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The route starts from the Col de Couraduque car park in the commune of Aucun.
(S/E) Just after the bar-restaurant, turn left and follow the yellowPR® signs for Pic de Bazès. A little further up is the Col de la Serre crossroads (altitude 1458).
(1) Opposite, head towards the "yellow hut". In the last sharp right-hand bend before you reach the yellow hut, you will see a drinking trough on your left, fed by a catchment in the mountain. Just before the hut, on the right, you will also see a corral used to gather cattle for milking or treatment.
(2) The yellow hut, a simple yellow-painted construction site hut, is closed and for the exclusive use of local farmers for storing equipment or products. Leave it on your right and take the path that winds its way up to the Col de Bazès.
(3) From there, you have a superb view of the Pic de Bazès (to the right of the pass). Cross the pass and stay on this wide path which turns left. After this bend, you can admire the valley to the west with its herds and, in the distance on the horizon, beyond Arbéost, the Pic du Moulle de Jaout and, a little further to the left, the Soum de Grum which dominates the Col d'Aubisque.
Continue along this wide path to the Cantau hut. As you progress, you will have an increasingly interesting view of the Gabizos. In the last sharp left turn before the Cantau hut, you will notice the small enclosure used to temporarily park sheep for farming purposes.
(4) With your back to the hut, you will see the Crête de la Serre ridge stretching out to the Col de Soum pass. You could take the ridge path, which is part ofthe GR® 101trail, but I suggest taking the much more comfortable path on the far right, which descends to Lac de Soum.
(5) Once you reach Lac de Soum, you can take a break and explore it more closely. There are often animals, especially horses, and you can see beautiful dragonflies around the marshy edge. To return, walk along the northern shore of the lake and cross the Col de Soum, still on the same road.
Just after the pass, you will see the path leading down towards Soulor. Ignore it and turn left, climbing back up to the Cantau hut via the wide path that follows the eastern flank of the Crête de la Serre.
(4) From there, the return to the Col de Bazès is via the same route as the outward journey.
(3) To vary the route, rather than descending towards the yellow hut, I suggest you stay on this wide path, which will take you back to the Col de Couraduque via the Col de la Serre crossroads.
If the weather conditions are favourable, after passing Col de Bazès and before reaching the forest, you may be able to see the Pic du Midi de Bigorre in the distance, recognisable by the white observatory built at its summit. During this descent, always take the path on the right at each three-way junction, as the descent is more gradual and the path is generally in better condition.
(1) Once back at the Col de la Serre, turn right and follow the reverse route of the ascent to reach the Col de Couraduque (S/E).
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