Astún - Pombie

Head to the Astún ski resort in Spain. If you are coming by car, park in the chairlift car park. Take the chairlift to the top station.

(S) Turn right and descend towards the first lake, Ibón de las Truchas, surrounded by red rocks. Cross the hillside on a very good path, heading east, and climb gently, then more steeply, to reach the Col d'Astún (2189 m), where the border is located.

(1) Turn right to climb the ridge and reach Punta Mala Cara (altitude 2,269 m), where you can enjoy a magnificent view of the Aragon Valley.
Continue along the ridge to a small grassy pass. Turn left onto the path marked by cairns and follow it to Lac de Houer (2,243 metres).

(2) Zigzag up through the grass between the rocks to reach Pic de Canaourouye (elevation 2,344 metres) via a fairly easy climb.

(3) Here you will rejoin the ridge you left earlier and can enjoy the immense landscape stretching as far as the Vignemale. Continue left along the ridge for a few hundred metres to reach the lowest point.

(4) Continue left downhill on a fairly well-marked path to reach Plaa de la Gradillère.

(5) Continue downhill to reach the bottom of the large grassy basin, dominated by the Pène de la Glère on the right. Descend this basin, aiming for a dark ravine that you can see in the distance, opposite on the left. Join the Ruisseau de la Glère.

(6) Cross it, pass through the slightly marshy area, then climb up a small hill. Climb up to reach the crossroads of the path connecting the Iou and Soum de Pombie passes.

(7) Turn right and continue along a nearly horizontal path to reach the Soum de Pombie pass (elevation 2,107 metres).

(8) Turn left and follow an easy descent to reach the Refuge de Pombie (elevation 2034) (E), today's stage.

• Period: route feasible as soon as the snow has melted (mid-May), but the chairlift only operates from mid-June (before then, you'll have to walk up!).
• Information about the lakes chairlift (reduced price for return tickets and certain categories).
• The Astún resort is also served by shuttle buses from Canfranc station (timetable here).
• Safety: be careful, there is no water along the ridge and the weather must be good (there is a high risk of storms) and you can get lost in the Anéou cirque in thick fog. If this happens, do not hesitate to continue along the path to the Col du Pourtalet road, then climb back up to the Col de Pombie via a well-marked path.
• Drinking water is available at the Refuge de Pombie, but not before.
• Bring warm clothing, as the weather can change quickly in the mountains.
• Maps: the IGN 1:25,000 map is very good, and it is also useful to preload the Spanish map in the Visorando app (do this in Astún when you have network coverage).

Note: the Pic du Midi d'Ossau is visible almost all day long, as is its Spanish neighbour, the Pico de Anayet (another ancient volcano). Marmots and chamois may be spotted, especially in the early morning.