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From Vicdessos, head towards Auzat via the D8. Pass through Auzat, then continue towards Marc on the D8. A little further on, pass Astiès on the left and stay on the D8. You’ll reach a large car park on the right (Aire de Massada) just before a double hairpin bend in the road.
(S/E) From the car park (elevation 821), continue uphill along the D8, behind the safety barrier, until you reach the first hairpin bend. Signpost.
(1) Turn right, heading towards the Bassiès refuge. Cross the lovely footbridge and turn left as you climb. You’ll soon reach a junction with a path on the right.
(2) Ignore this return path on your right, marked with a large orange arrow. Carry on straight ahead, uphill. Take care: risk of slipping, as the path is waterlogged. Continue uphill until you reach another inconspicuous junction with the return path (alt. 990 m).
(3) Ignore this return path on your right. Carry on straight ahead, climbing. You will eventually come out onto the access road to EDF’s small Bassiès power station.
(4) Cross the road and continue uphill opposite along a rough track. Further on, you will emerge at a large crossroads where four paths meet.
Old, very sparseyellow markings
(5) Ignore the two successive paths on the left (GR®®10coming from Mounicou and heading towards Bassiès).
Carry on to the right, due east, along a paved path over an old aqueduct. A magnificent path running like a balcony along the mountainside. Cross the Bassiès stream, which is channelled by the power station. Cross the various footbridges and secure grating sections of the EDF structure and arrive at the end of the road.
Walk along it for about 70 metres and look out for a very good path on the left (alt. 1,150 m).
(6) Climb the switchbacks along this magnificent stony path. Stunning scenery. After a steep but beautiful ascent, you’ll reach a vast summer pasture and a flat area at an elevation of 1,586 metres.
Red and white markings forthe GR®®10
(7) Continue straight on along theGR®®10. Walk alongside the Étang d’Escalès, the Étang Long, the Étang Majeur and the Étang du Pla de la Font, and you’ll soon reach a fork in the path. Directional signs.
(8) Turn left and walk along a long wooden boardwalk. You’ll come to a fence and a gate on the left.
(9) Go through the gate and head up to the Refuge de Bassiès (altitude 1,654 m), going round it to the left
(10) A spacious area with the start of several hiking trails, including the mandatoryGR®®10route, etc. Beautiful scenery.
After a refreshing break, turn back towards the gate.
Red and white markings ofthe GR®®10
(9) Head straight on and climb a little until you reach a fork in the path (alt. 1,660 m).
Old, very sparseyellow markings and remnants of red and white markings.
(11) Let theGR®®10branch off to the left. Turn sharply right and head for the Étang du Pla de la Font and the fork you passed on the way out. Directional signs.
White and red markings ofthe GR®®10
(8) Continue along theGR®®10, in the opposite direction to the outward journey, until you reach the junction, which you also passed on the way out (elevation 1,586).
(7) Carry on to the right along theGR®®10, crossing the self-supporting stone arch bridge. Follow the badly worn path through numerous hairpin bends to reach the four-way junction from the outward journey.
Old, very sparseyellow markings
(5) After a quick right-left turn, continue downhill along theGR®®10, in the opposite direction to the outward journey. You’ll reach the access road to the EDF power station.
(4) Cross the road and reach the second junction you passed on the way out.
No signposting
(3) If in doubt at this junction, continue downhill in the opposite direction to the outward journey.
Otherwise, turn left into the forest, heading due east, along a clear, attractive path which avoids the entire slippery section. After a few hairpin bends, turn right heading due east (the end of the recorded track is accurate and does not correspond to the IGN map). Join the path taken on the way up.
Old, very sparseyellow markings
(2) Head left and, following the route in the opposite direction to the outward journey, return to the (S/E).
Visorando Member
Very difficult 
Average 
