Aragón Pyrenees are a privileged area to carry out mountain treks. Buff® ‘Entre refugios´ is a project developed by 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).
The circuit of Posets (3,369 m) covers 45 km around some of the most emblematic valleys of the mountain chain, passing through spectacular morphologic formations, glaciers and lakes, with the collaboration of Ángel Orús, Biadós and Estós mountain refuges infrastructures. The peaks of Bachimala (3,176 m), Perdiguero (3,219 m) or Posets are the three climbs that integrate the circuit.
Stage 1: Ángel Orús mountain refuge - Viadós mountain refuge
Ángel Orús mountain refuge – Llardaneta lake – La Forqueta mountain pass – Detour to Millaris – Viadós mountain refuge
La Forqueta mountain pass (2,864 m), the highest pass in all the circuit, serves to join the gorgeous valleys of L’Aigüeta de Grist and Chistau.
From Ángel Orús refuge (2,148 m), we leave to the northwest following the GR 11.2. Quickly, the path reaches Llardaneta torrent surroundings and leaves on the right side the GR 11.2 detour to Estós. Shortly after, it crosses the torrent and goes up its course leaving the route to Posets on the right side (2,550 m). From there, the views over Forcau peaks and their vertical stratums are splendid. After the torrent narrows, we reach Llardaneta lake (2,675 m), nestled in a basin at the foothills of La Forqueta (3,011 m) and Diente Royo peaks. Yet, we will have to ascent through a stony canal towards the visible La Forqueta de Grist mountain pass (2,864 m) between the massifs of Posets (N) and Bagüeñola or Ersite (S).
With excellent panoramic views, the path plunges into another canal on the way to Chistau valley. At 2,600 m high, we have to pay attention to a small relief, Tozal Blanco (2,565 m), located on the left side. It is advisable to head for it in order to gaze at a great panoramic view of the Millars lakes (2,353 m). Back to the path, the descent gets into Ribereta cliff (leaving the access to Millars and Lenés lakes on the left side) and continues descending through pine forests that, during the winter season, are damaged several times by big avalanches coming down from Llardaneta through the Tuertas canal. Almost at the end of the valley, the path leads into a forest track that was used for cattle and, after crossing the Cinqueta de Añes Cruces bridge, connects with the GR 11, passing through the ensemble of Biadós huts and arriving later on to Biadós refuge (1,740 m).
| Elevatin gain 800 m |
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| Elevation loss 1,180 m |
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| Distance 11,3 Km |
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| Length 5 hours 25 minutes |
Stage 2: Viadós mountain refuge - Estós mountain refuge
Classic GR 11 stage that serves to join two emblematic valleys in Aragón Pyrenees, those of Chistau and Estós.
From Biadós refuge (1,741 m), we have to take the GR 11 path that passes through the huts named after the refuge, leaving on the right side the GR 11.2 detour and going into Posets-Maladeta Nature Park. At that point, the most remarkable issue is the impressive bulk of Llardana or Posets peak (3,369 m), with the glacier remainders under the summit.
Soon after, we will pass next to Puyarueso hut and the spring through a deforested terrain that diverges from the black pine forests located on the opposite slope (Clot pine forest). The path continues gradually up Cinqueta de Añes Cruces river, always on the orographical right edge, until arriving to Pleta de Añes Cruces, a cattle rest area where several cliffs converge. The GR crosses three cliffs and starts gaining height abruptly until reaching the remarkable Puerto de Chistau or Colla d’Estós (2,572 m). At that point, we will find a calcareous outcrop with an odd “forau” or karstic drain worth gazing at.
The descent to the heart of Estós valley lasts long, crossing rocky ground or “tarteras” at the beginning. The valley is shaped like a kneading trough, typical in glacier valleys. In the middle of both hillsides, there are wounds that give the ensemble a special photogenic appearance, with a far off background dominated by Maladetas massif. From the confluence with Clarabide cliff (2,070 m), in the foothills of La Paul steep spires, an almost plain path progresses through the meadows of the river left edge until reaching Estós refuge (1,895 m).
| Elevation gain 925 m |
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| Elevation loss 765 m |
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| Distance 11,6 Km |
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| Length 5 hours 5 minutes |
Stage 3: Estós mountain refuge- Ángel Orús mountain refuge
The route that connects both refuges let us discover a fascinating landscape with lakes that sparkle under Posets/Llardana massif.
From Estós refuge (1,895 m), the GR 11.2 path goes down southwards in order to cross the river with the same name and starts ascending the opposite slope until arriving to a balcony (1955 m) that lead us to Batisielles threshold, almost without descending.
At the beginning, the path loses certain height degree before crossing Montidiego cliff. Later on, after regaining height, it shows up towards the northern border chain of Estós between meadows and forests. Gradually, the route makes a turn and, slightly descending, gets into Aigüeta de Batisielles watershed through a dense pine forest. It reaches the hut located next to Batisielles small lake (1,850 m), leaving the detour to Perramó lakes and the S3 path on the left, and follows the marks from the GR 11.2 towards Batisielles big lake (2,216 m) and L’Aigüeta de Batisielles lakes (2,320 m).
After them, the path surmounts the walls of a rocky semicircle on its left side, under the fabulous Perramó spires, until reaching Les Basetes, an ensemble of small lagoons where we will find a great view over Tartera de Perramó lakes and the spires that delimit Batisielles cirque southwards.
A final granitic slope will lead us to La Plana mountain pass (2,702 m), where we will make out Posets or Llardana summit with the glacier reminders underneath and the namesake lake.
Soon after, the path goes down through granitic steep slopes until arriving to the drainage of Grist lakes (2,411 m) located at the beginning of the Ibones valley. After crossing the torrent of Llardana (and the hut next to it), we will join the GR 11.2 path that heads for Biadós and for the traditional route to Posets rightwards (E), or for Ángel Orús/Forcau refuge (2,148 m) leftwards.
| Elevation gain 1,100 m |
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| Elevation loss 880 m |
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| Distance 13,1 Km |
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| Length 5 hours 50 minutes |
Refugio Ángel Orús
Refugio Ángel Orús
Circular
2825 m
2825 m
40 Km
16 horas 20 minutos
Medium - Hight
Hight
Summer