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In summer, do not complete the circular route to avoid entering private farmland; after (3), return via the same route as on the way out.
Reach the start of the hike at the Igau farm car park from Cauterets, at an altitude of 1,098 m.
(S/E) Take the forest track that runs along the hillside towards the Pic du Cabaliros.
(1) Less than 300 m after the start of the path, turn sharply right at the pylon and mobile phone mast. The path is wide enough for 4x4 vehicles to drive up. It is signposted with signs indicating the Pic du Cabaliros and the Espoune, and small triangular MTB/FFC signs for the orange route No. 6.
After a first hairpin bend followed by a second, the very wide path continues its climb without any significant gradient through the wooded area of the Bois d’Aumède.
Shortly after a large clearing, the forest track accessible by 4x4 ends, with a small car park. The path narrows, with a steel post across the trail and a sign reading ‘pastoral area’.
The path continues through several narrow hairpin bends.
(2) At an altitude of around 1,300 m, you reach a gate (open in winter, usually closed in summer), opening directly onto a vast and beautiful meadow (l’Espoune or Espone). Go round the meadow, taking the path on the left which continues its ascent, even narrower, still following the signs for the Pic du Cabaliros.
The path climbs a few more tight hairpin bends (not shown on the map), which are easy to find (even under snow).
The path then continues to skirt the meadow, running above it to the south-west, and climbs without much difficulty through the forest.
The path veers slightly to the left. On a tree along the path on the right, which continues to run alongside the meadow, a small VTT/FFC sign with a crossed-out cross clearly marks the route not to take.
Another hairpin bend to the left, then another to the right, and we’re now on a straight stretch for several hundred metres, heading west-north-west, still overlooking the meadow (below the “E” and “s” of Espone on the map). Ignore the path branching off to the left towards Craboutas.
The path skirts the northern flank of the massif and reaches a first stream. Soon after, we cross the Bourg Débat stream without difficulty; this is a more substantial mountain torrent rushing down its ravine. Below on the right, you can see the Artigue Bourg barn and, above it, the Mousquère barn. On the opposite slope, due north, are the Serre du Couret barns, clearly framed by their respective fields (low walls, no doubt, which are clearly visible despite the snow).
On the other side of the stream, the path continues its ascent above the Artigue Bourg field.
The path runs along the foot of the Bois de la Peyre.
(3) At the entrance to the woods, this is where the hike leaves the path to head off-trail up a fairly steep section towards a smaller path visible below, bordered by a low stone wall and a row of trees. Follow this wall until the trees end.
(4) Climb over the wall and head towards the barns of Artigue Bourg (alt. 1,406 m), of which only one remains standing.
(5) Two options:
- you can reach the bridge by taking the path that heads south directly to the bridge.
- go round the meadow to the east, along the edge of the cliff where the slope drops down into the ravine of the Catarrabes stream. The track curves southwards. We then climb up the side of the Bourg Débat stream to reach the bridge that crosses it.
(6) On the opposite bank, head due east towards the Espoune barns.
(7) The path goes round the three barns to the north and then, across the meadow, joins the gate we passed on the way there.
(2) Return along the same route as on the way there to rejoin the (S/E).
Visorando member
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Very difficult 
