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Start from the Ilhéou mountain hut.
(S/E) From the refuge, cross the lake’s spillway and head right to follow theGR®10uphill towards the Col d’Iléhou, which forms a large plateau.
(1) From there, head left, off the path, up gentle slopes. Quickly locate the 2443-metre point, which forms a notch that you must reach, in the middle of one of the ridges descending from the Barbat.
(2) After this point, continue along the hillside through the scree without losing altitude, to rejoin the valley through which the route from Lac d’Estaing ascends (as described in the ‘Cauterets Val D’Azun’ guidebook published by Rando). Then head up to your left towards the Brèche du Barbat; if there is hard snow beneath the breach, you can bypass the snowfield to the left.
(3) From the breach, head up to the left, initially slightly to the left of the ridge and then along a much more obvious path, to reach the summit of the Grand Barbat.
(4) For the descent, return to the pass.
(3) From there, you can follow a circular route (in dry weather, this involves a short, very steep grassy section).
Head down towards Lac du Pic Arrouy and, as soon as you can, start traversing left across the scree to avoid losing too much altitude.
Directly below the Brèche du Hourat, head up the steep slope to reach it.
(5) Enjoy a final panoramic view of the Balaïtous before descending a steep slope of snow or scree, depending on conditions; head down the valley, veering slightly to the left to reach a small lake (lac de petite superficie), named Hourat on the TOP25 map. Not to be confused with Lac du Hourat, a little further south.
(6) From this small lake, look for a passage to the right of a small hillock (even though it may initially seem more obvious to go round it on the left).
Make your way down as best you can, following paths through the rhododendrons, to rejoin the Ilheou/Hourat route.
You can then take a breather and follow the obvious path that skirts Lake Ilhéou to the left, before making your well-deserved return to the refuge (S/E).
Visorando Member
Difficult 
Moderate 
