about 2830m and finally climb over rocks, scree and possibly snow back to:

4.45 Col Inférieur de Literole 2983m