2 weeks Pyrenees hiking up to PICA d'ESTATS the Catalans holy mountain

no climbing Your dates

adventure trekking Trekking through the French, Spanish and Andorran Pyrenees, to the high and wild massif around peak Pica d'Estats.

Level of difficulty ***, Landscape and photos ***, Wild life ***, Flowers **

Real trekking = no huts, no campings, real hiking the Pyrenees mountains with rucksack and tent and only what one really needs. Up into the mountains walking along less known paths only known by those shepherds and mountaineers that know and find them because they live here. Every night camping in the midst of nature.

PICA D’ESTATS MASSIF (Catalonia)

The Pica d'Estats massif right on the border between the French Ariege an Spanish Catalonia is Catalonia's highest and sacred mountain as you may guess from the pictures it's quite impressive.

Hiking this massif is sport, it's the highest  and roughest of the eastern part of the Pyrenees.  Here are the first more than 3000m peaks with more than 50 tarns (estanys), each one deeper blue than the next.

Views in this little known area are exceptional.

The Spanish part (Vall Ferrara) is already a reserve and France intends to make it's side a " parc naturel ". 

We camp as we feel near some beautiful wild tarn or other nice spot.

exciting family holidays in France : cheap guesthouse and guided hikes in the Ariege Pyrenees

Spanish Pyrenees guided hikes and treks
  • Level : (adaptable) for learners, hikers and mountaineers with no fear of heights.  Many of the paths we'll be hiking are poorly or not marked  at all and you have to scramble to get to the best parts.  Two weeks away from it all in the midst of nature; average 1000m of ascent and descent per day.

  • Rhythm : 5 to 6 hours walking per day, 1 rest day.  Ascent of Puig d’Estats from a base camp (thus without a heavy rucksack).

Pic d'Estats massif is mineral and "red" as shows this picture.

The mountains here go above 3000 metres and belong to the highest in the Pyrenees. 

Because peaks are just a few hundred meter higher than the passes and few north-south routes cross here, you can spend days hiking in these mountains without coming across a beaten path.  Of course that explains why the natural beauty of the area has remained so unspoilt.

The Pica d'Estats massif is exceptionally beautiful (with wild narcissus and lilies), has a pleasant Mediterranean climate (although some snow is always possible high up !), abundant chamois and also sites from the Spanish civil war.

Pyrenees private guided hikes itinerary : Hiking along unpublished alternative Pyrenean high level route- HRP - paths walking along almost forgotten paths in France, Andorra and Spain.

Day 1 to 3,  Adventure trekking from the French Ariege through Andorra to Spain :

hiking the old Mule path steeply up from Bouychet (928M) in Siguer valley to Jasse de Broquenat an high meadow.

The torrent changes its course often here, passing  lake Peyregrand to what according to "guide" ?? booklets should be the Peyregrand hut.

In facts is an almost ruined and dirty 3 by 4 m thing.

But there is a good well nearby and the valley is quiet and lovely (1900M).

Estanys (=lake) de LLassies (2386M). Port de Siguer Pass, this is Andorra, Estanys de Tristaina (2300M) 

Estanys Creusans, following what used to be a path and sheep trails  through the high Soulcem valley up to one of the old passes to Spain.

 

Day 4 to 8, Spain : Exploring the Pica d'Estats Massif :

Lago (yes it also means lake, "lago" should be bigger than "estany" here it's true but not always) Aresi, Lago de Areste, looking for the old trail, maybe some cairns left to the pass (2600M) following the sheep trail to Estany Fondo (2480M).

There is an old trail above estany de Sotlo heading for Estany d'Estats (2500M). Base camp, Climbing peak Puig Verdaquer (3125M), Montcalm (3077M) and Pica d'Estats (3114M). One day off at the beautiful Cirque de Sotlo.

 

Thanks to or collegue philosopher Tuomas Tahko

Day 9 to 12, Adventure Trekking :

taking one of the forgotten high passes to get back to France (around 2700M) along some of the Arieges most beautiful high mountain lakes : Estanys de la Gardella (2431M) at the feets of Punta de Romazet, Soulcem (1600M), the protohistoric Orrhys de Carla, etangs Picot (2400M), Fourcat, Lake Goelle, Gnioure valley down to big lake Gnioure (1832M), Up again to six beautiful hidden lakes  Estanys de Neych (2000M), crossing the pass to high lake Redouneille des Vaches (2127M) back to Siguer valley Jasse de Brouquenat and Bouychet.

Private Mountain leader service Pyrenees for you, your family or group made to measure trekking Pyrenees?

Terms :

Basic cost : 75€ per day (1 participant), +50€ a day (2nd participant), + 30€ (3rd participant), +20€ a day (4th and next participants)

Max. groupsize: 9 participants

Included : guiding,  hiking tents, cookers, sleeping mats.

Not included: food, sleeping bags, rucksacks can be hire at 2€ an overnight.

When staying in huts the guide's costs (board and lodging) are yours, this is usual.

Need more information? contact Richard, 

make sure to contact Richard in time (now!) to hear if he's still free for trekking or hiking in the Pyrenees the period you want. 

Backpacking trouhg the Spanish Pyrenees Pica d'Estats

When needed : some rucksacks and sleeping bags are available and can be hired (2€ per overnight each)

Practical information : Tips for a lighter Rucksack, how to get to the Pyrenees, more about us, click here

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