The second highest peak of the Pyrenees. Localized in Posets-Maladeta's Park same as Aneto, the highest peak of the mountain chain. The easier route (difficult SD/F) is Eriste's emptying, a long route of 6h (4h from mountain hut of Angel Orus). The others routes are: Estós (difficult Fsup, 4h30min + 2h10min to mountain hut; by the glaciers) and Biadós (long). For the mountaineers with experience in rock-climb the ridge Espadas-Posets is one of the most classical of Pyrenees with stepcrossings of grade III.

This mountain it's not so popular like Aneto or Monte Perdido, because the tourist generally don't known about it, and the people that climb this mountain in summer are generally mountaineers. It's a nice climb with more tranquility for enjoy of the high mountains of Pyrenees without a lot of people surround us. In the last years the mountaineers realize the normal route from the Refuge of Angel Orús and it's more popular each year thanks to this perfect localization of the Hut.

Name: Posets for the "pocets" (wells) of west side. Other name: Llardana for the aspect "burned" of east side.
First climb: It was by Halkett with P. Redonnet and P. Barrau on 6 August 1856, following the Ruta Real (Eriste-Forcaus).

Getting There

The valley of Benasque is the "king" of the mountain chain of the Pyrenees for contain the two highest mounts, Aneto (3404m) and Posets (3375m).
Others mounts in the zone: Maladeta (3303m), Pico Tempestades (3290m) Ballibierna (3069m), Pico de Alba (3118m), Le Bondidier (3185m), Perdiguero (3222m), Cabrioules (3116m), Gourgs Blancs (3131m), Eriste's peak (3045m), Forqueta de Eriste (3007m), Maupás (3109m),...and more three-thousands!
The village of Benasque (1212 hab., 1138 metres) is a tourist place of first order: hotels, restaurants, stores, shops, campings, holiday cottages, health's center, office of tourism, companys of mountains guides,...

Major airports: Zaragoza (211km), Barcelona (317 km)
Access for road:
-From Zaragoza to Huesca (72 km), highway. From Huesca to Benasque (138 km) for the N240 to Barbastro. Take N123 and N123a to Graus. In Graus take to left for A139 to direction Benasque/Cerler.
-From Barcelona: highway A2 to Lleida (or Lérida). From Lleida take N230. Continue by N123 in direction Torres del Obispo and more to Graus.
Others access: train and bus (company Altoaragonesa: Alosa)
-Train Barcelona-Zaragoza. Bus to Huesca and bus to Benasque (see Alosa for hours)
-Train Zaragoza-Huesca or bus Zaragoza-Huesca (see Alosa). From Huesca to Benasque only in bus (see Alosa or Tel. bus station of Huesca: 974-210700).

Red Tape

No permits required. Snow in summer in Canal Fonda's passage in route normal (Eriste). Required crampons and ice axe (on some occasions) in summer (always in winter). A lot of people they don't carry the crampons and generally they climb the mountain in summer across the Canal Fonda but if you don't know the conditions for the day is a good recommendation for don't back another day (on renting crampons in hut of Angel Orús in case necessary).
For the route Estós by the two glaciers is the same (but It's a loss of time in more days not carry crampons and ice axe, just in case, in this route even in summer, like others peaks of the Pyrenees with glacier as Aneto).
This mount is not very difficult, only is necessary a good preparation in the normal routes.

The route of ridge Espadas-Posets is exposed and grade PD (rock-climb II+ or III-) and the use of the rope it's advisable.

When To Climb

June to September. Very hard in winter. Storm at the evening is frequent in the Pyrenees, the best time is in the morning.

Camping

Camping:
*Benasque: -camping Aneto (974/551141)

Mountain Huts:
*Angel Orús (or Forcaus): at 2095 m.(974/344044). 96 beds. (42º 36.27 N / 00º 29.46 E
2119 meters high, info of coordinates add by eza)
*Estós: at 1890 m.(974/551483). 115 beds.
*Biadós: (974/506082). In Sobrarbe. 70 beds.
All the huts have electric light, showers, hot water, ordinary restaurant, bunk beds,...(very comfortables).

Night at mountain hut is advisable (reserves are required to spend the night in the huts).
More information (update):
-Office of Posets-Maladeta Park (Huesca) Tel: 974/230635.
-Federación Aragonesa de Montañismo.
-Magazine Los Pirineos.

Mountain Conditions

*Meteo Information:
-Huesca: 906/365322
*Internet:
-I.N.M., see province of Huesca.
-Meteo France

Maps/Guidebooks

Maps and guidebooks recommended (in spanish):
-Cuadernos Pirenaicos #11: BENASQUE. Miguel Angulo & David Atela. 60 pages. Map 1:35000. (Sua edizioak-Bilbao). ISBN: 84-8216-100-8. (Price: 6.60€).
-Mapas Pirineo #6: BENASQUE. 40 pages. Map 1:40000. (Editorial Pirineo). ISBN: 84-87997-42-2. (Price: 4.30€).

External Links

Revista Los Pirineos
Magazine about Pirynees with information for huts, paths, museum, tourism,...
Federación Aragonesa de Montañismo
Official´s page of Federation of Mountaineering of Aragón (Huesca is in this province): huts, guides,...
GPS-Mountain huts and refuges
coordinates GPS of mountain huts of Pyrennees of Huesca.
Mountain and Climbing Guiding/Instruction
Rock and Ice climbing school. Mountain Guiding. English speaked.

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