A ridge route to the Chebretou peak that can be completed over one or two days. Personally, I covered it in two days at the end of winter but I really recommend doing it in summer. Some passages are very steep and not recommended when there is snow.
Day 1: Bedous and Mailh Agor
+ 1150 m / – 0 m 6km
The hike leaves from Bedous, accessible by train from Pau. Cross this pretty village built next to the river and climb towards Mailh Agor, the summit at 1300m which dominates the town. The orientation table at the start of the climb has a nice view.
As we climb, we are surprised by increasingly foggy weather. Fine particles are constantly falling from the sky, as if there were a gigantic fire nearby. Arriving on the Ourdinse plateau, we discover that this is indeed the case: half of the mountain on the opposite side is on fire!
We will learn later that this is an ancestral technique for renewing pastures. The grass from the previous year burns, giving way to that of the current year. A bit brutal as a method all the same! However, it seems that the fire area is more or less under control, since we did not see any forest on fire...
We then arrive at the Ourdinse cabin, located on the eponymous plateau. It is rather warm and comfortable, we are well settled there for the night.
Day 2: the ridge and peak of Chebretou
+ 100 m / – 1250 m 14km
The following day, the mist settled back into the valley, leaving us with magnificent weather at altitude. The fire appears to be over, entire sections of the mountain are blackened. We head towards the peak of Chebretou following a ridge line. The path is very beautiful but rather small and difficult to follow, especially with the snow.
Once past Chebretou, we waste a lot of time passing the Pétraube pass because the snow makes the steep slopes very slippery. The problem is that time is passing, and the timetable for the last train from Bedous to Pau is dangerously approaching!
We then split into two groups, the fastest (of which I am one) still hoping to catch the train on time. We descend snowy corridors on our butts (guaranteed descent speed!), then arrive at the village of Aydius. The road then is far too long, and no one passes… We begin to despair when (finally!) a car shows up, and surprise: it contains the two that we had left behind! A charming couple had taken them hitchhiking to the village.
And here, I must say that the reaction of the couple blew me away: as there was not enough space in their car, they simply made a quick return trip in order to drop us off a few minutes before the train! This is called being narrowly saved.
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