After the Alps, the Pyrenees are the next major mountain range of Western Europe, and as such must command at least equal respect. Several of the best routes cross the Spanish frontier; a few people have been turned back by Spanish police, but others get through. No doubt the situation is an improving one. Paths on the Spanish sides of some cols are remote, and appear to be little more than animal tracks, with little or no waymarking.

Rescue in case of difficulty on these southern slopes is highly problematical; the Spanish are not nearly as well organised as the French in this respect. Here, too, one finds fewer walkers outside the National Parks.

French mountain huts, and the better Spanish ones are broadly similar to those in the Alps, and are open to anyone. Gites d'Etape (on the French side only) are comparable to our simpler youth hostels in the UK with cooking facilities.

Weather in the Pyrenees in summer and early autumn tends to be better than that of an average year in the Alps, but sudden and heavy thunderstorms are still quite likely. As in the Alps, snow can be a problem in spring and early summer. In most years, routes up to 2,000m should be possible by early June, and the remainder by early July. The south facing Spanish sides of frontier passes lose their snow well before the French sides.

Choose a fine day for routes with footpath sections, and avoid the higher routes, which often have steep sections, in bad weather or soon after a fresh snowfall.

A rucksack, which can take heavy items on one's back when wheeling or carrying is a great help. Strong shoes or light boots or good quality off-road cycling boots/shoes are recommended. Protection for your ankles on stony tracks is a good idea. Snow goggles are also recommended.

Please note that some restrictions on the use of bikes may have been introduced since these notes were compiled - particularly in National Parks - you are advised to check beforehand.

Maps

A key to the 1:100 000 maps for the Pyrenees is available. These maps of both countries are more up to date than their respective 1:50 000 series There is an excellent series of eleven I.G.N.(Institut Geographique National) 1:50 000 tourist maps, these cover parts of the Spanish side, including the Ordesa and Aigues Tortes national parks, as well as all of the French side of the Pyrenees. No. 1 at W. end (Bayonna); No. 11 at E. end (Perpignan)

Pass/Col

Height (m)

Route start-finish

km

Path or Rough Road

Time (hrs)

V.A.D.

Maps IGN 50,000

Maps Spanish
Ejercito 50,000

Maps
Michelin 200,000

Col D'Orgambide

988

St.Jean-Orbaiceta

18

path

Unknown

M

69

13,3

85 or 234

Col de Pau

1950

Hecho-Lescun

path/r.r.

S

Tourist No.3or70

13,3

85 or 234

Col des Moines

2168

Col du Somport-Gabas

12

path/r.r.

8

S

15 or 47

85 or 234

Port de Boucharo

2270

Bujaruelo-Gavarnie

5

path/r.r.

5

D

16-48

85 or 234

Col D'Ouscouaou

1872

Le Chiroulet-Argèles Gazost

7

path

5

M, some D

17-47

85 or 234

Collado de Basseta

1690

Castelbo-Llavorsi

32

r.r.

12

E/M

34,10

86 or 235

Collado de Sahun

2010

San Juan de Plan-Sahun

15

r.r.

7

E

31/9

443

Collada del Ras De Conques

1907

Farga de Moles-Farrera

20

r.r.

6

E some M

34,10

86 or 235

The routes are marked with a rating system called V.A.D. = Very Approximate Difficulty.

E = Easy, anything from a short rideable rough section between metalled roads to fairly long paths needing some wheeling. (sometimes hard work)
M = Moderate, often hard work, possibly occasional lifting
D = Difficult, usually hard work, sometimes involving short carries
S = Severe, much carrying, sometimes double carrying (bike, then luggage)
VS = Very severe, like severe but more so, scrambling may be involved

Times given in these guides do not allow for stops. They are often based on very little experience, so we will be glad to hear from you if you have used any of these routes.

Abbreviations:

m = height in metres
km = distance in kilometres (approximate)
path/r.r. = path or rough road
hrs = time taken to complete the route in hours (see above)
V.A.D. = Very Approximate Difficulty (see above)

The following are publishers of maps:

F&B = Freytag & Berndt
Mair = Mairs Geographischer Verlag (Austria/Germany mainly)
LDS = Landeskarte der Schweiz (Swiss 1:100,000, 1:50,000, 1:25,000)
Michelin = France/Switzerland at 1:200,000, Spain, Italy, Austria, Germany at 1:400,000
IGN = Institut Geographique National