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Access by car
In Tarascon sur Ariège, head towards Vicdessos. In Vicdessos, continue towards Auzat and the Montcalm valley. About 2.5 km after Auzat, stop the car in a large hairpin bend turning to the left where you can park, at a place called "Massada". There is also a large car park with a picnic area a few metres further down. The path, indicated by a sign on the right of the road (when going uphill), starts just in the hairpin bend. It is also possible to reach this route via the Pont de Gers bridge a little further up.
(S/E) Starting point "Massada", the trail immediately crosses the Vicdessos stream on a footbridge and then climbs slightly into the forest towards the south-west. The slope becomes steeper and the trail turns imperceptibly towards the west. You will reach the fork with the trail coming from the Pont de Gers.
(1) Continue north-west uphill. After numerous hairpin bends, cross the power station track.
(2) Cross it and continue on the steep path directly opposite, still heading north-west. You will then tackle the steepest part of this route. There are a few views of Montcalm. The path joins theGR®10(which comes from Marc via an old pipeline). The hairpin bends are tight and numerous. Pass imperceptibly along the southern flank of the Bassiès stream valley.
The very steep climb ends, the path passes under majestic beech trees and descends very slightly before reaching a welcome spring! The forest thins out and the path opens onto a classic landscape preceding a glacial lock, winding between rocks. Reach the penstock, clearly marked on the map.
(3) Continue with a steeper climb and tackle the barrier above which you will find the first lake (Escales).
Before reaching the dam at the Escales lake, you will come to a very pretty little stone bridge over the stream.
(4) From there, it is a walk through the Bassiès lake cirque, the almost flat path winding over outcropping rocks, gispet, grass, heather, broom and a few rhododendrons. Reach the end of the Escalès lake.
(5) Upstream from the Étang d'Escales, you will reach the small Étang Long, then a little higher up, the majestic Étang Majeur.
(6) Begin the return journey via the same route to the Etang d'Escales dam.
(4) Do not cross the stone bridge again. Stay on the left bank of the Bassiès stream. You will easily find the stony mule track heading south-east, which climbs briefly over the rocks. Descend via hairpin bends, first on the rocks and then through a sparse birch forest that thickens as you descend. Although this path is very well maintained and clearly marked, it is nonetheless very tiring, as the descent is long and hard on the knees. You will be rewarded with constant views of the Vicdessos valley and the peaks towering above it to the east.
Reach the top of the power station track.
(7) Descend this track for a few minutes towards the south, the slope is very gentle, to return to the crossroads of the outward route.
(2) Rejoin the outward route to return to the car park (S/E).
A lovely walk with the snow-covered plateau and frozen lakes.
Hikers with dogs, beware of processionary caterpillars 
Visorando Member
Very difficult 
Moderate 
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