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The hike starts from the Hourquette d'Ancizan car park, which can be reached via the magnificent D113 road linking Ancizan to Payolle.
(S/E) At the first bend leading down to Payolle, the trail branches off to the left, indicated by a yellow sign.
You quickly cross the Soubirou stream, then another one 1 km further on. The trail climbs gradually without difficulty. Up to 1647 m, there is a small promontory on the right offering a beautiful view from which you can already see the Pic du Midi de Bigorre to the west (see photo) and the Arbizon behind you.
(1) Continue climbing towards Lac d'Arou, crossing two more streams depending on the season. Below, you can see them all joining the Artigou stream, which comes from the lake and which you will cross on the way back.
We arrive at Clot des Cardous without much difficulty. Depending on the time of year, there is a small pool in the hollow and cows, sheep and horses are often seen here.
The trail continues its final, steeper climb to the left after the pool, on the right side of the mountain. It is not marked, but it is impossible to miss, as it is the only one that climbs clearly towards another plateau that can be seen from below.
(2) You arrive at Lac d'Arou (see photo), at an altitude of 1,785 metres, which is not very pretty in certain seasons (you can see the brown bottom...) and where cows often bathe. Walk around it and then retrace your steps for about 50 metres.
Then, instead of going back down, we stay at the same level and continue straight north. The aim is to go around the mountain.
(3) Once you have gone around the mountain (you are at an altitude of about 1768m), the path splits several times. It is essential to always keep to the left to gain altitude. The aim is to head for the small Col de Crabe pass that can be seen in the distance (see photo).
The path becomes less clear in places depending on the season, but as the destination is always visible and located 100m higher up, you should always choose the path or shortcut that gains altitude. Don't worry, though, as they all meet at the pass.
(4) Once you reach the Col de Crabe at an altitude of 1,870 metres, the view of the Pic du Midi is superb, but there is even better to come. To get there, continue northwards. You will see a path climbing in two hairpin bends and then straight up the slope (this is the steepest part of the hike). You arrive at 1,916 metres, on a nameless promontory, which offers a magnificent 360° view. La Hourquette, your starting point, already seems very far away...
There is no directly visible path for the descent, but 200 metres below, you can see it if you look north. So, you cut across the pasture towards the east (the least steep part) and catch up with it.
We arrive at another unnamed pass, close to Pla des Bouhouèrès.
(5) We catch up with the path that descends towards the valley in a south-easterly direction. We descend gradually, following several parallel cattle tracks to the Camoudiet stream, which we cross, then climb about 40 metres back up to the ridge.
(6) To rejoin the ridge trail heading north, go 5 metres past the small pass at 1,661 metres on the IGN map and climb directly to the left between the small bushes, parallel to the pretty valley descending below. The trail is clearly visible and will remain so all along the ridge. There is a superb 360° view along the kilometre-long stretch. Opposite is Lake Payolle (see photo).
(7) Just before entering the forest, there is a forest track on the right that descends (see photo) and is not shown on any map. Take this track to avoid having to descend further along the road.
You arrive in the hollow of the valley, a magical place where the Artigou river flows. Cross the road bridge, then after 10 metres climb up the opposite side on a marked path (see photo) that goes up into the forest.
(8) Follow the yellow markings all the way up through a beautiful deciduous forest, then cross over to the other side of the ridge and descend into La Plagne, crossed by the Soubirou and a 4x4 track that you need to join. Follow this track for about 300 metres southwards, then look for the fairly steep path climbing up to the left, which will take you to the car park 100 metres higher up.
The start will therefore be a little difficult to gain this elevation, but once you reach it, the path ends in a 1.5km balcony, crosses the Soubirou, and joins the road and car park 10m from the starting point (S/E).
Visorando member
Easy 
Association / Club / Walk leader
