The Pics de Campbieil and de Lentilla

Free parking at Lac de Cap de Long.

(S/E) Take the path, which is rough in places due to scree, and follow the lake before climbing in switchbacks to pass several rocky outcrops. You will then encounter a series of short, successive ascents and descents. Finally, leave the lake and enter the valley to gradually reach the stream.

(1) Cross the Cap de Long stream at this point, or a little further on. In either case, go round to the right for a steep climb.

(2) Follow the cairns and make your way over granite terrain, sometimes needing to use your hands. You will eventually reach a small lake.

(3) Go round it to the left, cross the Ruisseau de Cap de Long again and continue following the cairns, which are clearly visible. Then climb up over schist terrain that is fairly well marked at the start, then vaguely indicated by the cairns. Head for a large pass to the right of the summit of Campbieil, which is now magnificent and clearly visible. Reach the pass, covered in white rock smoothed by ancient glaciers, contrasting beautifully with the surrounding dark schist.

(4) Turn left towards the pass between Campbieil and Lentilla, which is easily visible. You will soon reach a fork. Continue along the path, which climbs steeply, veering slightly left over stony ground.
You will finally reach the pass between the two peaks. There is a sweeping view over the Piau Engaly valley.

(5) Continue left along the ridge, which leads easily to the Pic de Campbieil (3,173 m), marked by a large cairn.
Return to the pass.

(5) Continue straight ahead along the ridge, which leads very easily to the second 3,000-metre peak of the day, Pic de Lentilla (3,157 m), marked by a cairn.

(6) Return quickly to the pass.

(5) Continue straight ahead to reach the summit of Pic de Lentilla.

(7) Return to the pass.

(5) Head left along the same path and return to the car park at Lac de Cap de Long (S/E).

Road access is via the D 929, which runs up the Neste d’Aure valley, passing through Saint-Lary-Soulan and/or the village of Fabian, to its terminus: the car park at the Cap de Long dam (2,171 m).

As a guide, the route takes: 4 hours out and 3 hours back. The distance and elevation gain are not huge, but the terrain, which is very rocky, is not fast-going and proves tiring.

There are no markings, the path is not always visible, and you need to look out for cairns (not always easy on the way up, much more visible on the way down).

There is the option of doing a particularly interesting circular route by climbing to the Pic d’Estaragne on the way up and then following the ridge along a path that appears clearly visible to reach the Pic de Campbieil.
Caution: there is a daunting slab to cross at the foot of Campbieil.

(6) Pic de Campbieil: Extraordinary views over the Pinata, Monte Perdido, Gavarnie and its Brêche de Rolland, surrounded by the Châpeau and the Taillon, the Vignemale and its glacier, the enormous Pic Long, the Néouvielle, and the Pic du Midi de Bigorre, to name but the best known.
(7) Pic de Lentilla: Also a splendid view, particularly of the Campbieil, which looks especially beautiful from this angle.