Most of the altitude on this route can be gained by driving up to Port de Boucharo, a col on the French / Spanish border. The road on the French side is made up, and in good repair. However it virtually ceases to exist at the border, and there is less than a cart track heading down the Spanish side. There's a fairly level walk from here to the Refuge de la Breche de Roland, a well appointed and busy hut.
(
Pic du Marbore in the background)
There's still enough time to climb up through the breche and get to the top of Le Taillon (3144m, just over 10,000 feet)
The
Breche de Roland
This picture gives an idea of scale. It is taken looking at the left side of the breche in the picture above (note the two people). The overhanging rock can be seen in both pictures - less than one fifth of the height of the breche is visible in this picture.
The easiest way down from the breche to the hut is to slide...
But stopping can be a problem ...
Following the same route the next day, you turn left at the breche, and walk along the Spanish side, at the top of a steep snow slope. The path is well trodden, and there are handrails at strategic places. This leads to the ridge surrounding the Cirque de Gavarnie , a 1 kilometre deep cirque, gouged out by glaciers:
Le Casque
(3006m) is on the right of the picture, and La Tour (3009m) is on the extreme left. The bottom of the cirque (not visible) is at about 1600m.
You are forced to drop off the ridge, and cross a confusing area of terraces and rocky plateaux before you reach the base of Marbore.
Pic du Marbore
from the North West.
It is less spectacular from the South East, but easier to walk up! Once at the top, the view is fantastic ....
This still ranks as my all time favourite walk, for many reasons.
Copyright Andy Gray, 1996 / Revised 6th October 1999 /
andy@misterg.fsnet.co.uk