Stage 3

From refuge Certascan to Pinet by l'Artiga pass

Unevenness: +1.350, -1.350m.
Distance: 13 kms.
Time: 7h 45min.
Dificulty:*** We move through high mountain terrain with fairly effective slopes and paths in some almost nonexistent sections. It is the most complete and harsh stage of the circuit.
GPS: Wikiloc

This stage is wonderful because as well as to pass through the Romedo lakes, it leads us through the lonely l'Artiga valley and the Montestaure lake, where the livestock-farming pathes nearly had disappeared.

Also we can admire the impressives unevenness of the french valleys, cause in a few kilometres there are some abysses of more than 2000 metres.

1.- From the refuge of Certascan we descend to the small lake and at 2090 meters we can take a zigzag to the Coll de Llurri.

2.-We descend to the Romedo lakes ponds and we follow the river gently until the road turns east with a steep climb to the Port of Artiga.

3.- From Artiga pass, we descend the canal (snow until July) to turn slightly later to the right. We continue through large granite blocks the valley and turn right to reach large landings.

4.-We cross the wetlands and climb to the left of the marked ravine. From the Montestaure lake we turn west to find the peat and crest. We climb a few meters below the wall that flank until the Pointe Recou of 2447 m.

5.-We went down a very steep slope and then followed the channel to the hill of the Picou Estela. We leave without an obvious road about 150 meters above sea level and flank to pass under the rocky spur. We continue flanking and then we have to go up to a kind of necklace, more than we think and it is the only point where you can cross the river. We go down to cross it and overcome a small canal where we have to take our hands, to get off at the refuge of Pinet.