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PICA d'ESTATS the Catalans holy mountain
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
picture right hand side.
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 ".
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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.
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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.
We
camp as we feel near some beautiful wild tarn or other nice spot.
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Itinerary
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Hiking along unpublished alternative Pyrenean high level route- HRP - paths walking along
almost forgotten paths in France, Andorra and Spain.
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1 too 3, Adventure trekking from the French Ariege throgh 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. |
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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. |
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.
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Private Guide Service for you, your family or group made to measure
trekking Pyrenees?
Terms :
Basic cost :
180€ per day. Membership fee included.
Membership conditions
Included : guiding, 3-4 person tents, cookers, sleeping
mats
Not included : food
and travelcosts.
When
staying in huts the guide's costs (board and
lodging) are yours, this is usual.
contact Richard
your Pyrenees mountain leader
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When needed :
some
single person tents, rucksacks and sleeping bags are available and can be
hired (2€ per overnight each) 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.
Practical information : Tips for a lighter Rucksack, how to get to the
Pyrenees, more about us,
click here
Refer
this page to a friend? click
here
If you notice some disturbing mistakes in
our English please
let us know
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