Pic de Baxouillade

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The Pic de Baxouillade dominates the Galbe, Laurenti and Orlu valleys. The access path through the Galbe valley, which is fairly quiet, climbs gradually through wide mountain pastures and passes close to two lakes, including the Portella d'Orlu.
The only difficulty on the hike is a steep section in a couloir at 2,450 metres, where you will need to use your hands on the rock to help you climb, but it is not rock climbing.

Details

n°12620422
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 13.58 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 6h 30 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 916 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 916 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 2,542 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,626 m
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Photos

Panoramic view from the summit
Narrow passage before the summit
Weather station
Terms and conditions of use of the Jassa de la Llosa refuge

Description of the walk

(S/E) Leaving the car park, continue along the flat path between the edge of the pine forest and the El Galba stream. TheGR® de Pays Tour du Capcir trail is marked in red and yellow.

(1) Pass the Refuge de la Jaceta (Barraca). See photos for access conditions to be observed.
Picnic tables 100 m further on.
The path begins to climb, and the view opens up onto Puig de Terrers at the bottom of the valley.
In early August, the monkshoods are in bloom.
The forest track reaches the Jaça de la Llosa refuge.

(2) This track joins the stream, crossing the mountain pasture, and then gradually begins to climb alongside the stream. You will then see Pic de la Baxouillade at the bottom on the right. Reach a fork before a footbridge.

(3) Leave the red and yellow markings. Climb to the right along the clearly visible path, which is unmarked and has few cairns.

(4) Reach the Bassetes mountain pasture, which occupies the site of an old filled-in lake. Leave the shade of the fir trees behind for good. Cross this area straight ahead or skirt around it on the left. Then climb steeply up a well-marked path.

(5) At the end of the climb to the next mountain pasture, marked by a weather station on a mast, head north-west on a good path that is well marked on the ground (the Estany de la Portella d'Orlu, which is not visible, is on the right).

(6) At the crossroads, ignore the path that climbs left towards Portella d'Orlu.
This allows you to cross into Ariège, leaving the Catalan Pyrenees Regional Nature Park.
Head right, due north. Quickly leave the path and head towards the waterfalls. A few cairns show the way, which starts on the left side of the stream, then crosses it and runs along its right side.

(7) The environment becomes more rocky. Depending on conditions, you can walk on the snowfield or on the large scree to your right, heading north-northeast.

(8) Take the leftmost breach. This is a slightly tricky point. It is easier to climb in small zigzags on the left side of the couloir.

(9) At the end of the couloir, the slope is gentle on the other side. Head right, due east towards Pic de la Baxouillade. The summit is very easy to reach.

(10) Return via the same route to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,626 m - Car park
  2. 1 : km 0.78 - alt. 1,640 m - Refuge de la Jaceta
  3. 2 : km 2.15 - alt. 1,755 m - Jaça de la Llosa refuge
  4. 3 : km 2.92 - alt. 1,801 m - Fork in the road
  5. 4 : km 3.86 - alt. 1,913 m - Les Bassetes. Filled lake
  6. 5 : km 4.85 - alt. 2,055 m - Weather station
  7. 6 : km 5.58 - alt. 2,179 m - Head towards the waterfalls.
  8. 7 : km 6.24 - alt. 2,381 m - Rockfall, or scree
  9. 8 : km 6.43 - alt. 2,476 m - Steep gully
  10. 9 : km 6.47 - alt. 2,486 m - Arrival on the other side of the slope
  11. 10 : km 6.67 - alt. 2,542 m - Summit - Pic de Baxouillade
  12. S/E : km 13.58 - alt. 1,626 m - Car park

Notes

To get there, from Espousouille (Esposolla), take the road south that crosses the Galbe stream (el Galba), then follow the forest path on the right at the junction for more than 3 km, until you reach the mandatory car park before the barrier. No need for a 4x4 or high-clearance vehicle, but potholes in some places mean you have to drive slowly.

Worth a visit

Marmots live on the slopes near the path. Chamois also roam this relatively unfrequented valley.

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

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Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5
Based on 6 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.3 / 5
Route interest
4.5 / 5
apierre 34
apierre 34

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 09, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very good hike, the start is quite busy (close to the car park) but then you reach the peak without anyone else around.
I took a different route after descending the access corridor to the peak, heading towards the Porte d'Orlu via the slope and then, staying at a certain height, I joined the GR.

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NATGUIDO
NATGUIDO

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 04, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Thank you, Ocarton, for this beautiful hike.
We set off from Espousouille, which added a good hour and a half to the hike, but the climb up the valley is so beautiful.
In the end, there were cars in the car park at the bottom. The track may not be so bad after all. I can't confirm this as we took the path on the right.
The trail was useful. Between points 6 and 7, there are cairns scattered about, but if you head towards the waterfall as indicated and the corridor, you can make good progress to the corridor.
And up there: magnificent! The effort is rewarded!

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Leblanc 24
Leblanc 24

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 11, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike completed on 31st July 2023. Some difficulty locating the cairns in the last section before the chimney. The GPS track is very useful in the last part.

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Reg58
Reg58

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 07, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Superb hike

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cestparti44
cestparti44

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 08, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

I stopped 250 metres below the summit because there were unstable snowfields and clouds were beginning to gather. I found this hike magnificent but almost didn't do it because of the previous comment about the route's appeal. Admittedly, it isn't marked, but if you take your time, you can find the path, which is relatively well marked outside of the snowfields. And with a GPS, it's even less complicated. However, the track leading to the car park is starting to get quite bumpy, so I set off from the village.

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renegely66
renegely66

Overall rating : 3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 20, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Very busy route : Yes

Disappointing route on the last section as it is not signposted. However, up to the foot of the Porteille d'Orlu, the landscape over the Galbe valley is magnificent. Kind regards.

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