Chioula Mountain Hut from Ascou

Access: At the central roundabout in Ax-les-Thermes, head straight on, uphill, along Avenue Adolphe Authie (Route de l’Aude). Follow signs for the Ascou-Pailhères resort and go round the few hairpin bends. At an altitude of 954 metres, turn right onto the D25. After one kilometre, you’ll reach a junction; look for a car park a few metres further on the right and park there.

(S/E) Cross the road and head up into the village via Rue du Llabinet, heading due west. Follow the red and white markings of^{the GR®107}(Chemin des Bonshommes). Walk up through the village, past the wash houses and fountains. Leave the village by following the winding little road, and head due north along Rue du Plana. Pass the reservoir on your right and, after the last houses, turn left into the woods

(1) At the fork, by a cross on the right-hand side of Rue du Plana (which continues to climb), head down to the left into the woods. Follow this very well-marked path, signposted in red and white. Cross the Ruisseau de la Coume. Join the Chemin du Gosh, which becomes a track suitable for vehicles, and enter the village of Sorgeat.

(2) At the Fork in the road, turn right, north-west, following the^GR®107, which curves and heads due east.

(3) Continue straight on, due east (do not cross the Afouys stream on the left). Follow the^GR®107, still heading east, ignoring the various adjacent paths and tracks. Pass under the high-voltage power lines.

(4) At the junction, turn right, still heading east, now following the road that heads south-east. Pass a path on your right. Continue along the road, ignoring the various adjacent paths and tracks. Pass the altitude of 1176m.

(5) At the Fork in the road, leave the road and turn left, heading due east, still on the^GR®107. Veer left and, at the 1277m mark, begin a series of hairpin bends through woodland and then summer pastures. Pass the 1458m altitude at the bottom of the valley and then climb diagonally north-westwards. Head north into the Bois de Monafaille and finally reach the Col d’Ijou in an open area.

(6) Continue northwards and join a track that curves round a bend (no signposts; markers in felt-tip pen have been added). Turn right onto the track, which heads due north and then turns left, due west, as it emerges from the woods. Pass the 1612m altitude. Continue along this track, which runs along the hillside; the Chioula refuge is visible to the north-west.

(7) At the junction, let the^GR®107head off to the right and carry on straight ahead (north-west) towards the refuge.

(8) Head back down towards the previous junction. If visibility is good, continue along the route described below; otherwise, descend via the same path you took on the way up.

(7) Turn right towards the south-west. Please note that there are few yellow markings left. Follow a very well-marked, grassy track and ignore a path branching off to the right.

(9) At an altitude of 1574m, directly below the Assaladou, turn right (west) into the mountain pasture overgrown with broom. The path, which descends only slightly, is poorly marked in places. There are still a few yellow markings which may prove useful... You’ll soon approach the Bac d’Ignaux Forest. Follow a path clearly marked on the ground, keeping the forest on your right. Continue due west; do not enter the forest. Pass the 1495m altitude and continue westwards with the forest on your right.

(10) At an altitude of 1388m, the path descends steeply. Follow a few hairpin bends, using the remaining yellow markings for guidance. This will take you to the D613 road.

(11) Follow the road to the left along its left-hand verge for 20m. Cross the road and find a path that descends steeply (follow the old yellow markings). Pass the altitude of 1111m and continue down through dense woodland. Pass a wet area. Continue down (old yellow markings). You’ll reach a tarmac road in the village of Ignaux.

(12) Cross the road and look for a barely marked path on the right that runs alongside a wire fence. Please note that this path is rarely used. Head downhill alongside the fence until you reach a crossroads.

(13) Go straight on, following another yellow marker. Pass over a large wash house below. Arrive in the centre of the village and continue straight on without following any markers, taking the Chemin Pegros, which is suitable for vehicles. At the end, you’ll find a grassy path which, after a few metres, joins a tarmac road.

(14) Follow this road to the left, leaving the dead-end roads on your right. Pass a beekeeper’s house on your left as you round the bend. Continue along this straight road, heading south-east for 300 metres.

(15) At the fork, turn left. After 40 metres, turn right onto the D52 and follow the yellow signposting.

(16) At the junction of the D52 and D613, go straight on along Rue La Molle, towards the village of Sorgeat. Pass a cross on your right.

(17) At the fork, turn right onto Avenue de La Pinouze. Follow the red and white markings of^{the GR®107}. Continue south-east until you reach a fork you took on the way there.

(2) Carry on to the right – in the opposite direction to the outward journey – along the Chemin du Gosh and the Chemin de la Coume de Dessous.

(1) You’ll reach the reservoir on your right. Look for a path on your left, which descends steeply between the houses. This will quickly take you to the village’s main street. Continue downhill, following the path in the opposite direction to the outward journey. Reach the bottom of the village and head for the car park (S/E).

There is a water point in every village and at the refuge.

At the Refuge du Chioula (1,600 m): food and accommodation available.

This is a mid-mountain area. As you would expect, you will need: rainwear, water, snacks, route guide, description, map, GPS, camera, good walking boots and, if necessary, a walking stick.

Special precautions:

Do not attempt the return route described here in foggy or stormy weather. In poor visibility, it is wiser to descend via the same route taken on the way up (red and white markings of^{the GR®107}).

Between (13) and (15), the route allows you to avoid the D52. If in doubt, simply follow the yellow markings which lead to the church and onto the D52.

The village of Sorgeat: http://sorgeat.fr/
From the Refuge du Chioula, there is a magnificent viewpoint, notably featuring the Dent d’Orlu, which is visible from this spot.
Ax Valley: http://www.pyrenees-ariegeoises.com/