Features
The circuit links 4 refuges, Certascan, Pinet, Vall-Ferrera and camping-refuge Bordes de Graus as well as to pass through the village of Tavascan and make a route by the new Parc Natural de l'Alt Pirineu as well as by the l'Ariège.
The accumulated unevenness is about 11.000 metres in a distance of 65 kms.
All stages go through the high mountains and this implies that the climatological and terrain conditions can change radically in a sudden way, being advisable according to the weather and weather forecasts, bringing technical material such as: crampons, helmet, canes, mountain boots, clothes shelter, waterproof, etc ...
The carrying-out of this circuit can involve some riskes and troubles that each person must value according one's own experience
|
Stage 1 |
Stage 2 |
Stage 3 |
Stage 4 |
Stage 5 |
| Start |
Tavascan (1.116m) |
Càmping de Graus (1.360m) |
Refugi de Certascan (2.240m) |
Refugi de Pinet (2.240m) |
Refugi de Vallferrera (1.940m) |
| Finish |
Càmping de Graus (1.360m) |
Refugi de Certascan (2.240m) |
Refugi de Pinet (2.240m) |
Refugi de Vallferrera (1.940m) |
Tavascan (1.116m) |
| Unevennes |
+290m, -50m | +1.500m, -620m | +1.350m, -1.350m | +1.100m, -1.400m | +1.315m, -2.100m |
| Distance | 4,2 kms | 12,5 kms | 13,3 kms | 13,3 kms | 20,3 kms |
| Time | 1h 30min | 6h 20min | 7h 45min | 7h 15min | 9h 30min |
The novelty and the importance of this circuit regarding another existent routes carries out about different aspects:
- Almost all the route is developed at a height and we will climb to the highest peak in Catalonia, the Pica d'Estats (3,143m), as well as the Certascan peak (2,853m), the Cigalera Rock and the Pointe Recou.
- Stunning places such as the Lake of Certascan (the largest natural lake in the Pyrenees), Pla de Boet, the edges of Noarre, lake of Sotllo, lake of Baborte, lake of Romedos, etc.
- The passage of the route through two countries (Ariège in France and Pallars Sobirà in Catalonia).
- The length and hardness of the stages, with slopes much more sudden and maintained than other crossings such as Cavalls del Vent or Carros de Foc. Some sections of the roads are not very visible and we also have to overcome a short section with stretches that help us overcome it.
- According to the year, some necks can be found snow until mid-July, being advisable or essential in these cases to carry crampons (if you can not rent it to Graus) and haystacks or canes.
- The ONF of l'Ariège (French forest department) does not allow signaling the route between the Montestaure lake and the refuge of Pinet. That is why it is advisable to carry GPS and fog becomes essential (If you do not have it you can rent it at Graus).
- We can shorten the 2nd and 4th stages if we do not climb to the summits.
- Refugees make it easy for us by offering our services from 15 June to 15 September.
- If you want to cross the skis, the route is very long, complicated, complex and with closed refuges. In addition we have to change the way to avoid areas where we can not use the skis and also to avoid dangerous areas for avalanche risk.
