Hospice de France -port de Venasque circular

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Photo ofHospice de France -port de Venasque circular

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stuartbutler

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Trail stats

Distance: 9.75 mi
Elevation gain: 4,721 ft
Technical difficulty: Moderate
Elevation loss: 3,652 ft
Max elevation: 7,958 ft
TrailRank: 49
Min elevation: 7,958 ft
Trail type: One Way

Moving time: 4 hours 3 minutes
Time: 6 hours 21 minutes
Coordinates: 2731
Uploaded: October 5, 2023
Recorded: October 2023

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near Hospice de France, Occitanie (France)

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Trail photos

Itinerary description

Phone ran out of battery so last part from last way marker is a thirty min downhill on a wide zig zagging path through beech woodlands.
This is a superb circular walk full of surprise. After a very steep initial long climb you come to the refuge de venasque and it's series of surreal turquoise coloured lakes. Then another short steep climb to a hidden away natural gate in the mountain face for a stunning view over Aneto and Maladeta and down into Spanish valleys. Sweep along east just below frontier ridge to another pass, port dere Picade where another surprising panaroma over a plateau dotted in little lakes and folds of mountains beyond opens up. A flat stroll leads to a third pass, pas de l'escallette where the scenery changes again as you re enter France and rolling pasture lands. Drop down a long crete before a final walk over pastures and then down through woodlands to close out this long varied classic. It's a long walk about 6hrs minium without pauses and a big altitude gain but can be broken into two easy days staying at refuge de venasque or going deeper into Spain to stay at the refuge there.

Waypoints

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From parking go past hospice de France and right down over stream it's signed

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Within moments you're at the base of a dramatically steep sides cirque

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Crossing another stream the path starts a hard zigzag climb up walls of cirque. Yellow markers but also super easy to follow trail

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Fifty min from start cross over stream again just below a waterfall and path continue fast up

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Nearing top of cirque wall pass another small waterfall

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Hr thirty five from start and a hell of a climb reach a gap at a small pass after which path climbs much more moderately

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After two minutes ignore path off to left and continue straight ahead

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Finally hour forty five from kick off and reach the refuge de venasque with it's small lake in front. U are now in high country. From refuge take path around left side of lake heading south

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Walk past a couple of gorgeous deep blue lakes

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Climb up beside last biggest lake.

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The path clambers up another 200 metres in height gain aiming toward an apparently unpassable rock face. Lake views are wonderful

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Views

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Thirty minutes from refuge last part steep u come to this impressive gateway the port de venasque

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Spanish side of port with Aneto and it's near vanished glacier glaring you in the face

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On Spanish side now a gentle descent takes you down to grassy plateau

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Five min later directions Bensurata

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Pass marshy pool thirty min from porte and just after to info panel about maladeta glacier leave red and white gr trail here and go left climbing up again to obvious pass. Note there is another trail from porte de venasque that stays higher but it's little used today and easy to miss. It crosses some steep scree slopes so better to follow the route here

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Easy walk uphill over high grassy plateau full of grasshoppers and birds.

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A final climb reaches second pass The view into Spain is nice but the view back into France is out of this world. A series of small lakes sprawled over grassy plateau and beyond mountains line up as far as the eye can see. Superb. From pass follow clear path straight ahead on there side to left of lakes

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Fifteen min from port dera picada go left at fork

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Path climbs in unexpected direction a if going to low rocky summit. It's a little exposed but wide and not dangerous

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After just few min another surprise awaits as you reach third pass and arrive in France to vast grassy plateaus and pastures. Take the trail going left but it's also worth five min detour on right path up to low easy summit a few min away and from where u can cut back to main trail

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Five min later on summit where again a surprise awaits as this otherwise gentle grassy hill has had it's far end torn away to a steep drop. Watch for soaring vultures and enjoy the peace. Head left from the ridge and follow it five min down to main trail

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Pass huge stone cairns on a steep Crete

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Thirty min from pass after a long descent down grassy ridge hit a trail junction in a deep green grassy pasture where u go slightly left straight north on most obvious flat trail over more pastures