UKC

Anyone have any recommendations for good 2-3 day ski tours (or mountaineering) in the eastern (Spanish) Pyrenees? Or a guidebook which would have them in? Haven't tried before, so any sources of info much appreciated.

In reply to humptydumpty:

There's some easy touring in the Carlit including some easy to access huts but thats in France (just). I've also done some easy day tours from Nuria, only accessible by train, but in Spain. But there's many more options including Andorra. There are guidebooks but only in Spanish (& maybe Catalan), this might be useful http://www.esquidetravesia.net/
while https://www.libreriadesnivel.com/libros/deportes-de-nieve/guias/005002/M/ has a list of guidebooks but you'll need to search a bit to find eastern Pyrenees amongst the many titles

In reply to humptydumpty:

Mike Rhodes of this parish may be able to help?

In reply to humptydumpty:

Baqueira and the Val d'Aran offer possibilities. The local valley web site has superb on line resources. Not sure if you would class it Eastern though, more central ?

In reply to humptydumpty:

Hi. I live in Les Angles in the Carlit area in the Eastern Pyrenees that Doug has mentioned. It is a great area to learn to ski tour (no glaciers etc) but still has peaks that go up to nearly 3000m. It does depend on your skiing skill level however.
Most people go out on mainly day tours but it is possible to link multi day tours using guarded refuges at Bouillouses, Camporells, Besine and Beys.
Doug has mentioned a couple of books but there is also a good French guide, Ski & Snowboard de Montagne ISBN976-2-913385-19-1. It covers 73 trips in Andorra, Ariege and the Capcir.
If you don't have your own kit it is possible to hire locally and access from the UK is easy via Barcelona, Toulouse, Perpignan and Girona.
Touring on the Spanish side east of Andorra has its own issues because of the heat from the sun unless you go a bit further west into the Aigues Tortes.

In reply to Removed UserMike Rhodes:


Thanks, Mike! No crevasses is definitely a bonus. Presumably avalanches are a risk with any ski touring? I'd be coming from Barcelona, hence preference for something in the East.

In reply to humptydumpty:

Are you intending hiring a car? It is normally an advantage as although you can get up to the area by train moving around the area by public transport can be tricky.
Avalanche risk has to be evaluated when going into any back country area but because of the terrain it is normally easier to make an assessment and Meteo France publishes up to date reports daily.
Are you coming out with some mates or on your own?
When are you planning to come?
Just let me know and I will try and help with snow conditions etc as I live in one of the bigger ski stations.
Cheers
Mike

In reply to david000:

Yep, quite central, but I'll take a look. Is this the local website you mean? http://www.visitvaldaran.com/en/cat/ski-mountaineering/

In reply to humptydumpty:

Nah, this site here:

http://lauegi.conselharan.org/

I'm not sure of the site is in Catalan or Spanish but google translate seems to work. An example route here:

http://lauegi.conselharan.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/E-pincela.pdf

In addition their avi reports are very well done, plus can be supplemented with the Catalan regional site:

http://www.igc.cat/web/en/allaus_butlleti.php

I'd love to do a few of these routes me self but have not yet got around to it.