Country:
City:
From Lourdes, head towards Tourmalet until you reach Luz Saint Sauveur, then continue towards Barèges. Just before you leave the village, take the small road next to the school complex towards Asté. Follow the main track, which is tarmac at first and then dirt, up the Yse valley. Follow it to its terminus near a small bridge crossing the Yse at 1571m and park nearby (arrive early as there is little space).
(S/E) The walk starts from this point. Follow the track for about a hundred metres until you reach an intersection.
Take the marked trail on the right, which becomes much steeper. Further up, cross an electric fence, taking care to close it behind you.
(1) At this point, there are two options:
- either continue on the track opposite,
- or follow a small path that climbs steeply between rocks and grass (this saves about seven to eight hundred metres). This is the option described here.
Climb a steep 150 metres and rejoin the original track at around 1687m, enjoying the magnificent view of the valley below.
The slope becomes gentler for about one kilometre and rises about a hundred metres. Straight ahead is a small hill which, once crossed, leads to the Cabane de Peyrahitte, built on a small plateau at 1,820 metres. The area around the hut is also very popular with marmots.
(2) Continue along the track, climb another hill opposite the hut and arrive at a platform above the Vallon d'Aygues Tortes, where there used to be a cable car connecting the Fenêtre to the Soûm de Marraut. The track gives way to a small, well-marked path that continues along the side of the Montagne de Héche Barrade. Follow it and a little further on you will reach a few hairpin bends which, running alongside the Peyrahitte stream, lead to a small plateau.
Shortly afterwards, you will come to a junction with the Col de Pierreffite straight ahead and Lac de Maucapéra to the right.
(3) Take the path on the right. Five minutes later, you will reach the platform where the entrance to the Fenêtre d'Électricité de France mentioned on the map is located (200 metres below, you can admire the Vallon Aygues Tortes).
Cross the platform and take the path opposite, bordered by a forest of rhododendrons, to reach a small plateau that leads to the first of a series of seven or eight hairpin bends at a pretty cliff.
A few moments later, you will reach a wide ridge at an altitude of around 2,200 metres, offering a beautiful view of the hairpin bends of the Col de Pierreffite climb. From there, continue along the path, which becomes gentler and, without too much effort, leads to a small dam (with a view of the Cabane de Maucapéra slightly below).
(4) Once you have crossed the dam, the cairned path climbs the last 150 metres, winding between the hillocks still dotted, in this month of July, with patches of residual snow which, as they melt, make the ground slippery.
A few minutes later, you will reach Lake Maucapéra, which is little known and little frequented except by the fishermen who have already taken over the place.
(5) Take the same route back to the car park where you started (S/E).
... The path is not suitable for vehicles and is 7 km long... so it takes a long time to climb.
Visorando Member
Moderate 
Easy 
