These summits at 2000+, paradise of mountain hikers

The panorama from the La Source chalet is a real invitation to discovery. In front of you and all over the horizon, around twenty peaks at 2000+ are linked, tutoring the 3000m at the level of the border chain . Above 2800m, the grass becomes rocky, the blocks replace the trails. An experience of the mountain, even climbing for the terminal ascent, will be necessary. Support by a guide is recommended, to take the right routes safely. The promise of sumptuous hikes, and incomparable points of view on the massifs and valleys of the Hautes Pyrénées.

Pic du Cabalir OS (2332 m)
Distance 9.5 km - D+ 700 m -
Indicative duration 4:30 am
one of the highest Belvedères in the Hautes Pyrénées, in the country of Saint Savin, which welcomes a magnificent trail each year.
At the top, an orientation table helps to recognize all the summits in sight: vignemale, Balaïtous, Pic du Midi de Bigorre, Neouvielle ..
The departure is done at the end of the forest road in Sireix. It is also possible to leave from Cauterets, the path is well marked but obviously much longer (17 km) with a high drop (D+1300m); It then takes about 7 hours off breaks.

Pic de Viscos (2141 m)
Distance 10 km - D+ 600 m -
Indicative duration 5h
an emblematic summit, which is recognized by its pyramidal shape. The view is fabulous, 360 °, on the valleys of Luz and Cauterets. From the La Source chalet, we distinguish very well at the twin, the cross which culminates at its top.
This hike requires good physical condition, good weather, and a safe foot.
The departure is at the Béderet car park (1670 m), by the track which passes in front of the departure of the chairlift. We climb to the Col de Riou (1949 m), then along the ridge to a small pass at the foot of the Pic de Viscos: the path then suddenly rises towards the summit. This steep and slippery part requires a lot of caution.
The Pic de Viscos dominates the Pic de Soulom (1763 m) and the peak of the stakes located a little lower; The Soulom-Viscos crossing is also a beautiful classic.

The crests of the Ardiden massif (2058 to 2577 m)
Distance 6 to 10 km - D+ 500 to 850 m -
Duration 3 to 5h
This massif offers many hiking destinations, departing from Cauterets for the west side (via Canceru ), either Luz-Ardiden for the East slope (from the parking lot of Aulian or Béderet): Pène Nère (2058 m), Tuc des Arribans (2088 m), Soum des Aulhères (2168m), Soum de Peyre High ( 2336 m), the caperette (2395 m), Pic d'Aulian (2481 m), and the highlight, the Soum d'Ariou-Né (2577 m).
From the ridges, the panorama is magnificent, towards the viscos in the north, the vignemale and the peak of the Midi of Bigorre in the south, the Val d'Azun, the Valley of Lutour ...

Col de Riou (1949 m), Col du Lisey (2086 m) and Tour du Plateau de Lisey
Distance 12 km - D+ 1140 m - Indicative duration 6h

A magnificent hike, long but without major difficulty. The start is made behind the Caesar thermal baths in Cauterets, via the GR which goes up to the old break thermal baths, or more quickly from the village of Canceru. We join the chalet of Queen Hortense, 1st ^Balcon of Cauterets with a beautiful view of the Cambasque valley.
By continuing the climb, we take the path on the left which sinks into the undergrowth towards the Col de Riou. We then take south (right) to reach the Col du Lisey, going back to the Crete de la Pène Blanque du Lisey. We finally go down to the south to reach the Lisey plateau.
The turn of the plateau is splendid, wooded of beech trees, pectinated fir trees, sylvesters and other larch. Pure happiness!

Soum des Agudes (2732m), Bat Houradade Soum (2722m)
Distance 13 km - D+ 1150m - Indicative duration 6h

A mountain hike, from the barns of Aynis (1410m) above the village of Grust. Following the Ardiden lakes' route, we first pass the Lac de Lagues, then Lake Cantet and finally Lake Grand (2437m). We get around it from the north to go up the grassy slope that leads on the ridge, just south of the Pointe des Agudes. We then reach the soum of the ages by the ridge. Then descent to the Lamous Pour, 2628m) to reach the foot of the Soum of Bat Houradade.
The descent is made by the same route, or passing through the Lahazère needle crossing over Lake Lahazère.

Pic de Culaus (2806 m), Pic de Cestrède (2947 m)
Distance 20 km - D+ 1900 m - Indicative duration 7h

Here is a long excursion in the mineral world of the peaks of Culaus (2,660 m and 2806 m) and Cestrède (2918 and 2947 m), on a ridge which extends over more than two kilometers, from the Soum Det Guingays (2,451 m) to the west, to the point of Cestrède. An experienced level in climbing is necessary to complete the ascent to peaks.
The departure has been from the Fruitière (1371m), from which the summits are already clearly visible. After the Russel refuge, we leave the path to engage in the valley dominated by the lower peak of Culaus, where we still find grassy bands. The ascent towards the peak is then made in the middle of the blocks. From the summit, magnificent view of the Lutour valley, the lakes of Estibe Aute and the Balaïtous.
We join the junction with the peak of Cestrède by going back down to the passage of Kent.
The descent is long, first in the middle of the scree by the Culaus pass (2565 m) then the Culaus valley where we find the grassy areas.

Pic de Pébignau (2895 m)
Distance 14 km - D+ 1600 m - Indicative duration 5h

This peak is not visible from the La Source chalet, masked by the Culaus in the foreground.
From the fruit maker (1371m), climb towards the lake and the hotel industry of Estom (1804m). By continuing the climb, we leave the Polish pass path to the right to reach Lac de Labas (2298m) then the small lakes of the Estibet (2360m), at the foot of the pebignau peak.
The climb to the summit is first grassy, ​​then becomes rocky. At the top (2895m) View of the peaks of Ardiden, Cestrède, Male Rouge, Soum d'Aspé, Pics de Labas, de la Sède, Col and Pic D'orreillé, Estibe Aute, Lacs d'Estibe Aute and Lakes D 'Estom.

Pic Mayouret (2688 m)
Distance 11 km - D+ 1300 m -
Indicative duration 8h
This is the peak that we see from the chalet the source on the right, just behind Mont Péguère.
From the Pont d'Espagne car park, it is a long hike for experienced hikers. The game is worth the candle, because the Pic Mayouret, very little frequented and wild, is a great belvedere.
Arriving at the Hotel de Gaube, we take full east to see a cairn and take a very steep path that goes up in the wood. At the exit of the wood, we go to the foot of Pic Meya to always head east, towards a scree that goes up to the crest line and takes you to the top.
For the loop return by the wrapping of the Badétes along the Pic de Labasse on the left, Peyre's Soum launches on the right.

Pic de Chanchou (2949 m)
Distance 18 km - D+ 1600 m - Indicative duration 6h

With Chanchou, we get closer to 3000!
The normal route has been done from the fruit tree (1374 m), by the Culaus pass (2,565 m). We then go up to the peak of Chanchou by the southern ridge. The terminal ascent requires concepts of climbing.
It is also possible to go through the Badet d'Aubiste valley and Lake Badet (1,800 m elevation).

Pic d'Ardiden (2988 m)
Distance 15 km - D+ 1600 m - Indicative duration 8:30 am

A fairly not very busy hike, the summit of which offers a huge panorama. In fact, there are only 12 m at the Ardiden to reach the closed circle of the 3000 Pyrenees.
Since the fruit maker, we first reach Russell refuge (1980m) after 2 hours of walking. We then continue direction Sud-Est towards the Culaus pass. Following the cairns on the left, we branch off to the breach of Poutau des Agudes, at 1 hour. The path is lost in the middle of the blocks but the cairns remain clearly visible. From the breach, it takes another 1 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. to reach the summit.

Pic du Petit Vignemale (3032 m) and long stitch (3298 m)
Small vignemale: Distance 26 km - D+ 1600m - Indicative duration 12h

Culminating point of the French Pyrenees, at the end of the Gaube valley, the vignemale massif is not visible from the chalet, masked by Mont Péguère.
The hike begins at the Pont d'Espagne (1473 m); We take the GR10 which involves the refuge of the Oulettes de Gaube (2151m) which we reached after 2:45 am walking, then 2 hours later by the Col de la Hourquette d'Ossoue (2734 m). We take the path that rises along the crest of the small vignemale, whose summit we reach in 1 hour from the Hourquette.
The return is by the same route.

Most of these summits are in sight from the La Source chalet ... A panorama which is a real invitation to discovery! For these mountain hikes, do not hesitate to call on a guide among the partners of the Chalet, Caminando or Acumpanyat .

A big thank you for their magnificent photos, in Mariano (Topopyrénées) and Julien Liron (Rando Vallées de Gavarnie) .