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Access: from Ax-Les-Thermes, head towards the Ascou-Pailhères winter resort (D25). Pass the resort and continue climbing on the D25 towards the Col de Pailhères (2001 m). After the pass, descend towards Mijanès, still on the D25. 1 km from Mijanès, at a hairpin bend, turn right and follow the Route Forestière de la Bruyante to reach the Restanque car park.
(S/E) From the car park, take the track that leads into the undergrowth and climbs gradually. Follow a stream.
(1) Pass a footbridge on your left and another path. Continue along the stream for about 100 metres. Continue climbing along a path. You will then reach the Ruisseau d'Artounant at an altitude of about 1,632 metres.
(2) Cross the footbridge and continue for about 200 m.
(3) Take the path on the right, continuing straight ahead to reach the Étang de Rabassoles lake at around 1,800 m, approximately 50 minutes from the car park.
(4) Follow the path that goes around the lake on the left and climbs upwards.
(5) At the fork, turn left to reach the Étang Bleu lake at around 1,920 m.
(6) Turn right, heading north, and go around the lake on the right. Follow theGR®®7B(red and white markings) to reach Étang Noir at around 1,970 m.
(7) Go around the lake on the right, pass the 1970 m mark and continue climbing. At around 2050 m, pass another small lake on your right. Continue climbing on the path that turns east to reach the foot of the Pic de la Coumeille de l'Ours.
(8) Turn left, north-west, onto the path, leaving the red and white markings. Pass under Pic De Tarbesou, which dominates on the left, and reach a fork at around 2280 m.
(9) Turn left at the hairpin bend and continue south on the path that leads to Pic de Tarbésou at an altitude of 2364 metres.
(10) Take a break at this summit to admire the landscape. Then descend along the path heading south-west to follow the Sarrat des Escales ridge due south.
(11) Join the other ridge of Sarrat de Gabensa, below Roc de Bragues on your right. Continue to a fork directly above a small lake below on your left.
(12) Turn left onto the path heading due east and reach the small lake.
(13) Turn right, heading south, leaving the small lake on your left. Find the red and white markings.
Descend due south to the Col de l'Egue at an altitude of 2,121 metres.
(14) Leave the red and white markings and take the path on the left, heading north-east, which descends into the Coume de l'Estagnet to the Étang de l'Estagnet (1900m), which you go around on the left. Continue along the path that follows the Ruisseau de l'Estagnet on the right bank. At around 1800m, the path heads due east and rejoins the path you took on the way up.
(3) Turn right, cross the footbridge and follow the path due east. Then take a track straight ahead to return to the car park (S/E).
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Visorando member
Moderate 
