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Access: from Ax-Les-Thermes, head towards the Ascou-Pailhères winter resort (D25). Drive past the resort and continue uphill on the D25 towards the Col de Pailhères (2,001 m). After the pass, head down towards Mijanès, staying 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 winds its way into the woodland and climbs gradually. Follow a stream.
(1) Pass a footbridge on your left and another path. Continue alongside the stream for about a hundred metres. Carry on climbing along a path. You will then reach the Ruisseau d’Artounant at an altitude of around 1,632 metres.
(2) Cross the footbridge and continue for about 200 metres.
(3) Take the path on the right, continuing straight ahead to reach the Étang de Rabassoles at around 1,800 m, approximately 50 minutes from the car park.
(4) Follow the path which goes round the lake to the left and climbs.
(5) At the junction, turn left to reach the Étang Bleu at around 1,920 m.
(6) Turn right, heading north, and go round the pond on the right-hand side. Follow theGR®®7B(red and white markings) to reach the Étang Noir at around 1,970 m.
(7) Walk round the lake on the right-hand side, pass the 1,970-metre mark and continue climbing. At around 2,050 metres, you’ll pass another small lake on your right. Continue climbing along the path, which turns eastwards, 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 behind. Pass beneath the Pic de Tarbesou, which looms to the left, and reach a junction at around 2,280 m.
(9) Take a sharp left-hand bend and continue due south along the path leading to Pic de Tarbésou at an elevation of 2,364 metres.
(10) A rest is well worth taking at this summit to admire the view. Then, descend along the path heading south-west to follow the Sarrat des Escales ridge due south.
(11) Join the other ridge of the Sarrat de Gabensa, with the Roc de Bragues on your right. Continue to a junction directly above a small lake below on your left.
(12) Turn left onto the path heading due east and head towards the small lake.
(13) Turn right, heading due south, leaving the small lake on your left. Follow the red and white markings.
Head south down to the Col de l’Egue at an elevation of 2121.
(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 (1,900 m), which you go round to the left. Continue along the path which follows the Ruisseau de l’Estagnet on the right bank. At around 1,800 m, the path heads due east and rejoins the path taken on the way out.
(3) Turn right, cross the footbridge and follow the path due east. Then join a track and follow it straight on to reach the car park (S/E).
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