Guidebook with maps/step-by-step
Outward journey via Bassiès port and the crests: distance: 13.5km; altitude difference: +1950m -150m; duration: 7h45
0h00 - Massada (850m). At the first hairpin bend, take the path to the Bassiès refuge, the start of which is clearly signposted. You soon come to a stream, which you cross on a bridge. Shortly afterwards, there's a fork in the path: follow the left-hand branch, alongside the torrent.
The path climbs gently and eventually comes to a stop on the torrent. Without crossing it, follow the path that rises to the right of the torrent (heading north-west).
The path climbs more steeply until it reaches a tarmac road. Cross the road and continue straight ahead on the signposted path.
The climb continues in tight twists and turns. 15 minutes later, you reach a junction with the GR10 trail.
0h45 - GR10 junction (1150m). From here, follow the GR10 path to the Bassiès port.
Leave the left and right paths. The first joins Marc and Mounicou, and the second is the alternative path we'll take on the way back.
Continue straight ahead on the GR10 (red and white markings) towards the refuge de Bassiès.
There are still a number of switchbacks to climb, before finally reaching a flat area that marks the end of the forest.
The path continues straight ahead in the open, passes under a penstock, and rejoins the torrent at a surprising little stone bridge.
2h15 - Stone bridge (1580m). On our right is the alternative route we'll take on our return.
Continue left, still on the well-marked GR10 (heading north-west). Pass to the right of the dam, then skirt the Etang d'Escalès.
Beyond it, the path continues in the same direction, passing well to the right of Etang Long (which isn't very long after all), and reaches the Etang Majeur dam.
The trail passes the dam on the right, skirts the lake, then rises abruptly some 30 metres.
You'll come to Etang Mort, whose banks are overgrown with vegetation. Go alongside it on the left and continue in the same direction. A little further on, you'll pass the Pla de la Font pond on your left. Keep going for a little while longer, until you reach a fork in the road indicated by signs.
3:45 - Refuge de Bassiès fork (1658m). Leave the access path to the refuge de Bassiès on your left. Follow the right-hand path marked "Port de Saleix".
The path climbs steeply for 300m. However, it is very well marked and poses no major difficulties, provided you approach it calmly.
4h30 - Port de Bassiès (1933m). From here, follow the yellow markings to the summit of the Pique Rouge de Bassiès.
Here you leave the GR10, which continues straight on towards the port of Saleix. Take the left-hand path (yellow markings).
You cross under the slopes of the Pic de Cabanatous to reach the Col de las Fouzès.
Continue uphill on the broad ridge to the summit of Pic des Planes (heading south-west).
5h15 - Pic des Planes (2063m). Nice view of the Bassiès ponds below.
The ridge path heads left (south) downhill to the Col du Morech (2024m), then climbs without difficulty to the Cot de Morech (2145m).
The trail continues for a short distance along the ridge. At around 2200m, we leave the ridge to skirt the Pic des Fouziès to the left, staying on an easy-to-follow path.
After a long traverse along the eastern flank of Pic des Fouziès, we briefly rejoin the ridge at around 2350m. Continue uphill to a flat area.
6:45 - Replat - fork (2385m). Yellow paint on a large boulder marks the junction. Leave the left-hand itinerary, which we'll use on the way back. Continue straight on, towards the broad summit slope of the Pique Rouge de Bassiès.
The final climb is tough, but not particularly difficult.
This final section beyond the Pic de Caumale can also be climbed along the ridge, with the trickiest sections avoided on the eastern flank. There are a few exposed passages where you'll need to use your hands.
7.45am - Pique Rouge de Bassiès (2676m). This vast summit offers sumptuous views, particularly of the Montcalm massif to the south.
Return via the Lavants de l'Escale ponds: distance: 14km; altitude difference: -1850m +50m; duration: 5h45
0h00 - Pique Rouge de Bassiès (2676m). Return by the same route. After passing the ponds below on our right, we come to the flat spot we came to on the outward journey (yellow fork marks).
0h45 - Replat - junction (2385m). The rest of the itinerary is not always obvious, but the cairns and yellow marks guide us effectively... the challenge now is not to lose them all the way to the Bassiès refuge.
Continue to the right, first flat, then slightly downhill. Pass on the left the various ponds of the Lavants de l'Escale, until you reach the weir of the last pond.
of the last pond.
1h30 - Weir of the lower pond of Les Lavants de l'Escale (2224m). Cross the weir. The itinerary now turns left to descend along the Montestaure sarrat (heading north).
At around 2100m, the route turns abruptly to the left (west), and descends rapidly into the valley floor.
Without crossing the ruisseau de l'Escale, which meanders along the valley floor, we turn right (north) along the torrent on an easier path.
A slow-moving torrent, beautiful waterfalls and wide banks make this corner of paradise a great place to relax and swim.
At around 1700m, we come across an iron footbridge, half-collapsed in 2017. However, it's still solid enough to allow us to cross the stream without risk, but if in doubt we can always ford the torrent a little further on... if we're willing to get our feet a little wet.
Continue on to the nearby refuge.
3h00 - Refuge de Bassies (1647m). Join the GR10 to the north of the refuge, and follow it to the right along the same route as the outward journey.
Pass the Bassies ponds, skirt the Escalès pond, and return to the stone bridge crossed on the outward journey.
4h00 - Stone bridge (1580m). Follow the same route as the outward journey.
5:05 - GR10 junction (1150m). Continue downhill on the outward route. Keep to this route until you reach the parking lot.
5:45 - Massada (850m)
0h00 - Massada (850m). At the first hairpin bend, take the path to the Bassiès refuge, the start of which is clearly signposted. You soon come to a stream, which you cross on a bridge. Shortly afterwards, there's a fork in the path: follow the left-hand branch, alongside the torrent.
The path climbs gently and eventually comes to a stop on the torrent. Without crossing it, follow the path that rises to the right of the torrent (heading north-west).
The path climbs more steeply until it reaches a tarmac road. Cross the road and continue straight ahead on the signposted path.
The climb continues in tight twists and turns. 15 minutes later, you reach a junction with the GR10 trail.
0h45 - GR10 junction (1150m). From here, follow the GR10 path to the Bassiès port.
Leave the left and right paths. The first joins Marc and Mounicou, and the second is the alternative path we'll take on the way back.
Continue straight ahead on the GR10 (red and white markings) towards the refuge de Bassiès.
There are still a number of switchbacks to climb, before finally reaching a flat area that marks the end of the forest.
The path continues straight ahead in the open, passes under a penstock, and rejoins the torrent at a surprising little stone bridge.
2h15 - Stone bridge (1580m). On our right is the alternative route we'll take on our return.
Continue left, still on the well-marked GR10 (heading north-west). Pass to the right of the dam, then skirt the Etang d'Escalès.
Beyond it, the path continues in the same direction, passing well to the right of Etang Long (which isn't very long after all), and reaches the Etang Majeur dam.
The trail passes the dam on the right, skirts the lake, then rises abruptly some 30 metres.
You'll come to Etang Mort, whose banks are overgrown with vegetation. Go alongside it on the left and continue in the same direction. A little further on, you'll pass the Pla de la Font pond on your left. Keep going for a little while longer, until you reach a fork in the road indicated by signs.
3:45 - Refuge de Bassiès fork (1658m). Leave the access path to the refuge de Bassiès on your left. Follow the right-hand path marked "Port de Saleix".
The path climbs steeply for 300m. However, it is very well marked and poses no major difficulties, provided you approach it calmly.
4h30 - Port de Bassiès (1933m). From here, follow the yellow markings to the summit of the Pique Rouge de Bassiès.
Here you leave the GR10, which continues straight on towards the port of Saleix. Take the left-hand path (yellow markings).
You cross under the slopes of the Pic de Cabanatous to reach the Col de las Fouzès.
Continue uphill on the broad ridge to the summit of Pic des Planes (heading south-west).
5h15 - Pic des Planes (2063m). Nice view of the Bassiès ponds below.
The ridge path heads left (south) downhill to the Col du Morech (2024m), then climbs without difficulty to the Cot de Morech (2145m).
The trail continues for a short distance along the ridge. At around 2200m, we leave the ridge to skirt the Pic des Fouziès to the left, staying on an easy-to-follow path.
After a long traverse along the eastern flank of Pic des Fouziès, we briefly rejoin the ridge at around 2350m. Continue uphill to a flat area.
6:45 - Replat - fork (2385m). Yellow paint on a large boulder marks the junction. Leave the left-hand itinerary, which we'll use on the way back. Continue straight on, towards the broad summit slope of the Pique Rouge de Bassiès.
The final climb is tough, but not particularly difficult.
This final section beyond the Pic de Caumale can also be climbed along the ridge, with the trickiest sections avoided on the eastern flank. There are a few exposed passages where you'll need to use your hands.
7.45am - Pique Rouge de Bassiès (2676m). This vast summit offers sumptuous views, particularly of the Montcalm massif to the south.
Return via the Lavants de l'Escale ponds: distance: 14km; altitude difference: -1850m +50m; duration: 5h45
0h00 - Pique Rouge de Bassiès (2676m). Return by the same route. After passing the ponds below on our right, we come to the flat spot we came to on the outward journey (yellow fork marks).
0h45 - Replat - junction (2385m). The rest of the itinerary is not always obvious, but the cairns and yellow marks guide us effectively... the challenge now is not to lose them all the way to the Bassiès refuge.
Continue to the right, first flat, then slightly downhill. Pass on the left the various ponds of the Lavants de l'Escale, until you reach the weir of the last pond.
of the last pond.
1h30 - Weir of the lower pond of Les Lavants de l'Escale (2224m). Cross the weir. The itinerary now turns left to descend along the Montestaure sarrat (heading north).
At around 2100m, the route turns abruptly to the left (west), and descends rapidly into the valley floor.
Without crossing the ruisseau de l'Escale, which meanders along the valley floor, we turn right (north) along the torrent on an easier path.
A slow-moving torrent, beautiful waterfalls and wide banks make this corner of paradise a great place to relax and swim.
At around 1700m, we come across an iron footbridge, half-collapsed in 2017. However, it's still solid enough to allow us to cross the stream without risk, but if in doubt we can always ford the torrent a little further on... if we're willing to get our feet a little wet.
Continue on to the nearby refuge.
3h00 - Refuge de Bassies (1647m). Join the GR10 to the north of the refuge, and follow it to the right along the same route as the outward journey.
Pass the Bassies ponds, skirt the Escalès pond, and return to the stone bridge crossed on the outward journey.
4h00 - Stone bridge (1580m). Follow the same route as the outward journey.
5:05 - GR10 junction (1150m). Continue downhill on the outward route. Keep to this route until you reach the parking lot.
5:45 - Massada (850m)
