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itinerary map Carros de Foc |
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Make Carros de Foc with our guides
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| Access |
| Train
from LLeida to Pobla de Segur: Tfn.
973 220202
Coach from LLeida to Pirineo:
Tfn 973 268500
Taxis Espot ( Lago Sant Maurici
): Tfn. 973 624105
Taxis Boí (Aigues Tortes
): Tfn 973 696214 -
629205489 |
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RESTANCA.-
From Vielha take the road to Port de la Bonaigua
and once in Artíes (7 Kms.) go through the
town. Crossing both bridges and following the signs,
take the road which will take you to Pont de Ressec
(5 Kms.). Park the car. From here take the 2.5 Kms.
trail only accessible by 4WD. At the end of the
trail is Pontet de Rius. At this point take the
ascending trail located at your left next to a small
house. In about 50' you will be in the Refuge.
COLOMERS.-
From Vielha take the road to Port de la Bonaigua
and once in Salardú (9 kms.), take the road
next to "La Caixa" building to your right.
Following the road up until Baños de Tredos
(8 Kms.). From this point follow the road slowly
for about 2.5 Kms. Now it is advisable to continue
on foot. This road is only accessible by 4WD for
about 2 Kms. more. The trail departs from your left
and it is highly ascending for 30'. Most likely
this road is only accessible by taxi from Baños
de Tredós onwards..
SABOREDO.-
From Vielha take the road to Port de la Bonaigua
and passed Baqueira 1500 (14 Kms.) take the descending
road on your right for 2 kms. You'll see a bridge
crossing the Garona river. If you wish you can follow
this road for 5 Kms. till you get to another bridge
crossing the river. Follow the road on foot and
at the end of this road, take the trail to the Refuge
(50'). From Baqueira to the Refuge there is about
13 Kms..
VENTOSA I
CALVELL.-
From El Pont de Suert follow the road for about
1.5 Kms. towards Vall de Aran. Take the road to
your right towards Vall de Boí. In about
20 Kms. you will be in Caldes de Boí considered
the best mountain spa of the Spanish peninsula.
Continue for about 4 Kms. to the parking lot just
below the dam Presa de Cavallers. From this point
to the Refuge there is about 1 hr. trekking. First
go around the lake by its left bank (your right),
and once you get to the flat area of the Riu Malo,
follow the signs to the trail on your right which
will take you to the Refuge..
ESTANY LLONG.-
From El Pont de Suert follow the road for about
1.5 Kms. towards Vall de Aran. Take the road to
your right towards Vall de Boí. In about
20 Kms., after crossing the Taüll and Boí
crossroads, there is the road going up to Aigües
Tortes. In about 1 Km. There is a parking lot. Park
your car there. From here onwards we recommend that
you take a taxi (4 euros) to the Parque Nacional
(about 10 Kms.). From Aigües Tortes follow
the trail to the Refuge (45'). Another option is
to park the car in Boí and take a taxi from
the town (same price).
COLOMINA.-
From La Pobla de Segur
follow the road to El Pont de Suert and once in
Senterada (10 Kms.) take the intersection to your
right towards Capdella. Follow the road to the Sallente
reservoir. Once there you have two options:
A-
take the cableway to the Estany Gento and once on
the top follow the signs to the Refuge (1 hr.) or
B
- take the trail to Estanhy Gento and follow the
trail to the Refuge (2 hrs.)..
JOSEP
MARIA BLANC.-
From La Pobla de Segur follow
the road to El
Pont de Suert - Port de la Bonaigua. Leaving the
town of Escaló behind (51 Kms. from La Pobla
de Segur) take the road to Espot (9 Kms. from the
intersection). From this point there are several
options:
A
-continue by car for about 3 Kms. to the entrance
of the park. There is about 50' trekking to
the Llac de Sant Maurici, or
B
- take a taxi (4 euros) to the lake and from this
point follow the Carros de Foc itinerary (see
Step-by-step Itinerary).
C
-You can also take a taxi to the Refuge (20 euros)
or
D
- continue by car towards Espot Esquí (2
Kms.) and just before Espot Esquí take the
trail to your right to the Refuge (2 hrs.).
ERNEST MALLAFRÉ-
From La Pobla de Segur follow
the road to El Pont de Suert - Port de la Bonaigua.
Leaving the town of Escaló behind (51 Kms.
from La Pobla de Segur).
AMITGES.-
From La Pobla de Segur follow the road to El Pont
de Suert - Port de la Bonaigua. Leaving the town
of Escaló behind (51 Kms. from La Pobla de
Segur) take the road to Espot (9 Kms. from the intersection).
). From this point there are several options:
A
-continue by car for about 3 Kms. to the entrance
of the park.
There is about 50' trekking to the Llac de Sant
Maurici, or...
B
-take a taxi (4 euros) to the lake and from this
point follow the Carros de Foc itinerary (see Step-by-step
Itinerary).
C
-You can also take a taxi to the Refuge (about 15
euros).
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| Timeframe
between Refuges at a normal pace |
| -Sentido agujas del reloj |
-Sentido contrario a las agujas del reloj |
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Restanca to Colomers
Colomers to Saboredo
Saboredo to Amitges
Amitges to Mallafré
Mallafré to Blanc
Blanc to Colomina
Colomina to Llong
Llong to Ventosa
Ventosa to Restanca
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-3h a 4h30'
-2h a 3h
-2h a 3h
- 30m. a 1h
-4h a 6h
-3h a 4h
-4h a 6h
-5h a 7h
-2h a 3h |
Ventosa to Llong
Llong to Colomina
Colomina to Blanc
Blanc to Mallafré
Mallafré to Amitges
Amitges to Saboredo
Saboredo to Colomers
Colomers to Restanca
Restanca to Ventosa |
- 4h a 6h
- 4h a 6h
- 2h a 4h
- 3h a 5h
- 1h a 2h
- 2h a 3h
- 2h a 3h
- 3h a 4h
- 2h a 3h30' |
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refuge to refuge |
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From
Restanca to Ventosa 2h a 3.30h. |
We leave the Restanca refuge and in a few meters leave also the
Estany de Mar path. We climb up taking the left of the rushing stream
coming from Cap deth Port lake.
Once we get to the lake, we go by the side and follow the path,
which in its final stage is full of big boulders.
We follow the markers located along the boulders and get to Coll
de Guellacrestada, among meadows.
After going through a flat terrain we’ll descend, always following
the path. We’ll go over estany de Monges, the biggest in the
area. We’ll leave it on our left and we’ll pass on the
right of Travessany lake.
At this lake’s mouth, we’ll cross to the other side
and climb up a small slope that will take us to Ventosa i Calvell
refuge.
This path is fairly popular with trekkers going up to Montardo’s
top, one of the sites in the Pyrenees with the best views. The path
down from coll de Guellacrestada to Ventosa is fairly easy.. |
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From
Ventosa to Estany LLong |
Probably the toughest stretch of all. If we have time we can try
Punta Alta, a peak over 3,000 m. We take the path on a slight downhill
among big boulders until we get to a large meadow, after passing
the Culieto lake. We will follow straight forward to the mountain
pass (if we take a left, we’ll end up in Port de Colomers).
In a few meters we will leave the Punta Alta path at our right,
and follow the markers to the right of the cliff. When we hit approximately
the 2600 meters height we will find big boulders that will be with
us practically to the mountain pass.
In this big boulder area it is advisable to follow the markers,
since they are located in the areas of better access.
Be aware that if we go through this mountain pass in June or early
July you may need crampons, since there is still snow.
This descent is the longest of the trekking, with a 900 meter change
in elevation. We will follow the path through a stretch full of
rocks until Contraig lake.
We will border the lake from its right getting to the other side
at its mouth.
We will descend zigzagging through the left of the cliff where the
path changes from rocky to grassy. In its final stretch we will
cross to the right to get to a wooden area at the higher part of
Prat d’Aci, right in Aigües Tortes.
We take the forest path to our left and follow comfortably until
we reach the refuge .
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From
Estany LLong to Colomina |
This is the longest route in kilometers. but not in difficulty.
From the refuge the path starts on a slight slope through the woods
towards Dellui. Part of the path is perfectly paved with rocks,
and the spires also named Dellui are in front of us.
Surrounding them we get to the Dellui lake. The path meanders comfortably
until zigzagging we reach the mountain pass. The landscape is totally
different from the one we have seen. Now it is almost a lunar landscape.
We find large lakes along the route which only in its initial part
is somewhat steep. The rest of the route is almost flat. Once we
pass the mouth of the Tort lake, we take the slight steep route
until we get to the Colomina refuge. |
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From
Colomina to Josep Mª Blanc |
SWe take the path of about 200 meters from the other refuge and
we take the path to the right. We leave the two lakes Colomina and
Mar to our right and we take the route to Pass de l’Os, a
short but steep climb “not included in the program.”
After a short path going downhill we will pass the Saburó
lake dam, leaving this lake at our left. We will climb up following
the GR markers until we reach the mountain pass.
Once here, we recommend to take the path that descends through the
left of the Cap de Port lake, (the GR continues to the right). This
is a path through meadows until we reach the crossroads of the Monestero
mountain pass. We will continue from the path to our right passing
the Llastra lake and through the left bank of the Negre lake until
we reach the refuge in a few minutes. |
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From
Josep Mª Blanc to Mallafré |
We will take the same path of the previous route until we reach
the Monestero mountain pass (about half an hour) and once there
we will follow the path to our right going up substantially in
a few minutes.
The path follows with the Peguera peak (almost 3000 meters) on
our left until the reach 2700 meters.
The descent through the Monestero valley is one of the best routes
for those who want to enjoy the mountain. First, we descend from
an earthy path before it becomes a path of grass and rocks. Once
here (careful! follow the markers) and after a descent, we get
to the valley.
We are 4 Kms. Away from the Sant Maurici lake following a route
that is well marked, between large valleys, thick woods and huge
mountains at our side, reaching the Encantats, at whose feet lays
the refuge
>>Route B.
- From the Josep Mª Blanc refuge we have an alternative route.
We may take the path from Espot to the water tank (about 7 Kms.)
and from here we take the path (wide at the beginning) that goes
through the waterway until we reach the Sant Maurici lake (about
6 Kms.). Be aware of the two tunnels since you must border them
at their lowest side.
In this route you do not have to climb up any mountain pass but
its length and the beauty of the Monestero makes it only recommendable
in case of bad weather.
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From
Mallafré to Amitges |
This is the easiest route since it is a forest path (only for 4WD
vehicles) for about 6 Kms. The route is beautiful, with numerous
cascades, amazing views and the majestic Agulles de Amitges next
to the refuge.. |
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From
Amitges to Saboredo |
We follow the forest path (about 300 m.) until we reach the top
of the Gran lake. From here we follow the wood markers until the
Ratera mountain pass, at the entrance of Valle de Aran. This mountain
pass is very wide. Once there we follow the path for a few meters
until we get to the path at our right which will take us descending
(following GR markers) to the refuge |
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From
Saboredo to Colomers |
We are going from one of the less known so called lake circuses
of the Pyrenees to the largest and more frequented of all of them.
We take the path to the right of the refuge going up, below the
Baish lake and going up little by little. We will pass over a huge
stone, called “la televisión” (the television),
and a grassy path will take us to the Sendrosa mountain pass.
The path down is steeper, following the grassy path and past a flat
terrain with remains of a building, we will continue towards the
tunnel located at our left.
Before getting to the tunnel, we take the path at our right going
up slightly, which will take us to the Cloto lake. We will pass
the Long lake and after a downhill path we will get to the dam.
The refuge is located at the other side. |
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From
Colomers to Restanca |
Following the path from behind the refuge, we will leave in about
5 minutes the GR which goes towards the Coll de Ribereta
(Route B).
We will continue by the right bank of a stream and leave behind
the Mort lake at our left; the downhill path gets steeper and
steeper. We will get to Port de Caldes lake, at our right we will
have the Port de Ribereta and in a few minutes we will reach the
top.
The way down is fast and short since we have to go down a small
mountain pass to get to the top of Monges lake and at the same
altitude get to the Guellacrestada mountain pass.
Once there we will follow the path down towards Restanca.
>>Route
B.- Following the path above,
after 5 minutes we will take the GR at our right. We will go up
shortly and after going through an easy path, we will go up zigzagging
to the Ribereta mountain pass.
We follow the GR and after the abandoned refuge next to the Montcasau
lake we can follow the path or go down directly through the steps
used in the past for the hydraulic works which take us to the
forest path.
We follow this path going down for several kilometers until the
Pont de Ressec at a 1400 altitude. Once we get there we will take
the path at our left which in 2,5 kilometers will take us to Pontet
de Rius, where the path to the Restanca starts.
--This
option, although slightly longer, is a great way to get to know
the lower side of the Ribereta valley, with spectacular views
over Montardo’s north face. We will not have to repeat the
Guellacrestada descent.
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