Aragón Pyrenees are a privileged area to carry out mountain treks. Buff® ‘Entre refugios´ is a project developed by the Federación Aragonesa de Montañismo and sponsored by BUFF® brand and the collaboration of Barrabes. This project proposes the challenge of going across the GR11 around the two highest summits of the Pyrenees, Aneto (3,404 m) and Posets (3,369 m).
Aneto (3,404 m) circuit is a 41 km route through all the hillsides of the granitic massif crowned by the highest mountain and glacier of the Pyrenees. The ice, the rocks and the water star in this route to which both the centenary La Renclusa refuge and the brand new Llauset refuge provide a service. The route goes through Salenques mountain pass (2,797 m), the trek highest spot. Ballibierna (3,056 m) and Aneto peaks are the two proposed ascents of this circuit.
Stage 1: Plan Senarta - Refugio Renclusa
Plan de Senarta - Hospital de Benasque - La Besurta - La Renclusa mountain refuge
Easy stage that goes across Ésera river headwaters, through a territory where the water flows along glacier originated meadows flanked by numerous peaks.
In Plan de Senarta (1,367 m), on the left shore of Paso Nuevo small reservoir (in this point, the reservoir also dams the water from Ésera river and L’Aigüeta de Vallibierna), the GR11.5 variant originates from the Pyrenean Route principal itinerary which connects Estós Valley and Vallibierna through a small stretch next to Ésera river.
Without leaving the aforementioned variant, we have to follow the white and red marks to surmount the river on the left edge until crossing to the right edge on Cregüeña bridge, just after San Farré fountain. Later on, we will have to cross the river again and head for Baños de Benasque. With great views of Plan d’els Bans, we will have to continue the path towards Hospital de Benasque, where we will cross the river again and head for La Besurta parking lot remaining next to the forest track. The GR 11.5 crosses the forest track at Plan d’Están, passes La Besurta, gains height at Pleta l’Anclusa and continues until the nearby La Renclusa (2,140 m).
| Elevatin gain 900 m |
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| Elevation loss 130 m |
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| Distance 14 Km |
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| Length 4 horas 45 minutos |
Stage 2: La Renclusa mountain refuge - Llauset mountain refuge
La Renclusa mountain refuge - Plan d'Aigüalluts - Barrancs lake - Salenques mountain pass - Cap de la Vall lake - Estanyets mountain pass
It is one of the hardest stages of this circuit, rewarded with a superb landscape and dominated by Malditos mountains and Aneto peak (3,404 m).
Leaving La Renclusa mountain refuge (2,140 m), we ascent towards l’Anclusa pass and descent after to Plan Alto d’Aigüalluts where we will enjoy the waterfall and the “forau” (or Aigüalluts gully) spectacle. We go through the meadow by way of the footbridges that cross the river in several points taking the path on the right that will guide us to Barrancs valley. We have to go up this valley in constant ascent through increasingly technical terrain where we will find granitic blocks that we may need to climb and which indicate the way to access Salenques mountain pass or Col d’Ixalenques (2,808 m). In addition to the terrain obstacles, we may come across common height events such as lasting snowfields both in shady areas and the last part of the ascent to the mountain pass. Aneto (3,404 m) will remain all the time on our right hand side.
The GR 11.5 continues downhill through the granitic blocks that we will have to ride out by climbing down with our hands. At 2,550 m high, the itinerary leaves Salenques/Ixalenques Valley heading southwards for Cap de la Vall lake, one of the lakes that embellish this stage. Later on, we go up the mountain pass at 2,706 m, where the GR 11.5 descents towards Els Estanyets mountain pass (2,524 m) connecting with the GR 11. We will leave the itinerary to Angliós on the left and take the one on the right towards Cap de Llauset lake which we will tackle through its meridional rim. The final steps will be outpacing the hillock that separates us from the namesake refuge (2,425 m).
| Elevation gain 1,150 m |
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| Elevation loss 865 m |
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| Distance 14,6 Km |
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| Duratiohn 5 hours 50 minutes |
Stage 3: Llauset mountain refuge - Plan Senarta mountain refuge
Cap de Llauset mountain refuge - Plan de Senarta
Llauset watershed and Vallibierna Valley/Ball de Ballibierna are the focus of a stage that runs among rocks, lakes and forest.
We have to leave Cap de Llauset refuge (2,425 m) and continue the GR11 northward (southward is the branch that connects with Lluset reservoir). Shortly after, the itinerary turns to the west in order to cross the small Botornás valley and continues to the northwest through an ascending grassland and granite blocks area. This will lead us in Vallibierna pass / Collada de Ballibierna (2,732 m), where some snowfields may remain. Then, we have to go down to the upper Vallibierna lake (2,475 m) followed by the lower lake (2,426 m) on the right and the left sides respectively. At the end of this noticeable descent, we will cross Llosás gully which converges with the Vallibierna one. The GR11 crosses Pleta de Llosás,a meadow that serves also as the starting point of a path on the left side which leads to Culebres pass and Vallibierna peak (3,056 m), and continues downhill.
On the right hand of Coronas refuge (N), there is a path that goes to Coronas lakes and ascents to Aneto peak.
Without taking this aforementioned path, we continue towards Coronas refuge (Les Riberetes) and cross Coronas bridge continuing down the forest track through pine and firs forests. We will pass Quillón hut and, close to the beginning of the valley, we will take a shortcut on the left (L’Abetosa forest) avoiding part of the forest track.
After around 300 m of steep slope, we will arrive again to the track which will leave us in Plan de Senarta (1,367 m), close to Paso Nuevo reservoir where the GR 11.5 starts its course northwards to Llanos del Hospital.
| Elevation gain 380 m |
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| Elevation loss 1,425 m |
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| Distance 14,7 Km |
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| Duration 5 hours 20 minutes |
Plan de Senarta
Plan de Senarta
Circular route
2430 m
2430 m
43,3 Km
15 horas 55 minutos
Medium - Hight
Hight
Summer