Porté Puymorens - Refuge des Bésines

(S) The trail starts at a bend in the RN20, but to avoid walking on this busy road, you can pick up the^GR®7(red and white markings) in the village and reach the famous bend after a short climb in the morning.
The first part of this stage is a long climb up the side of the valley, gradually gaining height and overlooking the road that leads first to Lac El Passet and then to Estany Font Vives.

Note: This climb is a bit tedious, and we wondered if it might not have been better to take the road at the bottom of the valley to enjoy the lakes and then climb from the second lake (a path is marked) to rejoin the^GR®.

(1) As you go further into the mountains and the^GR® becomes a balcony, it gets more dizzying and the landscapes more spectacular. Keep going like this until you reach the Lanoux Dam.

(2) When you reach the dam, the^{GR® trail} branches off to the right, but you can continue straight ahead and pass under the dam (you can touch it) to rejoin the^GR® a little further on (the slope is less steep and the track is wider).

(3) Shortly after passing the dam, leave the^GR®7(which goes straight ahead) and continue left around the dam via the^GR®107C and^GRP® Tour du Carlit.
Move away from the lake for a short while as you need to pass a pile of rocks. There are lots of twists and turns (just follow the markers) in this section.
Finally, the lake reappears, but far below (and when we passed through, it was very low). Continue along this edge until you reach the Cabane de Rouzet (at the end of the lake).

(4) Here you will find a large crossroads of trails:
- the^GR®10heads right towards Les Bouillouses,
- the^GR®107Cto the left towards Coma D'Anyell
- the^GR®7towards the Porta d'Orly and the Refuge d'En Beys.
Continue left on the^GR®107Ctowards Coma D'Anyell.
After a few ups and downs, you will reach Estonie de Lanoset.

(5) Set off again on a slight climb (150 m) to join the^GRP® du Tour de la Montagne d'Ax. Another plateau dotted with small lakes before finishing with a crossing at Coma d'Anyell.

(6) Take the red and yellow marked trail on the left and follow the Coume d'Agnel stream. Pass in front of the Cabane des Clots des Bésineilles. Reach the last steep slope to earn your place at the refuge (E).

Time spent on the trail: 8:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. = 9.5 hours
Today's stage is particularly long.

Between (1 and 2) There are many caves, mine galleries and ruins on this section.
Lanoux Dam.