Overview
Map of area
The route from Refuge du Portillon is shorter than route of Refuge d'Espingo but it's necessary a good sense of orientation because after the Col of Pluviometro you'll descend to Lac Glacé to get the route of Espingo.
Getting There
Refuge du Portillon
The access of trailhead in Granges d'Astau is in the main page of the peak. from Granges d'Astau (1100m) yo'll walk 4 hours to reach the Refuge du Portillon (2571m) the previous day. The approach is easy following the path across the Lac d'Oô, and the Refuge d'Espingo. The hardest part is the hard slope from Lac Saussat to reach the dam of Portillon but always in good path.
Route Description
SE face Col of Pluviómetro
We'll begin in
Refuge du Portillon (2571m) walking to the dam in west side. The path is not evident but some cairns exist to indicate the route at south of
Tusse de Montarcqué. The path don't exist among the great block of rock but the direction is evident to the Col under of the peak Seil dera Baquo. The
col of Pluviometro (2880m) has a characteristic rain gauge (“pluviómetro”) in right side. We'll descent a few of meters to the south of
Lac Glacé. We'll follow in west direction with the view of the Col of Gourgs Blancs very evident in front of us (but it's not necessary to reach the col). The route had cairns but the point to leave the route to the col turning to north is not always easy to find. We'll search after the pass of the lake the point to walk in north direction under the east face of peak Gourdon in a terrain of more stones. In a point over 2800m we'll reach the normal route of Espingo with the entry to the south face of Spijeoles.
For the return we'll walk the same route or we'll can to climb the ridge north (F.sup) of
Gourdon (3034m) descending across the south ridge of this peak to the Col of Gourgs Blancs to return to refuge. If our intention is the return to Granges d’Astau it's possible to descent across the route of Refuge d’Espingo as well.
Essential Gear
Crampons and ice-axe on winter or spring
External Links
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