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Access: From Lourdes, head towards Argelès-Gazost on the D821 dual carriageway. Continue to the end of the dual carriageway. At the first roundabout, continue straight ahead on the D821. At the next roundabout, turn left towards Luz-Saint-Sauveur on the D821. After crossing the Tilhos bridge, turn right and then immediately left onto the D100 towards Hautacam. Towards the end of the road (dead end), turn left towards the observatory dome. Park at the end of the tarmac road in the Tramassel chairlift car park.
(S/E) Leave the car park (1610 m) heading due north, next to the observatory dome on your left. Follow the cairns along a more or less marked path, which remains almost flat. You will arrive at a sort of pass.
(1) Fork in the road. Take the right fork, going uphill towards Soum de Tramassel (altitude 1653 m). Follow a small, well-marked path. Then descend slightly towards Pan Harrie (altitude 1623 m).
(2) Fork in the path. Take the right fork, heading due north below the summit. The path curves to the right and heads north-east. You will arrive at a grassy ridge.
(3) Head completely to the left, climbing this grassy ridge, heading due west. Pass the altitude of 1645 metres, Haut de Courbes. Then head right, below, towards a crossroads of tracks and paths. From this pseudo-pass, head into the coume, descending to the right, due east, towards the hut and the stream.
(4) Cabane de la Courbes (1555 m), fairly basic but can be used as shelter. Cross the Las Courbes stream and head left into the coume. Stay on the left bank of the stream. The well-marked path climbs gently to the crossroads of tracks and paths.
(5) Crossroads (altitude 1593 m). Turn right, heading due east, onto a well-marked path. The path climbs towards a grassy ridge.
(6) Fork (1650 m). Turn left, heading due north, climbing steeply up the mountain pasture, following a well-marked path that follows this grassy ridge. Arrive at the unnamed summit (altitude 1726). 360° panorama. Then turn left, following the ridge. Stay away from the ridge. Pass the altitude marked 1688. Follow a well-marked path that descends towards a sort of pass. Pass the altitude marked 1666.
(7) Crossroads of tracks and paths. Head right, due north, climbing steeply up a well-marked path. Pass the altitude of 1705. Descend a little, pass the altitude of 1687. Follow this well-marked, safe path as it climbs. Pass the altitude of 1736 and continue climbing towards the summit.
(8) Hautacam or Soum de Dabant Aygue (altitude 1746). A cairn confirms that you are at the summit. Magnificent 360° view. If there is no wind, this is a nice place to have a bite to eat. Descend heading due north towards a grassy, flat area a little lower down, at the edge of the forest.
(9) Cabane de Saint-Pastous (1630 m), unmaintained and dirty, can be used as a shelter. From this hut, turn around and stay below the summit on your left. Climb up a wide track heading due south. Follow this track called "Chemin du Houscau". It passes below the path you took on the way up. You will have a constant view of the entire central Pyrenees. Follow this beautiful track, which then descends slightly. You will arrive at the crossroads of tracks and paths that you passed on the way up.
(7) Head completely to the right, heading south-west, continuing along a wide, grassy track. On your left, a pylon stands on a hillock. Pass the end of a rocky outcrop (Pene de Caucipeyre) to go around it. The track then heads south-east towards a crossroads of tracks and paths. Turn right for about 150 m to reach another crossroads.
(10) Turn right onto a track heading due south, which goes around the right side of a small peak (elevation 1613). Continue along this track, which descends slightly.
(11) Arrive at altitude 1611. Crossroads of tracks and end of road. Leave the road on the right which descends to the Tramassel car park. Head opposite along a wide track overlooking the road. Pass under the pylon on the left and arrive at the Tramassel car park (S/E).
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