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2035 Hits
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74.92% Score
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5 Votes
Page Type:
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Route |
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Lat/Lon:
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42.70010°N / 0.48168°E |
GPX File:
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Download GPX » View Route on Map |
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Route Type:
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Mountaineering |
Season:
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Spring, Summer, Fall |
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Time Required:
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A long day |
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Difficulty:
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F.sup. (II-) |
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Rock Difficulty:
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5.0 (YDS) |
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Grade:
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II |
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Overview
The easier route or normal if Pic Gourgs Blancs is across Puerto de Gías but it's not always evident.Note: the track for gps includes the West ridge (P.D.) and the normal route (F.sup.)
Getting There
Refugio de EstósDriving your own car: Wherever you start driving, the entrance to the valley of Benasque is the spanish city of Barbastro, easily reachable from Huesca or Lleida and placed about 40 km east of the former. Once you get to Barbastro, take road N123A and follow it up to the signposts marking the deviation towards Graus. Once you get to this small city, just follow road A139 northwards for an additional 59km and you will get to Benasque.
When you reach Benasque you will still have some kilometres to go (say four to six…) on the road northwards. Just after crossing the bridge of San Chaime (Puente de San Chaime), there’s a dirt road leading to your left (westwards) marked by the red-and-white signs of the GR11 trail. An additional two kilometres on that dirt road will place you in the parking area (near some barracks, about 1300 meters above sea level). Leave the car there and start hiking up the valley towards the Refugio de Estós.
Refuge de la Soula
Access to Pont de Prat:
Pont de Prat is easily reachable from the village of Loudenvielle. Loudenvielle is situated at west of Col de Peyresourde. The road of La Nested du Louron goes to the area of Pont de Prat (1255m). The access to Refuge de la Soula(1h30m) is across Gorges de Clarabides in 1h30m.
Route Description
Start walking uphill from the refugio de Estós, taking the small path placed behind the toilets. It will take you east-northeast at the beginning, going uphill along the steep Barranco de Gias. It's always properly marked by cairns and will soon turn north for a bigger altitude gain, towards some steep cliffs where you will have to cross the water stream to face a smooth slippery rocky area followed by an easy small chimney. Then the path goes on winding along grassy prairies with lots of rocks and slabs for another hour -or so- to reach the Ibón inferior de Gias and the bigger Ibón de Gias (about 2,600m).
You will need to walk around the western bank of the lake, following the cairns, towards the col you can see to the northwest (between the rounded Clarabide Oriental and the huge wall of Gourgs Blancs). Panoramas will turn wider and wider as you approach the col.
In the Puerto de Gías (2,921m) you will turn to right side trying to follow some cairns in diagonal passing under the ridge in a big terrace. You'll continue with patience turning to left slowly passing even under the summit before turning to left to reach the access to the ridge between Gourgs Blancs and Pic Jean Arlaud. You'll turn to left walking to the summit.